Tran Phu Beach

Tran Phu is the beach that defines Nha Trang: 6 km of soft pale sand running the length of the city, with a landscaped promenade and a wall of hotels behind it. When you go matters more than anything else here.

Come at first light and the beach belongs to the city. Locals swim, stretch and walk the shoreline as the sun comes up over the islands, the air is cool, and the water is at its calmest. On a dry-season morning the sea is clear and the long beach feels open and unhurried. An early swim and breakfast on the sand is the best way to use it, and the rest of the day can be planned around that.

Our honest take: by mid-morning it's a different place. The loungers fill, the music starts, jet skis run in the marked zones and the day-tour groups arrive. It isn't unpleasant, just a busy city beach. If you stay into the afternoon expecting peace and quiet, you'll be disappointed.

It suits anyone who loves an early swim and wants everything within a short walk. For a quieter afternoon, head somewhere else: the long, open beach at Bai Dai to the south, the shallow, calm water at Doc Let to the north, or the rocks and views at Hon Chong.

Free access. Sunlounger hire approximately 50,000 VND. Water sports operators line the beach throughout the day; prices are negotiable. The best swimming is away from the boat launch areas at the northern and southern ends. The sea is calmest from January to August; from September to December it is often rough and murky, so check conditions before swimming. See February or June for good beach months, and my Nha Trang travel guide for the rest of the city.