Nha Trang — From Yersin’s “Promised Land” to Vietnam’s Capital of Heritage and Luxury Tourism
More than a century ago, Dr. Alexandre Yersin, Governor-General Paul Doumer, and the British author Gabrielle Maude Candler Vassal all left heartfelt impressions when they set foot in Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa. Whether merely passing through or devoting their lives to the region as Yersin did, they were captivated by this tranquil land of mountains and sea, where nature, culture, and humanity intertwined in perfect harmony.
1. Alexandre Yersin – The Scientist Who Made Nha Trang His Home
In April 1891, Alexandre Yersin, a Swiss-French physician, was appointed ship doctor aboard the Sài Gòn vessel of the French Messageries Maritimes company. During his voyage from Sài Gòn to Hải Phòng, as the ship anchored off Nha Trang, Yersin was instantly mesmerized by the coastal beauty. In a letter to his mother, he wrote:
“It is a pity the ship only stopped for an hour and we could not go ashore. This mountainous land looked truly magnificent.”
On July 29, 1891, on his return voyage to Sài Gòn, he obtained permission from the captain to disembark and explore the land that had enchanted him. The serene beaches, crystal-clear rivers, tropical colors, and gentle climate convinced Yersin he had found his ideal retreat.
Settling permanently in Nha Trang, he established a laboratory — the precursor to today’s Pasteur Institute Nha Trang — and later a horse farm in Suối Dầu to produce serum for the plague vaccine. Living humbly among the villagers of Xóm Cồn, he taught, healed, farmed, and became affectionately known as “Ông Năm Yersin.”
When he passed away, Yersin left a moving final wish:
“I want to be buried at Suối Dầu, face-down, head toward the sea, to forever embrace this land.”
His modest grave on a Suối Dầu hillside remains a place of quiet pilgrimage — where locals and travelers alike pay homage to the man who made Vietnam his homeland.
2. Paul Doumer – A Visionary’s Gaze Over Van Phong and Nha Trang Bay
In 1897, Paul Doumer, Governor-General of Indochina (later President of France), visited Khanh Hoa and was overwhelmed by the grandeur of Van Phong Bay. In his memoir L’Indochine Française (1903), he wrote:
“Nature has created here one of the world’s most magnificent regions. The bays are deep and calm — a safe haven for an entire fleet.”
With the trained eye of an engineer and administrator, Doumer foresaw Khanh Hoa’s potential as a maritime and tourism hub. On a moonlit night aboard the Manche anchored in Nha Trang Bay, he reflected:
“At that corner of the sea where the highest peaks, rocky isles, and forests surround you on all sides, the tropical moon casts its white radiance… Nha Trang appeared like a vast lake of snow-white light — serene, ethereal, otherworldly.”
From that early vision, Nha Trang gradually evolved from a fishing village into a strategic port and eventually, a jewel of Vietnam’s central coast.
3. Gabrielle Vassal – The Woman Who Painted Nha Trang With Words
In 1904, Gabrielle Maude Candler Vassal, wife of a British physician working at the Pasteur Institute, arrived in Nha Trang and chronicled her experiences in Mes Trois Ans d’Annam (1910). She recalled:
“When our ship reached Nha Trang at dawn, I thought I had stepped into paradise. The sea shimmered turquoise, the mountains rose dramatically, and the air was pure beyond belief.”
Her memoir captured not only the natural beauty but also the customs and humanity of early-20th-century Vietnamese coastal life. Through her words, Nha Trang emerged as both poetic and melancholic — a sleeping muse awaiting awakening.
4. Nha Trang Today – From Fishing Village to Capital of Luxury & Heritage
More than a hundred years later, that sleeping muse has awakened. Once described by Vassal as a “small fishing village of 3,000 souls,” Nha Trang has become an international-class coastal destination, welcoming over 9 million visitors in 2024, including 2.5 million international travelers.
According to LuxGroup.vn, the region is now positioned as “The New Capital of Luxury Cruising in Asia.” With world-class boutique cruise brands such as Emperor Cruises®, Heritage Cruises®, and Amiral Cruises®, LuxGroup® is reviving Vietnam’s maritime heritage through art, culture, cuisine, and storytelling — transforming each voyage into an immersive journey through history.
In 2025, Emperor Cruises® Legend Nha Trang returns in a new form — inspired by Emperor Bao Dai’s royal lifestyle and the Indochine artistic spirit — expressing LuxGroup’s guiding philosophy: “Luxury is Culture – Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication.”
This vision belongs to Dr. Pham Ha, Founder and CEO of LuxGroup®, who pioneered the Vietnam Waterways® national brand — a contemporary continuation of industrialist Bạch Thái Bưởi’s century-old dream of “Vietnamese people mastering Vietnamese waters.”
5. Living Heritage – Sailing Through Time
If Nha Trang once captured the hearts of Yersin, Doumer, and Vassal, today it embarks on a new chapter — one defined by heritage travel and responsible luxury.
Aboard LuxGroup’s cruises, travelers slow down and reconnect: savoring sunsets over the bay, dining under the stars, and listening to tales of Yersin — the doctor who chose Nha Trang as home; Emperor Bao Dai — Vietnam’s last monarch; and Bạch Thái Bưởi — the “King of Ships” who symbolized the Vietnamese entrepreneurial spirit.
Every experience becomes a passage through time, where history, art, and modern hospitality converge. As Dr. Pham Ha often says:
“Luxury is not about gold or glitter — it is about culture, craftsmanship, and connection.”
And so, more than a seaside city, Nha Trang has become the soul of Vietnam’s maritime heritage — where the past and the future flow together with every tide.