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Text and photos:Khue Viet Truong
Nha Trang, with a 20km stretch of coastline and incredibly charming beaches on the developing offshore islands, is a paradise for tourists to explore various water sports. Whether adventurous or romantic, these activities always provide visitors with a relaxing feeling, allowing them to enjoy the wonderful experience amidst the captivating beauty of this member of the Club of the World's Most Beautiful Bays.
The first exciting activity is parasailing. For thrill-seekers, this activity offers breathtaking views of the vast ocean while suspended in a parachute, towed by a speedboat. Each parasailing session typically lasts 15 minutes per speedboat ride. Guided by an instructor, participants are instructed to attach a safety harness and wear a life vest. With their feet on the ground, the speedboat pulls the parachute upwards. The wind then releases the parachute, lifting the participant into the air. During the Miss World 2010 competition held in Nha Trang, many contestants thoroughly enjoyed participating in this parasailing activity during their beach outing at Doc Let beach.
Even though you're flying high in the sky at an altitude of 70-100 meters, you can rest assured that there's always a safety boat following below. When you land, if you fall into the sea, the life vest you're wearing will keep you afloat, and then the boat will pull you up. The feeling of being high above, gazing down at the tiny Nha Trang sea while your parachute sways in the wind, is a feeling of accomplishment. Just one paragliding session and you'll almost certainly be hooked on the thrill of flying high!
Another exciting adventure activity in Nha Trang is jet skiing. This activity can be enjoyed by two or one person on a single jet ski with a throttle control made of composite plastic, allowing for smooth handling. However, it might be difficult for those who aren't into speed. To ride a jet ski, you only need to pay for a 30-minute or 1-hour rental, with guidance from an instructor on how to control the throttle and steer. To stop, simply release the throttle for safety. Riding a jet ski on the Nha Trang sea is an incredibly exhilarating experience. Jet skis are readily available at almost every tourist spot in Nha Trang.
Less common and requiring prior training is surfing. In this sport, with just a board as your "toy," you can freely glide across the waves. Smooth control will help you avoid falling. Technically, surfing becomes much more difficult if you can't keep up with the waves; you could be knocked over. A simpler option is to rent a kayak and paddle leisurely across the sea. Small kayaks can accommodate two people, while larger ones can carry up to ten.
Currently, there are many diving spots around Nha Trang. This is also a thrilling and impressive water sport. For simpler diving, just going down to a depth of 5 meters or using a snorkel, visitors can dive at Hon Tam Tourist Area and Monkey Island (Hon Lao). The diving spot at Hon Tam is located in Zone C, where there are many intact coral reefs and hundreds of beautiful reef fish species. At Hon Lao, the diving spot is located at the end of the island. The diving spot at Hon Mun is particularly attractive to tourists because it has almost all the coral reefs and over 350 species of marine fish at a depth of 15-20 meters. To dive, even without any prior diving lessons, visitors will receive 15 minutes of instruction from a guide, then put on a scuba tank, fins, and a weight to sink into the water. After putting on the scuba tank, you jump into the sea from the boat at the diving spot, and the guide will swim alongside you to prevent accidents. Scuba diving is a sport enjoyed by many because it offers a fresh perspective on the fascinating world of marine life in the ocean.
At the northern islands (Nha Phu Lagoon) of Long Phu Tourism Joint Stock Company, there are also group sports activities such as controlling warships to battle sea monsters, using rafts to cross the sea, which are incredibly thrilling. Meanwhile, at the southern islands like Hon Mot and Tri Nguyen, the coracle boating model is very popular with tourists. The coracle boat is explained as having been invented by Vietnamese fishermen to avoid boat taxes during the French colonial period, and later became a mobile and fast means of transportation on the sea. Controlling the coracle boat to move in a straight line is certainly not easy for first-time visitors.
The water sports at tourist destinations in Nha Trang offer visitors the opportunity to experience a range of exciting emotions during their trip to the beautiful coastal city of Nha Trang, and are especially attractive during the summer months.
