TRAVEL stunning rooftop clubs such as the newly-opened ‘Skylight’, perched atop the Best Western Havana Hotel – complete with working lighthouse 43 stories up! No matter the budget, it was obvious in each venue we went to that they pride themselves on a high level of service. The next day we told ourselves we should probably do more than just lie by the pool, so we walked the local streets in search of a BBQ restaurant recommended to us by a Vietnamese friend back home. Like many of the restaurants we enjoyed most, it didn’t exude much street appeal, but the food definitely lived up to the hype. We enjoyed barbecued pork ribs and marinated beef strips with the locals, washed down with Bia Saigon and garlic fried rice. For dinner we again consulted our lifeline, Trip Advisor, and settled on ‘Lanterns’, a wonderfully colourful restaurant that runs not only cooking classes, but tours of local schools and orphanages. One day every week their volunteer staff provide lunches to anyone in need, and also provide scholarships to over 200 local school children. Again, the generosity and kindness of the Vietnamese people was evident. For a country that’s seen more than its share of conflict and loss, it’s a testament to their spirit that they want to always improve, and look forward, rather than back. Nha Trang was slightly different to our previous stops in that another culture is firmly engrained in the cultural fabric, with the huge number of Russians that fly in direct from Moscow. Almost every menu and store name was written in both English and Russian – yet another language for the poor locals to get their heads around! On our final day in Nha Trang, we decided we could no longer ignore the main attraction, and travelled over three kilometres on the world’s longest over-water cable car to Hon Tre Island, better known as the home of VinPearl Land (a Disney-like family theme park) and various luxury island resorts, opened by the country’s first billionaire, Pham Nhat Vuong. We didn’t stay long, as the park is more suited to families and was also under construction in the quiet season – but the view it offered across the bay back to the city was worth the ride. Eat • Sailing Club • Lac Canh BBQ Restaurant • Lanterns • Skylight 360 Sky Deck & Rooftop Beach Club Stay • Sheraton Nha Trang (26 Tran Phu Street, Nha Trang City) Play • Hon Tre Island pindaramagazine.com.au Pindara Magazine 73
Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Six
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