Jungle beach is a little cluster of bamboo and palm leaf huts on the South China sea run by a flamboyant Amercian whose laissez faire attitude pervades the whole ‘resort’ - if you can call it that.

The huts are very basic - thin foam mattresses on bamboo platforms with mossie net - no windows so the breeze off the sea provides air con. An hour’s trip from Nha Trang, it’s the perfect pitstop if you’re travelling the length of the country and a great place to relax and recharge between cities.

There’s nothing to do except swing in hammocks, go for walks along the beach (swimming is quite dangerous due to strong currents) visit a local waterfall - and eat.

Fantastic home-cooked meals are served around a communal table and at night there’s a lot of swapping of travellers' tales and drinking of beer. During our stay there was a real mix from posh teenage backpackers to an ageing biker. I thought a day or two would be enough but we ended up staying four and didn’t want to leave. It’s amazing how good doing nothing feels.

You need to book the accommodation in advance - so that they can arrange a pick up from Nha Trang airport (getting there independently would be tricky).

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A stunning little island about 80km north of Nha Trang, Whale Island has only one small resort with superb food, very good diving (by VN standards) and gorgeous bungalows. It's not cheap, but it's utterly beautiful and very relaxing.

www.iledelabaleine.com/

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A Canadian/Vietnamese couple runs this small, relaxed guesthouse with hammocks and 3km of its own beach. The £10 daily fee includes basic accommodation and three amazing meals per day served on a large communal table.

Relax, trek in a jungle, or hike over the boulders to a lovely natural swimming pool under a water fall. The place is sociable and especially popular with backpackers.

60km north of Nha Trang. Get off at the DocLet bus stop and ask waiting motorbike drivers to drop you to Jungle Beach. You can also arrange a van pickup with Canadian owner Sylvio. Email for booking and arrangements: syl@dng.vnn.vn

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Relax on the beach in style by day – rent a sun lounger, get a massage and have food and drinks brought out to you – then party by night. Great place to watch the sunset from the beach bar, which then has DJs and dancing til late. Also has restaurants if you want a fix of western food (Indian, Italian etc).

72 Tran Phu, Nha Trang;
tel (84-58) 826 528;
www.sailingclubvietnam.com

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