Nha Trang is a seaside metropolis, where the city almost leans into the ocean. The beach is wide, long and sandy but the city doesn’t have much else to offer the common tourist or traveller. The nearby islands are the only other draw, the largest of which is Hon Tre where the Vietnamese have built a large theme park called Vinpearl. I avoid it for fear of overpriced tacky rides and typically cheesy Asian entertainment. I do however take a boat tour to some of the other surrounding
islands which calls first at Mieu Island where we visit a large ship-shaped monstrosity of an aquarium where I can say for sure the owners spent a considerably larger amount of money building the ‘ship’ than creating a comfortable living environment for the aquariums miserable looking inhabitants. The highlight is a pool out the back where some giant turtles await being fed by eager tourists; you can step right into to the water and almost feed them by hand, fantastic. Next stop is a little snorkeling spot at Mun Island which at first look appears a bit barren but on closer inspection actually throws up some giant blue starfish, seahorses and an unidentified metre-long sluggy thing! We have lunch on the boat and then anchor down in the middle of the open water for the most peculiar part of the tour; on-board entertainment. The boat crew put on some wigs and form themselves into a ‘band’;
one with an electric guitar, one with a drum set made of plastic tubs and one with just a microphone and a twirl! They mash out some hilarious tunes, dragging members of the audience on stage (including me) for a karaoke type affair. They’re rather terrible and it’s quite hilarious! After this we are plunged into the water with one of the boatmen who dishes out sun-warmed fruity wine in plastic cups with pineapple, mmmm! Very odd. Our final stop is at Tranh Island where we are left to relax on the beach and I feel like we have emerged from some parallel universe as the crew loose the wigs and resume their normal duties. A strange but interesting day which enlivened a visit to mediocre Nha Trang.
islands which calls first at Mieu Island where we visit a large ship-shaped monstrosity of an aquarium where I can say for sure the owners spent a considerably larger amount of money building the ‘ship’ than creating a comfortable living environment for the aquariums miserable looking inhabitants. The highlight is a pool out the back where some giant turtles await being fed by eager tourists; you can step right into to the water and almost feed them by hand, fantastic. Next stop is a little snorkeling spot at Mun Island which at first look appears a bit barren but on closer inspection actually throws up some giant blue starfish, seahorses and an unidentified metre-long sluggy thing! We have lunch on the boat and then anchor down in the middle of the open water for the most peculiar part of the tour; on-board entertainment. The boat crew put on some wigs and form themselves into a ‘band’;
one with an electric guitar, one with a drum set made of plastic tubs and one with just a microphone and a twirl! They mash out some hilarious tunes, dragging members of the audience on stage (including me) for a karaoke type affair. They’re rather terrible and it’s quite hilarious! After this we are plunged into the water with one of the boatmen who dishes out sun-warmed fruity wine in plastic cups with pineapple, mmmm! Very odd. Our final stop is at Tranh Island where we are left to relax on the beach and I feel like we have emerged from some parallel universe as the crew loose the wigs and resume their normal duties. A strange but interesting day which enlivened a visit to mediocre Nha Trang.
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