Exploring the West
Once the capital of the province, Dien Khanh district has more older hamlets than Nha Trang, and an endless array of countryside vistas set amongst its numerous winding roads and low hills. From Dien Khanh you can reach Khanh Vinh district, at the provincial western frontiers, and the looming Trung Son mountains with pockets of ethnic minorities eking out a living on the rugged slopes.
There are some wonderful places to visit in this area that are often part of package tours led by agencies in Nha Trang, plus a never ending amount of exploration for the more adventurous. Two tour companies in Nha Trang offer adventure tours to the west, including mountain biking, river rafting, hiking, and fishing.
The main sights are: 
- Dien Khanh Citadel and Ha Dua Church
- Am Chua Temple
- Suoi Do Mountain Pagoda
- Hon Ba Mountain and Suoi Nguon Stream
- Suoi Tien (Fairy Spring)
- Yang Bay Waterfalls
It’s an area that’s a true reflection of Vietnamese provincial life. Devote one full day to these sights and you won’t regret it! Join a package tour or, better yet, get a group together, hire a car with a driver from one of the agencies, and create your own tailor-made tour to visit your preferred destinations.
Dien Khanh
Heading out of Nha Trang on Highway 1C you’ll pass some wonderful restaurants in peaceful country settings (p.206) that are often packed at night with large groups from the city. Dien Khanh’s main marker is the massive dipterocarp double-tree, referred to as Cay Dau Doi, about 10km from Nha Trang, which is all that’s left of a once immense forest. Behind the tree is a small temple to the area’s most famous hero, Trinh Phong, who fought the French in the 19th century.
Two modest but historically significant sights lay in Dien Khanh city’s center. After passing the Cay Dau Doi double tree, turn right at the first traffic light, opposite a Cao Dai temple. Head through the town’s market center and you’ll pass beneath the northern gate of the Dien Khanh Citadel, built by the Nguyen lords in 1793, in an area that saw scenes of fighting during the French and American wars. Weave along the main road and you’ll reach the southern gate, which you can climb atop if you’re keen. Once surrounding the entire city, all that remains of the fortress today are the chalk red gateways.
After leaving the second gate you’ll come across the Ha Dua Church, with its medieval spires and rustic grey stone walls making it look almost a b a n d o n e d
Originally a wood structure built by French soldiers and missionaries 120 years ago, the current building was put up in 1917. Pre-dating Nha Trang’s Nui Church by 11 years, it’s the oldest in the province, and sees a packed house every Sunday. The inlaid wood ceiling is a thing of beauty, and it’s generally open to the public after 4PM every day. If it’s shut, just prowl around the offices in back and you’ll find a caretaker with keys that can show you inside.
