Vung Tau is around 100km from Ho Chi Minh city with a coastline stretching 100km, Vung Tau is one of the favorite destinations of tourists in the South. The city has long been considered an attractive tourist destination, because of its natural beauty. Wherever you go in your Vung Tau trip, visitors will be fascinated by the scenery of this place.
The climate of Vung Tau
Vung Tau belongs to the tropical monsoon climate, with two distinct seasons a year. The rainy season starts from May to October carry with the southwest monsoon, and the dry season from November to April next year carry with the Northeast monsoon. The average annual temperature is 27°C, the lowest month is about 24.8°C, the highest month is about 28.6°C. Due to this harmonious temperature, it makes the city become a perfect place to explore mountains, the sea or simply relax on the beach.
Advice from Vung Tau travel experiences is that you just need to pay attention not to go on days with storms or rough seas to ensure safety.
One thing to note is that due to its favorable location, Vung Tau is always crowded on weekends, especially during the Tet holiday season, causing the cost of services to increase higher than usual. Therefore, if you want to comfortably have fun and enjoy your vacation, you should avoid going at these times.
How to get here?
From Ho Chi Minh City, visitors can choose motorbikes, cars, buses, speed boats or ferries to come and explore Vung Tau. If you drive by yourself, go in the direction of National Highway 1 – National Highway 51 – Vung Tau; and don’t forget to check GPS and follow advice from Ms. Google.
If you choose to take a bus, you can go to Eastern bus station to buy tickets directly or call to book in advance through the online system. Prices range from 100,000 to 200,000 VND per ticket, depends on type of bus you choose. Some of the popular bus companies to Vung Tau such as Kumho, Toan Thang, Phuong Trang, Thien Phu, Hoa Mai…
Futa bus – one of the famous bus company to Vung Tau
If you want to experience taking a ferry, tourists from Ho Chi Minh City go about 70 km to Tac Suat wharf (Can Gio) to board the ferry. The ferry from Can Gio – Vung Tau and return has a travel time of about 30 minutes, depart almost every hour from 6am until 20pm. However, passengers should note that the actual traveling time may be longer, depending on the weather and sea level. Ticket price per passenger is 70,000 VND. Fee for transporting motorbikes and bicycles is 50,000 VND per vehicle; cars from 4 seats to 26 seats or more cost from 350,000 to 800,000 VND each….
If you take speed boat, it takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Ticket price cost from 200,000 VND per adult. The boat will depart from Nha Rong port and you can choose to go with Greenlines or Pacific Express speed boat.
And another popular way, especially when traveling with a group is booking a private car with a driver to Vung Tau which include pick up and drop off service, and can stop many times on the way for you to admire the beauty and fresh air of the city.
From Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang… visitors must fly or take the train to Ho Chi Minh City and then choose the above means of transportation to Vung Tau.
Things to do when come to explore Vung Tau
Vung Tau has many interesting tourist spots for you to explore. Some of them are mention as below:
Explore Vung Tau Beaches
Vung Tau has 42 km of coastline, of which the longest and most beautiful is Back Beach, stretching nearly 10 km, located in the south of the city. Back Beach, also known as Thuy Van, is one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam with smooth, straight white sand beaches.
Next is Front beach, also known as Tam Duong beach because it is located in the west, where you can watch the sun set over the sea.
Vung Tau also has Pineapple beach, where the sea creeps deep into the shore, creating rocky rapids stretching out to the sea, and at the same time forming private, poetic bathing pools.
Bai Dau is windy with many interesting rapids and rocks. The pristine Vong Nguyet beach is located at the foot of Small Mountain, with majestic cliffs on three sides, for those who like to explore and experience…
However, the beaches in Vung Tau are often overloaded during holidays and Tet. If you go during the peak season, you should carefully preserve your personal belongings and belongings and not go too far from shore. After having fun in the sea, you can take the time to watch the sunset and rest.
Thich Ca Phat Dai
Thich Ca Phat Dai is a notable Theravada Buddhist pagoda in Vung Tau, located on the Large Mountain of Vung Tau City. The beauty of the pagoda cleverly combines religious architecture and natural landscape.
The most noteworthy is the 19m- Bat Giac tower (Octagonal Tower) and the Shakyamuni statue meditating on a lotus building, halfway up to the mountain slope. Standing from afar, visitors can also admire the statue. Along the path up to the pagoda, the way is decorated with various statues that depict important events in the life of Gautama Buddha: his birth as Prince Siddhartha, his renunciation of the world, the enlightenment under the bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, the first sermon at Sarnath and the passing into final Nibbāna at Kusinara.
