Nha Trang’s nightlife economy lags despite big tourism potential

Nha Trang is a bustling beach destination by day, but according to tourism and economic specialists, it lacks diverse night-time offerings.

Nguyen Ba Hung, head of the economics and management faculty at Thai Binh Duong University, said the city's nightlife currently revolves mostly around night markets, cyclo rides, seafood dining, and karaoke.

To boost the night economy and tourism, Hung outlined four key areas for development: expanding connectivity between attractions, integrating technology infrastructure, diversifying cultural and entertainment activities, and strengthening marketing and branding.

He proposed creating a "Nha Trang Night Tour Bus" modeled on a flexible hop-on, hop-off service. 

Visitors could spend an hour at Tram Huong Tower, then ride to the Do Theater for a two-hour show, before returning downtown, all while listening to multilingual audio guides promoting city attractions.

Hung also suggested enhancing cultural events at venues like the Do Theater by incorporating modern technologies such as 3D and augmented reality to offer fresh experiences of Nha Trang's heritage.

Expanding night markets with clear zoning — seafood, agricultural products, traditional goods — is another opportunity, Hung said. 

"Compared to popular tourist cities like Phuket or Pattaya in Thailand, Nha Trang's night markets lack the distinct highlights that attract visitors," he commented. 

"Nighttime is when tourists spend money, so creating the right space and atmosphere is crucial."

He noted that visitors often associate Nha Trang solely with its beaches, which is insufficient to sustain vibrant tourism. 

Innovative promotion, such as inflight videos featuring Nha Trang and QR codes to book tours, could help shift perceptions.

Le Chi Cong, associate professor and head of tourism at Nha Trang University, echoed the need to diversify night-time tourism. 

He said tourists typically spend more on added services after dark — dining, entertainment, shopping — but Nha Trang's night tourism remains concentrated around the night market in Tran Phu Park.

Current night-time activities partially meet visitor and local needs but face challenges in policy, operating hours, variety, and quality.

Cong highlighted additional potential in night bike rentals, smart lockers, night-time beach access, and live music.

"If well developed, night beaches could open up opportunities for entertainment, shopping, and dining after dark," he said.

He also stressed the importance of building a skilled workforce to serve night tourism through training local communities and workers in relevant knowledge and skills.

Nha Trang launches first night beach

Recently, Marina Beach Club Nha Trang opened the city's first night beach inside Ana Marina yacht harbor, covering over three hectares.

The site features lighting both onshore and underwater and operates until 10:00 pm daily.

The Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Tourism Association said the new night beach extends tourism service hours and enhances the city's appeal, encouraging visitors to prolong their night-time leisure activities in Nha Trang.