Tiếng Việt
Vung Tau – A Friendly and Vibrant Coastal City
Just a 2 to 3-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau has long been a familiar getaway for Southern Vietnamese. Not only does it offer long beaches with white sand and clear blue water, but the city also attracts visitors with its cool climate year-round and a laid-back lifestyle blending modernity with tradition. Despite its early tourism development, Vũng Tàu still maintains its unique charm through many natural landscapes and cultural landmarks worth exploring.
Destination Highlights
• Back Beach (Bãi Sau/Thùy Vân) – The most famous beach in Vũng Tàu, featuring a long sandy shore and lively atmosphere, perfect for swimming and water sports.
• Front Beach (Bãi Trước) – Quieter and ideal for watching sunsets, strolling, and enjoying fresh seafood by the sea.
• Christ the King Statue – A prominent city symbol, standing 32 meters tall atop Small Mountain, offering panoramic views of Vũng Tàu’s coastline.
• Vung Tau Lighthouse – A great photo spot, especially at night when the city lights sparkle.
• Pig Hill (Đồi Con Heo) – Known for its stunning sea views, popular with young people for photography and picnics.
Cuisine
• Vung Tau Banh Khot– A standout specialty made from rice flour batter, shrimp filling, crispy fried and served with fresh herbs and sweet-sour fish sauce.
• Fresh Seafood – Vung Tau is famous for affordable seafood restaurants where you can pick your own ingredients and have them cooked on the spot.
• Stingray Hotpot (Lau ca duoi) – A delicious sour and spicy broth with tender, bone-light stingray meat.
• Salted Egg Sponge Cake (Bánh bông lan trứng muối) – A sweet souvenir available at many shops near the beach.
Vũng Tàu doesn’t have many large shopping centers, but you can visit Xom Luoi Market or Vung Tau Market for fresh and dried seafood, shrimp paste, sponge cakes, and other coastal specialties. Souvenir shops near Back Beach also sell handicrafts and gifts.
Accommodation
As a long-established tourist city, Vũng Tàu offers a wide range of accommodations from budget to luxury. Hotels along Thùy Vân Street by the beach are very popular. Additionally, many villas, rental apartments, and homestays have sprung up, ideal for groups or families. Room rates range from 300,000 VND to several million VND per night depending on location and quality.
Transportation
From Ho Chi Minh City, you can reach Vung Tau by bus, limousine, private car, or high-speed ferry (departing from Ben Bach Dang, about 2 hours). Within the city, motorbikes are available for rent (100,000 – 150,000 VND/day), or you can use electric cars and ride-hailing taxis to get around beaches and attractions.