In addition, the pagoda also has a 17 m high Xa Loi stupa, inside is a golden box containing 13 relics of a true monk. At the foot of the stupa are four large peaks, in which are placed sacred soil brought back from the place where the Buddha was born.
Location: 608 Tran Phu street, Vung Tau. The pagoda opens from 6 am to 18 pm every day.
Christ of Vung Tau
The statue of Christ outstretched arms on top of Nho Mountain, built-in 1971. The Christ of Vung Tau is 28 m high, 18.3 m long arm span above 170 m overlooking the sea. Inside is a spiral staircase with 133 steps, running from the pedestal to the statue’s arms – where visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the sea and Vung Tau city.
Each one is able to accommodate up to 6 people which offers a panoramic of the surrounding landscape. The statue can be seen as a similar version of the Christ with arms open in the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Location: 01, Ba Ria – Vung Tau. Opening hour from 5:30 am until 17pm.
Bach Dinh (White Villa)
In 1898, Governor-General of Indochina Paul Doumer built Bach Dinh (Villa Blanche) on the foundation of Phuoc Thang fortress, which had fired on French warships nearly 50 years ago.
Bach Dinh has European architecture in the late 19th century, overlooking Front Beach, surrounded by a small forest with many types of trees, especially porcelain.
Currently, Bach Dinh is used as a museum, displaying topics such as pottery of the Kangxi Emperor period recovered from the wreck of an ancient shipwreck in the area of Hon Cau – Con Dao, cannons, and many valuable artifacts. other found through archaeological excavations in Ba Ria – Vung Tau … to Bach Dinh, visitors can enjoy the fresh air of the sea, the beautiful beauty of Bach Dinh mixed in nature, plants, and trees. and enjoy first-hand typical and rare antiques.
Location: No. 6 Tran Phu street, Vung Tau city.
Niet Ban Tinh Xa
This is one of the most beautiful pagodas in Vung Tau with modern architectural lines. The pagoda is also known as “reclining Buddha” was built on the slope of the Small mountain, facing the sea.
The pagoda was built in 1969 and inaugurated in 1974 with money donated by fellow Buddhists. Niet Ban Tinh Xa is famous for its 5 tons of bronze bell with the image of Four Holy Beasts: Vietnamese dragon, the Qilin, the Turtle, and the Phoenix. This is the result of more than two years of hard work of art by a craftsman in Ben Tre province and donated to the temple in 1971.
Located: Ward 2, Vung Tau.
Avalokitesvara Pagoda
This is a small pagoda featuring a 16m-high white statue of Avalokitesvara, standing on a lotus tower platform. Her virtuous face is looking toward the sea and holding holy water in the hands. The architecture of the pagoda is simple with Chinese style. Behind the pagoda is Large Mountain with lush trees, peaceful and quiet scenery, completely separate from the bustling life of a tourist city.
There are many people come to visit and pray at the pagoda, especially on June 6th, July 15th, September 6th (Lunar Calendar).
Avalokitesvara Pagoda is located on the roundabout of Large Mountain, 500m from Bai Dau (Mulberry beach), at No 178 Tran Phu, Vung Tau.
Linh Son Pagoda
Although not massive and large, Linh Son is the oldest pagoda in Vung Tau.
In the main hall, there is statues a 1.2m high Buddha statue made of gilded stone which is skillfully sculpted to create a compassionate and lively look on the face of the Buddha.
There is a legend about this Buddha statues as it was found under ground on the mountainside near Dau beach by group of fishman from the central region come to fish in Front Beach.
Location: 108 Hoang Hoa Tham, Vung Tau.
Vung Tau lighthouse
Vung Tau lighthouse was built by the French in 1862 for the purpose of navigating and signaling ships passing by, located at an altitude of 149m above sea level. By 1913, the French rebuilt this lighthouse, moving the lighthouse’s height from 149m up to 170m altitude. Vung Tau lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
Vung Tau lighthouse is considered as a symbol of Vung Tau city. The lighthouse architecture is a cylindrical tower 18 m high, 3 m in diameter and painted in white.
Inside the lighthouse there are stairs leading to near the top of the lighthouse and a balcony for sightseeing as well as Can Gio Port and Ba Ria beach.
Location: Located on the top of the Small mountain, Vung Tau city
Worldwide Arms Museum
The Worldwide Arms Museum was founded by Mr. Robert Taylor (British nationality) and his wife Nguyen Thi Bong. According to the visitors, this is one of the most worth seeing museums in Vietnam. Opened in early 2012, the museum displays 500 life-size dummies, wearing beautiful military uniforms, representing warriors from all over the world in many periods; more than 1,200 guns, 1,000 ancient swords with history, and other interesting stories.
