Set against a backdrop of rugged mountains, Nha Trang, capital of Phu Khanh Province, is located on a three-mile long crescent-shaped beach of fine, smooth white sand. Its name comes from "latrang", or river reeds. The main attractions of the coastal town are the monumental Cham Towers and white sand beaches. The area is also known to have the best coastal climate in Vietnam. The port was established in 1924 and became a popular recreational spot for American sailors during the Vietnam War. Nha Trang's earlier existence, however, goes back to the Cham Kingdom, a civilization that originated with the migration of Malay-Polynesians.