August 23, 2026
Nha Trang was our first port in
Vietnam, back on the 12th of August. My first impression, was
OMG it's
HOT here! I have been saying that a lot in Southeast Asia, but it was over 100 degrees that first afternoon.
NhaTrang does not get many cruise ship visitors, because they have no docking facilites, we had to tender into a resort marina, about 15km, North of the City. It is however, a popular beach town, and was bustling with tons of Russian visitors. The beaches and cheap prices are probably the biggest appeal, besides the fact that
Vietnam is also a communist country. There are flags and communist markings all around.
Above is one of the most iconic buildings we saw in Nha Trang along the beachfront- it's called the Thap Tram Huong which translate to Agarwood Tower but it's nothing special. The businesses inside are closed most of the time. The locals say it is meant to reassemble a lotus flower. Below is some more of the local scenery. We just went into town briefly, to a mall to pick up some supplies and cash. We tried walking around to see more but it was too stinking hot!
View more
Vietnam does not allow Starlink Internet, which is one of the reasons I am so behind on my blog post, plus being super busy.
Just about a half hour outside downtown Da Nang are Marble Hills .These five stone hills produce a huge amount of various colored marble that have been made into all kinds of statues, furniture, jewelry and knick knacks. Inside the cavernous spaces of the Hills, lots of temples and shrines have developed. Before getting to the base of the Hills, our driver asked us if we wanted to stop at a Marble Shop, bearing the wares of this marble. The place was huge - with soo many choices! And guess what their prices all have an option to ship to the USA! or I figure any where else in the world! A sales person escorted us through out the spaces. No heavy stones for me despite how pretty!
On our fourth port day in Nha Trang , Bosco, Terri and I took a quick 50 minute flight north to Da Nang, Vietnam to do some deeper exploring inland. Downtown Da Nang spans the Hans River, that opens out to the Da Nang Bay and the East Vietnam Sea. Today, Da Nang is one of the quickest growing cities in Vietnam, known for it's youth (median age is just 35) and dynamic environment.
Little India is a neighborhood in Singapore that I wanted to explore becase I love Indian food and their Temple's have such unique gods and Architecture, super colorful and detailed. Below is the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, Singapore's first temple dedicated to Veeramakaliammam or the Kali , a fierce incarnation of Shiva's wife and the "Destroyer of Evil" .