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Nha Trang is nestled on a small coastal plain wedged between the mountains of the Central Highlands and the sea.

A pass through the Central Highlands at the South Central Coast. Here, the mountains almost meet the shoreline.

The Annamite Range, shown here in yellow and brown, stretches the length of Vietnam. The Central Highlands plateau makes up the southern portion of the chain.

The Annamite Mountains, which run down the length of Vietnam, divides the watersheds of the Mekong River and the South China Sea, known as the East Sea.

Inland Vietnam is characterised by the Annamite Mountain Range, which forms an unbroken spine down the length of the country.

At Nha Trang the mountains of the Central Highlands drop sharply into the sea.

The Central Highlands cover the majority of southern Vietnam, reaching elevations of up to 2,500m in places.

Steep escarpments characterise the Central Highlands' eastern edge, marking the end of the plateau and the start of the coastal plain.

Nha Trang Old Town. The city is surrounded on three sides by the mountains of the Central Highlands which form the southernmost section of the Annamite Range.

Mountains push right up against the shoreline along Vietnam's South Central Coast.

The Central Highlands plateau rises sharply from the low coastal plain at Nha Trang.

Storm clouds roll in across the Central Highlands to Nha Trang. The city is surrounded by mountains on three sides.

The Central Highlands plateau is characterised by its dense forest and rugged peaks that cover most of southern Vietnam.

Nha Trang sea front is quickly becoming built up to cater for more tourists visiting the beautiful coast each year.

Nha Trang Bay was named as one of the top 30 most beautiful beaches in the world for its spectacular sands and clear sea.

Nha Trang is the most popular tourist beach resort in Vietnam for its beautiful bay and modern facilities catering for tourists' needs.

Vietnamese women grill freshly caught fish on the beach at Nha Trang to sell to tourists.

An array of marine species can be found in the waters of Nha Trang Bay that attract scuba divers here, such as this unusual sea anemone.

Beach-goers and wooden fishing boats alongside one of Nha Trang's famous beaches. Thousands of people visit Nha Trang each year to enjoy this scenic bay.

Nha Trang is renowned for its excellent scuba diving, with high levels of marine biodiversity to be found in the coral reefs.

The waters around Nha Trang are full of sea life with abundant coral reefs making this a popular area for scuba diving.

Dive boats such as this take tourists on scuba diving tours of Nha Trang Bay. The bay is one of the prime scuba diving locations in Vietnam for its clear waters and coral reefs.

Fishing boats in Nha Trang Bay. The bay is dotted with around 20 small islands that make for useful stop-off points on a boat tour.

Tourists enjoy Nha Trang's famous beach while looking out on Hon Tre Island, home to the luxury Vinpearl Resort.

Nha Trang Bay is dotted with several islands, the largest of which is Hon Tre. It is linked to the mainland by the longest oversea cable car in the world which is nearly 1.5 times as long as Golden Gate Bridge.

As Nha Trang becomes increasingly popular as a tourist destination the city continues to grow with hotels lining the seafront and more springing up each year.

1962 - A US North American T-28D Trojan aircraft with South Vietnamese markings flies over Vietnam. The US Air Force supported South Vietnam in Nha Trang for eight years.

A 1968 map showing the territory of South Vietnam with Nha Trang and other US air bases marked.

1969 - A hangar at Nha Trang Air Base during its use by the US Air Force in the Vietnam War.

The US Air Force supported the South Vietnamese Army in its air raids on North Vietnam, based from ten air fields including Nha Trang.

The emblem of the 14th Flying Training Wing of the US Air Force who were based at Nha Trang during the Vietnam War. The wing was responsible for training and preparing pilots in the South Vietnamese army.

A US Air Force Douglas A-1E Skyraider armed with rocket launchers in Vietnam. This plane was likely based at Nha Trang between 1966 and 1967.

South Vietnam Air Force planes form the South Vietnamese flag in the sky above Nha Trang to show solidarity during the war.

A South Vietnam Air Force pilot with a US Cessna U-17A plane dressed in South Vietnamese markings at Nha Trang Air Base.

Nha Trang Air Base in 1968 at the height of its use by the US Air Force during its involvement in the Vietnam War.

The main gate of the training base for the Vietnam People's Army at the former US Air Base at Nha Trang. Today, the air base is rarely used in favour of the nearby Cam Ranh Airport.

Nha Trang Air Base museum displays aviation exhibits of the Vietnamese Air Force on the site of the former American air base.

1969 - A US Air Force plane from Nha Trang releases psychological warfare leaflets. Thousands of US planes were flown out of Nha Trang during the eight years in which the US Air Force held post here.

Though it is still in the centre of the city, Nha Trang Air Base is no longer used as an airport after the opening of nearby Cam Ranh International Airport.