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Bordering the East Sea in southern-central Vietnam is Cam Ranh, an off-the-beaten-track beach town that’s gaining a reputation among travellers for its spectacular beaches and laidback local culture. In recent years, tourism has flourished in the region, marked by a surge of luxury resorts – many of which are among the best in the country.
1. The scenery is spectacular
Cam Ranh Bay is a crystal-clear deepwater inlet consisting of two halves: an inner secluded bay and smaller outer bay. Visitors are greeted with vistas of bobbing, anchored fishing boats and white sands, and the surrounding Cam Nghia peninsula boasts several temples and pagodas (including one made entirely from collected seashells), quaint seafood restaurants, coconut groves and dramatic headlands. Yellow apricots blossom year-round, their beauty rivalled only by the region’s mirror-like salt fields.
2. It’s an upscale alternative to Nha Trang
Cam Ranh’s northern neighbour Nha Trang – approximately an hour’s drive by car – is a high-energy hotspot renowned for its thriving backpacker community, vibrant cafe culture and lively beachfront parties. Just under half a million people live across the city centre, surrounding neighbourhoods and well-developed seaside promenade. If you’re after an amalgamation of city and beach living – with an abundance of museums and markets – Nha Trang is the place for you, but for an upscale, local gem with a slower pace of life, you can’t look past Cam Ranh. As an added bonus, Cam Ranh is closer than Nha Trang to the Cam Ranh International Airport, which services both regions.
3. It’s home to one of Vietnam’s finest beaches
Spanning nearly 17 kilometres, Long Beach (also known as Bai Dai) is a tranquil paradise of crystal-clear water and soft white sand. Unlike the busier beaches of Nha Trang, here the only sights and sounds are the surrounding mountains and the gentle whisper of lapping waves.
4. You can immerse yourself in Vietnamese culture
For decades, Vietnam has enchanted tourists with its friendly locals, exceptional cuisine, commitment to music and crafts, bustling markets, ancient towns and vibrant neighbourhoods. Cam Ranh has its country’s beloved customs and experiences in spades, with temples devoted to agricultural deities, vibrant fishing prayer festivals and the Gac Ma Memorial Complex, a historic monument honouring fallen Vietnamese soldiers. Take time to visit neighbouring Nui Chua National Park – home to eleven separate species of turtle – and explore tiny Binh Ba Island, just beyond the bay of Cam Ranh.