Coming to the museum, you will discover the historical values of each period from ancient to modern. Visiting the ancient area, you will be amazed at the collection filled with weapons from the Roman Empire, Genghis Khan or Samurai such as swords, spears, bayonets, along with the costumes, armor, helmet.
Location: No. 98 Tran Hung Dao, Vung Tau city. Opening time to welcome visitors from 08:00 to 17:00 daily.
Hon Ba (Ba Islet)
Hon Ba is a unique rocky island, located near the Nghinh Phong cape, Back Beach of the city, with an area of about 5,000m2.
At the end of the eighteenth century (1781), on the island built a small temple to worship Mau Thoai – a god who regulating the climate so that the fishermen could safely go fishing and lucky on their trip. Therefore, the temple is called Ba Temple, also known as Hon Ba Temple.
On the full moon of January, April, July, October (lunar calendar) local people usually go to this island to burn incense and pray for luck. When the tide is low, it is possible to follow an overlapping rock path to the island as well.
Ho May
Ho May is a tourist and entertainment area located at an altitude of 210m on Lon Mountain. Ho May tourist area is 50 hectares wide, including many entertainment and sightseeing areas suitable for all ages. Therefore, this tourist area attract a lot of people come to visit during their time explore Vung Vau.
For tourists who like to take check-in photos, Ho May tourist area has areas that combine man-made structures and beautiful natural scenery, such as cherry blossom forests, artificial lakes, and waterfalls.
Those who like thrilling games can participate in skateboarding, ziplining, and participate in games in the thrilling area such as roller coasters and pirate boats.
Groups of friends or companies can participate in team games such as paintball and games at the water park. This is also a Vung Tau tourist destination suitable for families with diverse temples, zoos, water music stages…
Long Hai
Ho Tram beach, Ho Coc beach, or Binh Chau hot spring are all famous tourist destinations of Long Hai town. Long Hai town, along with Long Dien town (in Long Dien district), about 12km from Vung Tau city, is also an ideal choice for traveling and relaxing next to Vung Tau.
As mentioned above, this place has many famous landmarks, the most typical being Long Hai beach with its long stretch of fine golden sand. Thanks to the moderate slope of the sandy beach, tourism services are relatively developed and the number of tourists is not too large.
Long Hai seafood is fresh and delicious at affordable prices. Besides Long Hai beach, there are other attractions such as Dinh Co temple, Dinh Co beach, Monkey pagoda, Minh Dam mountain…
Binh Chau hot spring
Binh Chau Hot Spring is probably a familiar place to regular visitors to Vung Tau. This hot mineral resort is an ideal choice for many families, especially for elderly people, because of the health value from this spring.
Binh Chau hot spring tourist area has a total area of 12 hectares with more than 30 hot mineral soaking services, spa, swimming pool, hot and cold therapy… certified to help improve health.
Coming here, visitors will experience various types of hot mineral baths from many countries around the world such as Japanese onsen, French wine soaking pool, German mineral pool, Nordic sauna… Visitors can buy entrance tickets from 240,000 VND or buy a combo priced from 1,250,000 VND/person to enjoy hot mineral services here.
Con Dao
Besides spiritual tourism, many tourists know that Con Dao is a resort paradise, an interesting backpacking destination with many things to discover.
Con Dao is famous for its clear beaches, green coconut trees and white sand beaches that can captivate any tourist. It is easy to understand why Con Dao attracts so many domestic and foreign tourists to enjoy.
With its wild beauty and not much affected by the tourism industry, Con Dao is truly a rare tourist paradise in Vietnam.
What’s speciality in Vung Tau?
Sea food
Typical coastal seafood dishes you should enjoy include snails grilled with onion grease, blood cockles stir-fried with garlic butter, mantis shrimp dish, steamed grouper with ginger served with vermicelli, add a plate of garlic fried rice, fried squid with fish sauce.
In addition, many tourists think that going to Vung Tau without eating stingray hotpot means they have not been here.
If you want to eat delicious stingray hotpot, you should go to Nguyen Truong To street, because this is a “stingray hotpot” street with many restaurants that have been open for more than 30 years.
Khot cake
Vung Tau’s famous dish is banh khot. The ingredients to make the cake are rice flour and shrimp to make the cake filling. In addition, some local shops also make pork, beef, squid, and scallops. Sprinkle a layer of shrimp powder on the surface of the cake. The cake is poured directly onto the cast iron oven and then brought out to guests so it stays crispy and hot. Shrimp tastes sweet when eaten. Khot cake is often eaten with sweet and sour fish sauce, fresh vegetables, mint, herbs.
Vietdreamtravel also provides package tours and car/bus rental service to explore Vung Tau. Don’t hesitage to contact with us for your booking.
