Located on the south central
coast of
Vietnam, Cam Ranh Bay is one of the
finest deep-water harbours in the world.
The bay has been touted as the next big
tourist thing for years now, and it’s
not difficult to see why: there are
miles upon miles of stunning and largely
unspoilt coast. Despite this beauty, and
its proximity to Nha Trang, most
travellers pass it by, zipping through
Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR) on
their way to the big smoke further
north.
While the city still has very little
tourist infrastructure, Cam Ranh however
will appeal to intrepid travellers who
love beaches and aren’t afraid of
independent exploration. There are
adequate (though by no means fancy)
hotels in town and, like
Nha Trang to the north, Cam Ranh
benefits from a long dry season, lasting
from around February to September. The
rainy season is short, from October
until January. Though this usually just
means a short afternoon downpour, there
is risk of typhoon. Run-off from the
rains will also turn the typically blue
waters murky.
Cam Ranh Bay has a long history of
military use – it was one of the US
military’s largest bases during the
Vietnam War. When the US packed their
bags and went home, the Soviets moved in
and adopted the facilities until their
presence was scaled back and the Russian
base was eventually closed in 2002.
Today it’s controlled by the Vietnamese
military and it remains one of the most
important strategic bays in Asia. |
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