On the eastern side of the city, Ulsoor Lake represents an idyllic place par excellence, as it is ideal for both taking a stroll and relaxing in the sun. The artificial lake was constructed by Kempe Gowda II, and its area of more than 1.5 square kilometres is dotted with islands, so boating also became very popular.

'Vinpearl' spell out the giant white letters across the bay from mainland Nha Trang, marking the location of a massive theme park and recreation area that is best reached via a scenic cable car ride (the world's longest sea-crossing cable car at 3.3km long). There is plenty to discover: from thrilling 'dry' rides such as the Sky Wheel and ZipLine to the extensive offerings of the water park, to seeing the park's animal residents (most notably on Monkey Island) at the on-site zoo and aquarium. There is a namesake resort here in case you want to stay close to the action, plus a few beaches that are much more pleasant for swimming than the public beach in Nha Trang city.

Dedicated to the Hindu monkey god, Hanuman, this impressive palace complex was constructed between the 4th and 8th centuries and then expanded considerably in the 17th. Spread over 5 acres, it contains the Royal Palace and many beautiful temples and courtyards. Unfortunately, the complex was severely damaged during the 2015 earthquake and reconstruction is still underway.

Partially inspired by the St Paul’s Cathedral in London, this one maintains a colonial style of architecture. Saint Mark Cathedral is located on the busy Mahatma Gandhi Road, boasting a magnificent dome, Roman arches and the best-maintained church bells in the city.