Nha Trang - One City, Two Worlds

The site of a long sandy beach,  Nha Trang illustrates the dual characteristic of a developing nation. The modern city, created by the French in the early 19th century, is an attractive beach tourist center with 600,000 visitors a year.

Tourists come from other parts of Vietnam, neighboring countries, Russia and some Scandinavians, according to our guide.  They arrive at Nha Trang, and also at Danang, via runways built by Americans during the Vietnam War.  Attractive beachside restaurants offer lounge chairs facing the beach and some offer Russian versions of their menus.

A few miles away, a cacophony of bargaining in a densely populated covered market continues a traditional life, albeit accompanied by the continuous drone of the motorbikes at its edge. Women vendors cleave parts of animals acquired from butchers to the serving size wanted  by a customer. Vegetables, fruits, clothes and gold jewelry are offered in specific part do the market, the gold providing the bank wary a place to keep their savings.

The two worlds blend in a city market offering ranks of watches, cameras, souvenirs and clothing to everybody.