Nha Trang

Nha Trang, the capital of Khanh Hoa Province, is a resort town with a population of 300 000. Its beautiful

beaches have attracted Vietnam's elite since Emperor Bao Dai built his five villas in the area in the 1920's.

The daughter of a war hero supports her family by selling

food on the beach of one of the islands near Nha Trang.

The Brahman Temple, Nha Trang Huu Doc or Po Nagar, is located

on a hill overlooking the northern entrance to Nha Trang.

The central temple is dedicated to the

Cham Goddess, Po Ino Nagar, the

Lady Mother of the Kingdom.

Only four of the original eight temples dating

from between the 6th and the 11th centuries

still exist and are undergoing restoration.

Vietnamese Buddhists have adopted the

Cham goddess naming her Thien Na Y A.

The original statue was decapitated

and the head is in a Paris museum.

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