Travel Adventures
Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle
Camping the Ocean Road Saigon to Nha Trang
As you have probably gathered I love to get outdoors and experience the wonders this fantastic county has to offer. I love camping or should I say glamping as I still like some creature comforts. My friend, Tom on the other hand is a true independent traveller in Vietnam and for a full run down on this article I recommend you visit his web site www. coracle. com. I have chosen a few of the 25 camp sites Tom has written about that I would be comfortable in, the rest I’ ll leave to him. Andrew
Riding the new coast roads from Saigon to Nha Trang, passing superb coastal scenery, is a favourite road trip of mine. All along this route there are campgrounds by the ocean, where you can pitch your tent( or rent one) under palms, eucalyptus, and casuarina trees on the sand, just metres from the surf. New roads have made horrible Highway 1 practically obsolete: only 50km of the entire route is spent on this main artery. A few days riding the ocean roads, admiring the views, swimming in the sea, and camping in the open air is a fantastic way to experience Vietnam’ s south coast. This guide includes a detailed route map and reviews of all the campsites on the Ocean Road from Saigon to Nha Trang.
G U I D E: C A M P I NG THE OCEAN R O A D
ROAD TRIP DETAILS:
Total Distance: 550km Duration: 3 6 days Route: Saigon to Nha Trang via the Ocean Road: coastal, beaches, fishing villages Road Conditions: paved, quiet back roads, new highways.
ABOUT THIS ROUTE & GUIDE:
The new generation of Vietnamese is embracing the‘ backpacker’ mentality of independent travel on the cheap. The result is a mini boom in campsites, especially on the south coast. Most campsites offer other forms of accommodation as well, but their campgrounds are generally well-maintained, cheap, attractive, and well-equipped, with access to the beach and bathroom facilities. Avoid weekends and public holidays, when many of these campsites swell with domestic travellers escaping Saigon. During the week, most of the following places are blissfully quiet. Some campgrounds rent tents; others do not:. Two good shops for camping gear in Saigon are: Fanfan( www. fanfan. vn) and Lều Du Lịch Trúc Linh( www. leudulich. vn). Useful Vietnamese words to jot down for this trip are: cắm trại( camping) and lều( tent). These campsites are open year round, but for perfect camping weather, go during the dry season( November to April).
40 The MAG Vung Tau