Nha Trang countryside tour: Orphanage visit and Cai River

You'll spend time playing and singing with the orphanage children, not just watching from a distance.

A half-day tour of Nha Trang's countryside combines a boat cruise on the Cai River, a visit to Loc Tho Pagoda Orphanage where you interact with around 160 children aged from a few months to nine years, and stops at the Po Nagar Cham Towers and a wooden bridge. The tour includes a local English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch at a riverside restaurant, bottled water and fruit, and a gift box for the orphanage.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Nha Trang countryside and pagoda

• Visit Po Nagar Cham Towers
• See Whale Shrine
• Walk on Wooden Bridge
• Visit Loc Tho Orphanage Pagoda
• Have lunch at Riverside restaurant

The experience

What makes this tour different is the time spent at Loc Tho Pagoda Orphanage itself. You're not dropping by for a photo. Buddhist nuns and volunteers who run the orphanage will introduce you to the children, and you get to play and sing with them. The orphanage provides food, housing, health care and education to abandoned and orphaned children, and the nuns have dedicated their lives to this work. Bringing a gift box for the children is part of the booking.

The route moves through Nha Trang's countryside rather than staying in the city. You'll cruise the Cai River, the longest and most beautiful river in the area, on a private wooden boat. Stops include the Po Nagar Cham Towers, a group of structures built and rebuilt over centuries from the seventh to the 12th centuries, and a wooden bridge where you can walk and photograph daily life in the villages. The Whale Shrine, where local fishermen pray before heading out to sea, is also on the itinerary.

Lunch happens at a riverside restaurant overlooking the countryside, and the tour wraps in the early afternoon. A local guide leads the whole day in English, and the operator handles hotel pickup and drop-off. The tour runs 4 to 5 hours. Moderate fitness is needed for the walking and boat sections. The operator does not recommend this tour for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.

What’s included

• Local English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• private wooden boat on the Cai River.
• lunch at a riverside restaurant.
• bottled water and fresh fruit.
• a gift box for the orphanage children.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (11 to 60 years) · Under 11: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Friendly Travel Nha Trang

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you'll follow the commentary and the children's stories without a language barrier. This tour suits anyone who wants to spend real time with the orphanage kids rather than a quick photo stop, and who's comfortable with a moderate pace of walking and boat time.

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Top questions

What is the Po Nagar Cham Towers and why is it on the tour?

Po Nagar Cham Towers is a group of structures built and rebuilt over many centuries, from the seventh to the 12th centuries. The towers were damaged over time and partly rebuilt with bricks during the French colonial period. It's included because it's a major historical landmark in the Nha Trang area and sits along the countryside route.

Can I interact with the children at the orphanage, or is it just a visit?

You'll play and sing with the children at Loc Tho Pagoda Orphanage. The nuns and volunteers who care for the around 160 children will introduce you to them, and you'll have time to spend with the kids. You'll also learn about the Vietnamese school system during the visit.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes a local English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, a private wooden boat for the river cruise, lunch at a riverside restaurant, bottled water, fruit, and a gift box to bring to the orphanage children.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs 4 to 5 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off, covering the river cruise, the orphanage visit, the Cham Towers, the wooden bridge and lunch.

What should I wear and what fitness level do I need?

Dress in smart casual clothing. You'll need at least a moderate level of physical fitness for walking and time on the boat. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.