Cam Ranh Beach is located in Cam Lâm district, Khánh Hòa. The highlight of Cam Ranh is Bai Dai, which features a 16 km long crescent-shaped coastline, close to the airport.
The sea is crystal clear, with white sandy beaches and gentle waves, perfect for relaxation and recreational activities by the sea. Here, a tourism ecosystem has formed, offering a full range of services and numerous experiences.
Cam Ranh has appeared on the world tourism map with Bai Dai being selected by National Geographic as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world, and Cam Ranh Bay is considered one of the most beautiful natural bays globally, alongside San Francisco (USA) and Rio De Janeiro (Brazil)... In 2018, the magazine CnTraveler suggested readers take a vacation in Cam Ranh due to its beautiful beaches with 300 sunny days each year. The dating show The Bachelor from ABC (USA) chose a resort in Cam Ranh as its backdrop.
Visitors should come to Cam Ranh from February to August when the weather is sunny and the sea is calm. The last months of the year are the rainy season in Cam Ranh, but the rain usually only falls in the late afternoon and rarely lasts continuously.
Cam Ranh is located in the southern part of Khánh Hòa province, about 30 km from the center of Nha Trang , conveniently connected by transportation.
Getting to Cam Ranh
By Road
Visitors can reach Cam Ranh by road via National Route 1A or the North-South Expressway (CT01). In 2024, once the Ho Chi Minh City - Cam Lâm expressway is completed, travel time from Ho Chi Minh City will be about 6-8 hours, while from the center of Nha Trang, it will take about 45-60 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. Common transportation options include sleeper buses, private cars, or motorbikes.
By Air
Cam Ranh Airport is located on Cam Ranh Beach. This is an international airport, the main aviation hub of the region, welcoming direct flights from cities such as Seoul and Busan (South Korea), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Almaty (Kazakhstan), and Bangkok (Thailand), along with daily domestic flights from Vietjet Air, Vietnam Airlines, and Bamboo Airways from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang...
Travel time from the airport to the resorts ranges from 5 to 20 minutes, depending on location. Visitors can hire taxis outside the airport (5-7 seat type) or use Vinbus and Dat Moi buses on the Cam Ranh - Nha Trang route, which stop at several points along Bai Dai.
By Train
The Thống Nhất trains departing from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City all stop at Nha Trang station. Visitors can travel to Cam Ranh by bus or taxi.
Getting Around Cam Ranh
Nguyễn Tất Thành is the main road in Cam Ranh, also known as DT6571, connecting from the Cam Ranh Airport area to the center of Nha Trang.
In Cam Ranh, visitors can rent motorbikes for prices ranging from 120,000 VND to 200,000 VND per day, depending on whether it is a scooter or a manual bike.
Visitors can also rent bicycles for prices ranging from 50,000 VND to 120,000 VND. Rental periods are flexible, by the hour, day, or month. Bicycles come in various types.
Shuttle buses from each hotel or resort will also transport guests to certain attractions in Cam Ranh or Nha Trang. Guests should contact in advance for more details.
Over the past decade, the number of hotels and resorts at Cam Ranh beach has rapidly increased. There are currently dozens of resorts, hotels, and homestays operating in the area, offering a variety of accommodation options, including many world-renowned brands.
Luxury Resorts
Top global hotel brands such as JW Marriott, Movenpick, Wyndham, Ana Mandara, Radisson Blu, Westin, Fusion, Melia... as well as other famous brands like The Anam, Alma, Riveria, Selectum Noa, Duyên Hà... all have luxury resorts on Cam Ranh beach.
The resorts are all located along Bai Dai, featuring private beaches, various room categories, and high-end services such as swimming pools, spas, conference areas, entertainment centers, sports facilities, and children's clubs. Prices start from 3 million VND per night.
Hotels and Homestays
In addition to high-end resorts along the coast, the Cam Ranh area also has many hotels and homestays located in North Cam Ranh, Cam Nghĩa, along Hùng Vương Road (National Route 1A), about 5 km from Bai Dai, towards Cầu Mới or the Cam Ranh welcome gate.
Some recommended 2-3 star hotels include Sơn Hiển Hotel, Lan Anh Hotel, Magnolia Cam Ranh, Triều Khang Hotel, Mỹ Ca, Navy Hotel, Santorini Villa... Room rates range from 300,000 VND per night.
Fresh Seafood
The Tidal Lagoon area and the streets near Cầu Mới, at the end of Nguyễn Tất Thành Road (about 10 km from Cam Ranh Airport), are home to many restaurants and eateries offering a variety of options. Visitors can choose from places like Bờ Kè Seafood, Bến Thuyền Seafood, Hải Yến Seafood, Hương Biển Restaurant, Hải sản Mộng Ước, Hải sản Em Ơi... Fresh dishes of the day are available, with comfortable and cool seating. Costs per person start from 200,000 VND.
Cam Ranh is famous for its lobsters, blood clams, oysters, various types of snails, abalone, and mackerel...
Local Specialties
In addition to seafood, visitors to Cam Ranh should not miss local specialties such as bánh xèo, grilled spring rolls, chicken, and bánh căn...
Bánh căn
Bánh căn is baked in clay molds. The cakes are small, round, with a lightly crispy outer layer but soft and fluffy inside. The filling is diverse, including quail eggs, chicken eggs, shrimp, fresh squid, or minced meat. When baking, pork fat is brushed on the mold to create a fragrant aroma. The cakes are served with sweet and sour fish sauce or fermented fish sauce.
