Vietnam, World Cruise 2017

Nha Trang

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A dull, humid morning as we made our approach through the islands surrounding this port.  Fishing boats everywhere and nets galore, strung out in ‘strings’, ready to catch the unwary; getting them caught in the azipod’s propellers is not at all good. The nylon could get into the seals, if that is, they manage to get past the ‘spurs’ which are on the hubs. Their function?  Cut the line before it gets there. Fortunately, by keeping eyes well ahead, we avoid them in good time, however, anyone watching would wonder why we were weaving in a strange manner.  

The pilot boat came out to greet us, more of a ‘token’ really as we kept the conn.  The pilot was quickly followed by 9 Immigration officers, climbing up the ladder, they had come to give us clearance before, or just after we docked.  

 Arrival

Departure 

An overview

The approach

…and the dock. The cable-car is the dotted line.

 

The dock (and market stalls)

across the harbour, ferries plying to and fro.

Bringing in the rubbish

Cable-car above us

Passengers alighting from a ferry

Nha Trang is a small but busy little place.  A nearby island houses a large theme park, hotels and chalets and it is a popular destination for both Vietnamese and, strangely, Russians.  

There is also a cable-car which takes visitors from the mainland to the island and this goes over our bow.  When we depart, the gondolas are stopped, the cable tightened and we squeeze under with a metre to spare; once through, it all starts again!  We, (moi, Karen, Hazel, Harry and Laura) jumped in a van and went to see some of the sites.  I’d been here before, however hadn’t managed to see some of the history.  

First to the Po Nagar temple, what was remaining dates back to the 10th century and work continued later.  Much of it had been destroyed over the years.  

 

Beautiful dancers performed religious dances, (donations welcome, of course)

Then onto the Long Son Pagoda with its 24 metre Buddha on top of a hill.  

Then the French-built Catholic cathedral (1929) and final stop was the market.  

I caught this beautiful bride, posing for her photographer

I hopped out for few photos and then jumped back in the transport, Larry, Hazel and I were having nothing to do with pesky markets and left the 2 ladies to it, returning to the ship.  By now is was hot (31C/88F) and very humid, some air-conditioning was called for; was it really only 2 weeks ago the crew were making snowballs on the aft Lido deck, (many of them had never seen snow)?

I am going to leave you with a montage of photos which are difficult to put into a particular subject as they are odd, pretty and somehow typical of Vietnam.

Coconut drinks were available everywhere

and 1 which I photographed before I drank it, fresh from the fridge

The lady who was serving me coconut

Road-side flower sellers

..and souvenirs

Temple souvenirs

The boys having coffee and a chat

Taking the vegetables to market

Taking the paint home????

Selling fresh fruit

The coast-road

‘Ferries’ in the dock

 I write in the evening, having departed Nha Trang, we are now on our way to the gateway port for Ho Chi Min city (Saigon), which is Phu My.  A pilot at 4 a.m. and a 17-mile transit of the meandering river, what an uncivilised hour  😯

5 thoughts on “Nha Trang”

  1. Love seeing all the updates and photos. Give Laura and Larry a hug for me. Looks like ya’ll are having a blast. Kvb

  2. Thanks for the great photos these brought back memories from our visit. The trip is half over how is the shopping going for Karen (and perhaps you)?

  3. Dear Captain, don’t know why, perhaps it was the warm climate or your solo slender figure in one of these photos by Karen, but for some reason, suddenly in a flash back, there you were again, the same slender, nice man wading out to us on Lifeboat # 9 to oversee the rescue of the passengers. In memory, I slipped down and out the Lifeboat 9 door onto your shoulders and then down into the water to wade up to shore. You were such an inspiration both to guests and crew for your leadership and presence in Rarotonga.

  4. I remember our call there with you 4 years ago…..hot and humid but Susan loved the market and stalls- (shades of Karen) and I got a haircut and manicure at one of the hotels for a total of $10usd.
    Yes quite a weather change from Japan and China for sure.
    Yesterday was MAX’s 2nd birthday and Cara is now one month old. So busy with the grandchildren this year. Love to all our friends and crew on board

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