Jungle Beach June 2010

After finishing my current job for the summer (and for good before changing schools) Chi, Louisa and I took an overnight train to Nha Trang. Presenting the Shinkansen of Vietnam.


Nice cosy compartments with only two bunks, decent enough mattresses, curtains, small reading lights and wall paneling. Still slow but comfortable. Tickets cost between 400,000 - 500,000 dong. With the hours of slow rocking and trundling Lou certainly had no problems getting a good sleep.


Where were we heading? Jungle Beach to be exact. I have written about it before. Around 60km north of Nha Trang - that's 40km down the Highway and then turning at the Hyundai sign which leads down past the shipyard and onto a relatively untouched peninsula where JB sits on probably the best beach in Vietnam (definitely the best that I've been to). Upon arrival we chose our accommodation, a bamboo house with en suite for $35pp (all food inclusive). Most of the rooms use a shared toilet block and cost $25pp.




The beach is perfect, especially at this time of year where during the summer months the sea is like a millpond. At all times of day the water is shallow for a good 50 meters making it perfect for kids, and late afternoon the tide goes out leaving an expanse of wet sand and inch high waves lapping the beach.

Bamboo shades to protect from the hot summer sun.


Looking back at JB




Late afternoon






Lou loves the sand!

We then went to Diamond Bay for a night. Still clinging on to its hosting of Miss Universe as a claim to fame, we found this place a poor 4 Star compared to the 'no star' qualities of JB. JB is basic, no air-con, simple bamboo rooms and furniture, communal mealtimes, free lemon juice, a few steps from an amazing beach and swimming. Diamond Bay is small 'Garden Superior' rooms for rack rate of $160++, bathrooms with a hole drilled in the floor because the drain doesn't drain, a buffet breakfast that was tasteless. It is one of those resorts where everything is miles away and guest are whisked around by golf buggies. By far my biggest gripe though has to be the pool area - great if you are a couple, the pool is huge, one of the biggest I've seen probably bar VinPearland. But no kids pool. Just a vast pool for swimming but nowhere for kids (toddlers at least) to safely splash around. After having spent 4 days at JB with Lou running and splashing around on the beach it was tiresome.



Diamond Bay has it's own private bay, with name of the resort in big tacky letters painted on a concrete wall.


One of the private beaches, the other you need to go to in a golf buggy.

The comparison is symbolic and for myself as a traveller I am always looking for value balanced with authenticity. JB has both, the beach is isolated and remote, quiet and exotic. It's the kind of place that reminds me I am in South East Asia and floods me with nostalgia remembering similar such experiences when I was backpacking many years ago. Diamond Bay is overpriced, thoughtlessly designed and reeks of artificiality.

My choice will always be the 'Jungle Beach' of resorts when on the road - if lucky enough to find it.