>> See more: Bánh căn 2,000 VND in Nha Trang
Ninh Hòa Grilled Spring Rolls
Ninh Hòa Grilled Spring Rolls are also a local specialty. Lean pork thigh is finely ground, mixed with shredded pig skin, seasoned well, then shaped into long rolls, skewered and grilled over hot coals until crispy. When eating, diners wrap the spring rolls with fresh herbs, crispy rice paper, green mango, cucumber, and sour banana. The dipping sauce is made from glutinous rice, soybeans, tomatoes, shrimp, and pig liver, blended until thick.
Bánh xèo
Bánh xèo is usually small, about the size of a hand, with a thin, golden, and crispy crust. The filling typically includes small whole fresh squid, shrimp, pork belly, and bean sprouts. The dish's flavor combines the crispiness of the batter, the natural sweetness of fresh seafood, and the richness of pork fat. The dish is served with diluted fish sauce, sweet and sour, sometimes with fish sauce.
>> See more: 70-year-old squid bánh xèo restaurant in Nha Trang
In addition to the mentioned dishes, Cam Ranh also offers specialties like mango, durian, mangosteen, and many other tropical fruits.
Beach Activities
Beach activities in Cam Ranh are diverse, including thrilling activities like jet skiing, parasailing, banana boating, and surfing, as well as gentler activities like paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling, and team-building activities such as tug-of-war and beach volleyball.
Activities usually take place early in the morning or in the afternoon along Bai Dai. Visitors can refer to organizing units like Sealife, Surfbase, or contact the resorts in advance.
Gạc Ma Soldier Memorial
The memorial was built on an area of 25,000 m2, with an investment of 130 billion VND, completing phase one in 2017. It features a museum of 860 m2, highlighted by an exhibition area displaying photographs and artifacts of 64 soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the battle to defend Gạc Ma, part of the Spratly Islands (Khánh Hòa), along with documents (including letters and ancient maps, images...) about the process of exploration, establishing, and enforcing Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands.
In addition to the museum, the memorial also includes a monument cluster and landscaped areas...
Axi Plaza Shopping Center
Opened in April 2024, located in the center of Bai Dai, Axi Plaza integrates many amenities. The large hall and banquet room on the 3rd floor cover 1,200 m2 and can accommodate 1,000 people. The 360-degree rooftop on the 5th floor is reserved for banquets and events. The indoor and outdoor dining area is on the 4th floor. The 1st floor is for shopping with 46 stores. Axi Plaza also features Shop Street, a new entertainment, shopping, and leisure destination, combining a commercial street model with an open seaside space, featuring restaurants, cafes, and various experiential activities.
Tidal Lagoon
This is a vast lagoon area, stretching over one-third of the Cam Ranh peninsula. It offers lush beauty with coastal mangrove forests and a peaceful, leisurely pace of life on the water. Additionally, the natural hot spring is an attractive destination, drawing visitors with health-enhancing services such as mineral soaking, mud baths, herbal baths, and functional recovery, aligning with wellness travel trends.
Visitors seeking relaxation in an ecological space need only take a few steps from Bai Dai to the Tidal Lagoon.
Từ Vân Snail Pagoda
Từ Vân Pagoda is a famous tourist destination that attracts visitors seeking a peaceful atmosphere. The pagoda was built in 1968 and is also known as Coral Pagoda or Snail Pagoda because entering it feels like stepping into an underwater world, with every nook and cranny adorned with shells, clams, and coral stones. The most impressive structure in the pagoda is the Bảo Tích tower, designed and built by the head monk Thích Thông Anh and other monks over five years.
Citeaux Mỹ Ca Monastery
Located by Cam Ranh Bay, Citeaux Mỹ Ca Monastery was once a famous Catholic architectural structure in Vietnam during the colonial period, designed in the Gothic style. The structure was built in 1934 and completed after four years, serving as a residence for monks. To access this place, the monks had only one way: by boat. Later, due to the impact of the war, the entire monastery had to relocate to another location and has been abandoned ever since. Visitors can see the monastery from the access road to Cam Ranh Airport.
Cam Lâm Mango Orchard
Cam Lâm is considered a major mango-growing region in Khánh Hòa, with thousands of hectares and many varieties from Australia or Hòa Lộc and Canh Nông mangoes. The best season for visits is usually from around April to July, when the orchards are in harvest. Visitors can tour the orchards, learn about planting and care, and pick mangoes themselves. These areas also sell mango specialties such as Cam Lâm mango cakes, dried mango, mango tea, and fresh mangoes.
The mango orchards are located in Cam Hải Tây or Cam Đức, 10 to 20 km from Bai Dai, depending on the area. Travel time is about 20 to 30 minutes. Note that when visiting, it is advisable to wear flat shoes.
Cam Ranh is drier and hotter than Nha Trang, especially from April to August. Visitors should prepare sunscreen, sunglasses, light jackets, and drink plenty of water.
Bai Dai is beautiful but has sections with strong waves and currents. Be cautious not to swim too far out.
The coastal resorts are extensive but have fewer walking and entertainment areas compared to central Nha Trang. The distances between attractions are quite far. To dine and enjoy activities, visitors should rent a motorbike or car.
Ride-hailing taxis are not abundant, and booking a ride can take time, so visitors need to prepare in advance.
Cam Ranh is more focused on relaxation, so the evenings are quite peaceful. If visitors prefer a lively atmosphere, they can explore entertainment areas near Nha Trang or at the bars in the resorts.
Source: according to vnexpress
