Vung Tau
A Travel Guide to Vung Tau
Home to the nearest beaches to Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau has become a popular weekend getaway for locals and expats alike. It’s the perfect place to reset from city life, with a calmer pace of life and lots of outdoors things to do, from hiking and surfing to enjoying viewpoints and sunbathing, there is something to suit all here. This travel guide to Vung Tau will help you plan your own beach escape.
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Vung Tau at a glance
Vung Tau is the capital city of Ba Ria Provence, only 95km south-east of Saigon which makes it a great side trip to take after spending a few days in the big city. During the colonial era, the city offered a seaside oasis for wealthy French and Vietnamese diplomats, and as such it still retains some colonial mansions and European influences. Nowadays it is a working beach city with business in fishing and oil and of course tourism thanks to the beaches that flank both sides of the peninsula.
How long to stay – 1-2 days is the perfect length of time to stay, as the sites can be squeezed into one day, leaving another day to relax by the beach.
Best time of year – Dec to May has the most reliable weather, with blue skies and high temps (~35°C). The summer months are the wettest time of year with the potential for storms.
Things to see in Vung Tau
Most people come to Vung Tau to be near the ocean and spend time on the beaches. There are two main beaches, one on each side of the peninsula. Front beach is the best for sunbathing and swimming (you can rent deck chairs or loungers for ~50k a day), and the back beach is perfect for watching the sunset. Here are some other things to see and do during your trip.
Hike the Christ of Vung Tau
Situated atop Small Mountain (Nui Nho), the Christ of Vung Tau is the largest Christ statue in Vietnam sitting 36 meters high. It’s a stair climb (~800 steps) to the top, and you are rewarded with a great view over the city. You can climb up to the top of the statue via a 133-step staircase inside for a small fee.
📍 Thuy Van, Phuong 2, Thanh pho, Vung Tau
Views from the Lighthouse
The Lighthouse is one of the oldest buildings in the city, built during the French colonial period in 1862. 156 years later and it’s still operational. Though you can’t go inside, you get stunning 360° views of the city from the small hill it’s situated atop.
📍 Ngọn hải đăng Vũng Tàu
Surf at Back Beach
Though not as popular as Mui Ne for surfers, Vung Tau does have some good winter swells. The waves at back beach aren’t huge, making it a great place for beginners to learn and practice surfing. Check out the surf report here, and you can rent boards and book lessons at Beach Club Surf Station.
Beach Club Surf Station📍 8 Thùy Vân, Phường Thắng Tam
Hike Nui Dinh Mountain
While the south of Vietnam certainly isn’t known for its mountains, Ba Ria province does boast one peak called Nui Dinh which has many trails and a couple of small waterfalls to explore. Nui Dinh is a popular place for trail runners, with monthly trips for runners from Saigon (La Holista sometimes run trips, as do Run Club Vietnam), but it’s also easy to go by yourself.
✍️ Check out this guide by Vietnam Coracle for more information about Nui Dinh Mountains and Springs
How to get to Vung Tau
The most efficient way to travel from Saigon to Vung Tau is by ferry however, the bus is marginally cheaper. I’ve always opted to drive myself as it’s only a few hours from the city.
The fastest way to get to Vung Tau is the express speed boat which takes 1.5hr. The boats are modern and well equipped, with AC toilets and even wifi/entertainment. The ferry is operated by Greenlines through which you can book directly.
⏰ 2 hours
💰 200-250k
Getting around Vung Tau
Vung Tau is a medium-sized city, so you will likely need to use taxis, like Vinasun, or Grab to explore fully. If you can drive then you could rent a motorbike with assistance from your accommodation*
What to eat in Vung Tau
As a beach and fishing town, most restaurants sell fresh seafood which I highly recommend trying while you’re here. I also recommend trying one of the regional dishes, banh khot.
Eat banh khot
Banh khot are mini fried pancakes, similar to banh xeo, made with pork, shrimp or squid. To eat you wrap the mini pancakes in salad leaves and dip into nuoc mam (fish sauce with chilli and garlic). Apparently, the best place to try authentic banh khot is at Co Ba Vung Tau, though I tried many restaurants and they were all really good.
Co Ba Vung Tau📍1 Hoang Hoa Tham
Where to stay in Vung Tau
The best area to stay is on the peninsula, somewhere between the front and back beach. Staying here will give you easy access to the main attractions and put you within walking distance to many restaurants, bars and beaches. Browse all the accommodation options here* or check out my top picks.
📍 Secret Garden Coffee and Homestay*
📍 The Wind Mountain Side Hotel*
Daily budget
Vung Tau is a very budget-friendly destination, especially as most of the things to do here are cheap or free.
🛏 ~$5
Accommodation is very budget-friendly. Hostel dorm beds from ~120k, and private rooms from ~250k. Browse all accommodation options here*.
🍜 ~$11
There are many budget-friendly restaurants and street vendors, making eating out cheap. I estimate around 250k a day for food, more if you plan on drinking.
🚗 ~$8.50
The cheapest way to get to Vung Tau from Saigon is by bus, though the boat will get you there faster. Book the ferry here, or the bus here*.
📸 ~ $5
Everything to do in Vung Tau is either free or extremely cheap. The largest expense will be renting a motorbike if you decide to rent one.
22 Bach Dang street, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City, Vietnam.