Nha Trang is renown for its transparent turquoise waters and its beautiful municipal beach. Although coconut palm trees provide shelter, along the six km of beachfront, it is at sunrise and sunset that the locals prefer to swim and stroll. The area has many fishing boats which take advantage of the 250 days of calm sea per year. A cruise from Nha Trang will allow you to reach tiny idyllic fishing villages where the residents use two-meter-wide round baskets made of woven bamboo strips to transport themselves to boats.
Starting in the 2nd century, the kingdom of Champa developed a rich Indian-influenced civilization. However, it was based partly on piracy and eventually came to an end with the conquest by the Vietnamese emperors in the 12th century. Some of the best-preserved Cham structures can be found at Thap Cham, as well as in Nha Trang. Many descendants of the Cham now live near Chau Doc.
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