Nha Trang's historical sites are set against a perfect view of sand beaches, greenery mountains, and unspoiled islands. Nha Trang is ideal for history buffs, as it contains remains of the Champa Kingdom, Buddhist temples, and gothic-style Catholic churches. Before you visit those locations, read on to gain a basic understanding.
Po Nagar Cham Towers
- Opening Hours: Daily 07:30 – 17:00
- Location: 2/4 Street near Xom Bong Bridge, Nha Trang
The Cham people, who once reigned Vietnam's central plain, built the Po Nagar Cham temple complex between the eighth and eleventh centuries. The Chams, who were Hindus, had their own Sanskrit-based script. They are well-known for their abilities in sculpture and architecture, and they left a trail of artifacts and temple settlements not only in Vietnam, but also in Cambodia and Thailand. The Kingdom of Champa came under the influence of the conquering Viet in the 14th century, whose descendants are today's Vietnamese people. In the middle plain, near Danang, a small number of Cham people, now an ethnic minority, still remain.
Despite the fact that the majority of Cham people have converted to Islam, they continue to worship their gods at Po Nagar Cham Towers during the yearly religious festival of Thap Ba, which takes place in late April and early May. Po Nagar Cham Towers are located a few kilometers north of Nha Trang city center on the high ground of Mount Cu Lau on the bank of River Cai. Po Nagar Cham Towers worships the goddess Po Nagar, also known as "The Mother of the Country," who is supposed to have trained the Cham people farming and weaving skills. Po Nagar was thereafter associated by historians with the Hindu deities Bhagavati, Shiva's wife, and Durga, the buffalo-demon slayer.
Po Nagar Cham's towers are made of square red bricks with projecting support frames and tapering roofs. Only four of the original 10 buildings remain, each dedicated to a different deity. The Po Nagar Kalan, the highest building at 25 meters, is the most stunning. Po Nagar was worshipped here, and animal sacrifices were done in her honor, according to historical stone inscriptions. The complex is centered on a tower dedicated to Cri Cambhu, the goddess of fertility. The other two temples are shrines to the Hindu gods Shiva and Ganesh.
Long Son Pagoda & White Buddha
- Opening Hours: Daily 07:30 – 11:30 & 13:30 – 17:30
- Location: Thai Nguyen Street, Nha Trang
Long Son Pagoda, also known as Chua Long Son, is located in Nha Trang on the foothills of Trai Thuy Mountain. The temple is well-known for its large white Buddha image, which sits atop the mountain crest and is visible from anywhere in town. Long Son Pagoda, which was built in 1886 in the Taoist style, has been home to several high-ranking Buddhist monks, as well as the Vietnam Buddhist Studies Foundation, which was created here in 1936.
The entire complex was reconstructed at the current location further down the hill after being devastated by a typhoon in 1990. Long Son had numerous restorations and expansions in its endeavor to replicate an exact reproduction of the original temple, which was hampered at times by the Vietnam War and civil instability. The white Buddha picture was built in 1964, much later.
Long Son Pagoda today is known for its gorgeous and unusual turn-of-the-century Taoist architecture, which is adorned with fantastical animals and Taoist god sculptures. It's also a functioning monastery with a monks' school on the premises. The enormous temple grounds are surrounded by potted topiary and are entered through an outstanding three-tiered roofed gateway with mosaic dragons.
Long Son Pagoda's major attraction, the 24-meter tall white Buddha figure seated on a lotus throne, is reached via 152 steps behind the temple. Around the corner is a massive reclining Buddha with a bas-relief depiction of the monks and nuns who died in the late 1950s while protesting against the corrupt Diem administration. Visitors can get a panoramic view of Nha Trang and the sea beyond from the terrace at the foot of the white Buddha.
Nha Trang Cathedral
- Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday from 05:00 to 17:00, Sunday 04:30 - 20:00
- Location: Nguyen Trai, Phuoc Tan, Nha Trang
The Nha Trang Cathedral is the city's largest church. In Nha Trang, it's known as the stone church or Nui Church. It was built in the early 19th century in the provincial French Gothic style by Priest Louis Vallet on a hill overlooking Nha Trang Train Station. There are two paths that lead up to the cathedral from Nha Trang city. Visitors can access the church via a 53-step stone stairway from Thai Nguyen Street or another stone pathway from the city square that leads to the yard behind the church. The local Catholic community is served by Nha Trang Cathedral, which holds daily Mass between 05:00 and 18:30.
Nha Trang Cathedral, a must-see for any first-time traveler, is one of the coastal town's most significant vestiges of French architecture. The cathedral is formed completely of stone and contains exquisite stained glass windows as well as a square clock tower topped by a big crucifix. Its three cathedral bells, cast in 1789 in France, are still in good working order. The structure also has clues of Vietnamese impacts, such as a pink lighting on the tabernacle, a red neon light detailing the cross, a blue neon on the arch, and a white neon-lit halo topped St. Mary's statue. Outside, the Cathedral of Nha Trang is adorned with multiple saint statues as well as 4,000 tombstones positioned on the sides, which were installed after the adjacent cemetery was leveled in 1988 to expand the city railway station.
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