We arrived in Nha Trang on New Year’s eve. Nha Trang felt similar to other resort/beach town type cities I have been to (for example, Cannes, Punta del Este etc.) in that there is a beach, main strip, and hotels/resorts all up and down the strip.
The airport – Cam Ranh (CXR) – was about a 45 minute drive to the hotel. I stayed at the Intercontinental – Nha Trang. Unfortunately, it was raining for most of the 3 days/2 nights I was there, but… I loved the hotel!
First, check in was amazing. As an IHG member, and/or if you book a room with lounge access, you are brought to the 18th floor for separate check in inside the lounge. There, you can order complimentary food and drinks. The food is very good for a hotel lounge. For breakfast, I had banh mi sandwiches, and this delicious beef stew which had some curry added to the sauce, Served with a baguette, it was so good, I had it the next day also.
I was given room 1704. I was completely surprised when I first entered the room – how big it was, the quality of the finishing, and the view. There was a huge master bedroom, with glass corner view of the water.
There was a huge master bathroom with very nice finishing, and a nice shower. The tub also had a corner glass view of the water.
There was also a living room with a balcony, dining area etc.
We had a PERFECT VIEW of the New Year fireworks later that evening.
While the beach and water are not as beautiful as other beaches in the world, it is still a nice setting. If it was not raining, I am sure that a stroll down the strip would be nice to check out all the other hotels and things to see. The waves are very strong and I do not think people actually swim at this beach, though there are numerous clubs and areas to lounge on the beach.
The following day, I went to check out Po Nagar, an ancient Cham temple, about 20 minutes by Grab from the hotel (Grab is the SE Asian version of Uber – my experience in Vietnam is that it works perfectly. I have always had very professional and courteous drivers and clean, modern vehicles). I definitely recommend paying a visit to Po Nagar.
It rained heavily while I was in Nha Trang, so I spent a lot of time in the hotel, which was not a bad thing. I loved this hotel, and cannot say enough good things about it. While there were minor things that went wrong, and the spa was not outstanding as the rest of the hotel, I would definitely recommend staying here. In fact, although I am a Starwood guy, this stay has made me consider spending more time in Intercontinental Hotels.
Morning view and off to Danang.
Next Stop Danang…