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VUNG TAU Travel Guide 2022 from A-Z: accommodation, entertainment, specialties… the latest

Vung Tau is a coastal city in Ba Ria – Vung Tau province, in the Southeast region. If viewed in the north-south direction, Vung Tau is located at a bend that is changing direction from south to west of the lower part of the letter S on the map of Vietnam and jutting out from the mainland.

What season is Vung Tau beautiful?

Vung Tau is located in a tropical monsoon climate with two distinct rainy and sunny seasons. The rainy season is from May to October and the dry season is from November to April next year. The average temperature is 27 degrees Celsius, so it is cool all year round.

Before and after Tet is the right time for tourists to relax at the beach while watching the cherry blossom forest in full bloom at Nuoc Ngot Pass, Long Hai town. However, you need to check the weather forecast in advance to avoid rainstorms.

On weekends or holidays, New Year, tourists flock to the east, causing service prices to rise, motels and hotels are full of rooms. For a vacation to remember, avoid these times or limit your stay in the city center.

Move

From Ho Chi Minh City , visitors can choose motorbikes, cars or speedboats and ferries. If taking a car, you go in the direction of National Highway 1 – National Highway 51 – Vung Tau; or from the ferry Cat Lai (District 2, Ho Chi Minh City) – Nhon Trach (Dong Nai) – National Highway 51 – Vung Tau. For tourists who drive by themselves, go to Long Thanh – Dong Nai highway.

Coastal road section of Nuoc Ngot Pass, where it borders two districts of Long Dien and Dat Do. Photo: Truong Ha

If you want to experience taking a ferry, visitors from Ho Chi Minh City go about 70 km to Tac Suat wharf (Can Gio) to board the ferry. The Can Gio – Vung Tau sea ferry has a travel time of about 30 minutes. However, passengers note that the actual time may be longer, depending on weather conditions and sea level. Ticket price per person 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 are priced from 350,000 to 800,000 VND each.

Choose to take a bus, you can go to the Eastern bus station to buy tickets directly or call to reserve via the online system. The price is from 80,000 to 160,000 VND per ticket.

If you take the Pacific Express high-speed train, it takes you about 1 hour 30 minutes. Ticket price is 200,000 VND per adult. Children from 6 to 11 years old pay 100,000 VND, under 6 years old free. Ticket price for people over 62 years old is 140,000 VND one way. The ship will depart from Nha Rong port.

From Hanoi , visitors have to fly or take the train to Ho Chi Minh City, then choose the above means to reach Vung Tau.

What play

Sea

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 fine, straight white sands.

Next is front beach , also known as Tam Duong beach because it is located in the west, you can watch the sun set over the sea.

Vung Tau also has Pineapple beach , where the sea penetrates deep into the shore, creating rocky rapids stretching out to the sea, and at the same time forming discreet and romantic bathing pools.

Bai Dau is airtight with many interesting rock formations. Wild Vong Nguyet beach is located at the foot of Small mountain, three sides are majestic cliffs, for those who love to explore and experience…

However, the beaches in Vung Tau are often overloaded every holiday and Tet. If you go in the high season, you should carefully preserve your personal belongings and belongings and should not go too far from the shore. After having fun in the sea, you can take the time to watch the sunset while resting.

Front Beach, Vung Tau. Photo: Tran Thanh Duy

Landmark

Small Mountain and Big Mountain

Small Mountain and Big Mountain are two beautiful mountains of the coastal city. At the foot of Small Mountain is the coastal road of Ha Long which is recognized as the most beautiful road in Vietnam with many hotels, restaurants and cafes. On the mountain, there is Vung Tau Lighthouse and the famous Statue of Christ the King. The big mountain is surrounded by Tran Phu street, with attractions such as Bach Dinh, Thich Ca Phat Dai, Ho May tourist area.

Go Gang Island is an unspoiled island in Vung Tau City. Coming to the island, visitors can enjoy the fresh air of the sea and enjoy a variety of unique seafood raised here. Grilled oysters are one of the favorites. In addition, the menu also has dishes such as flu, squid, octopus, mackerel…

A corner on Go Gang island. Photo: Ba Ria – Vung Tau Department of Tourism

Ngoc Island is located among the mangrove forests, with an area of ​​61 hectares. This is the habitat of many precious birds and seafood. The tour costs 100,000 VND per person. On the island, you can participate in activities such as kayaking, fishing, casting fishing nets, taking pictures or eating.

The island visit experience is suitable for groups of 5 – 8 people; If you go alone, you can apply for a group.

Photo: Pullman Vung Ta

Nghinh Phong Cape

Nghinh Phong means “catching the wind”, also known as Vung Tau cape, welcoming the wind throughout 4 seasons. This is the longest cape in the South of the Vung Tau peninsula. From here, visitors can see Hon Ba, further away, fishing boats.

The road to Nghinh Phong cape is bumpy and rocky, you need to wear shoes or sandals, avoid going barefoot. Limit wearing skirts to easily move. In this area, the wind is strong, so visitors can bring a thin jacket to avoid soaking up the cold.

Photo: Bao Tran

In the Nghinh Phong Cape tourist area, there is also a check-in point called “heaven’s gate”. The “Gate of Heaven” is actually a solidly built door frame on the top of the mountain, but it does not lead to any construction but opens up a wide space down to the immense beach in front of you.

The “Gate of Heaven” is located in a high position, with stone steps on both sides. This place is also located right near the road to the famous statue of God with arms outstretched in Vung Tau, you can combine visiting both attractions conveniently.

To get to the heaven gate at Nghinh Phong Cape, you go to the statue of Christ, on the opposite side there is an abandoned cafe. Follow the trail to the steps leading down to the sea to arrive.

Photo: Bao Tran

Pig Hill

VUNG TAU Travel Guide 2022 from A-Z: accommodation, entertainment, specialties… the latest
Photo: Ly Dang

Located right at Back Beach, Con Heo Hill was formerly a place of quarrying. Standing at Con Heo hill, visitors can see the whole scene of Vung Tau.

The entrance to the hill starts from a small alley on Phan Chu Trinh street (ward 2) with a length of about 500 m. With steep and winding rocky terrain, to get here, visitors have to go by motorbike or on foot.
Relics

Christ statue

Located at a height of 170m, the statue of Christ, also known as the statue of God with arms outstretched overlooking the sea on Small Mountain. Built-in 1974, the statue was inaugurated in 1994, with a height of 32 meters, and two arms length of 18.4 meters. The statue is placed on a block pedestal carved with images of Jesus and the 12 apostles. Inside is a spiral staircase of 133 steps, running from the pedestal to the arm of the statue – where visitors can enjoy the panoramic view of the sea and Vung Tau city.

Photo: Dam Van Thao

Right at the foot of the statue of God are three giant cannons – belonging to the 11 ancient artillery battlefields on Small Mountain. Each cannon is placed in a fortification deep underground, 10.5 m in diameter. These dharma vessels are linked together by a system of trenches and shelters right at the foot of the statue of Christ.

Temple of Hon Ba

Video: Huynh Nhi

The Statue of Gautama Buddha

This is a large Buddhist architectural complex, a famous spiritual tourist destination in the coastal city of Vung Tau. Shakyamuni Buddha is located on the slopes of Big Mountain, featuring a statue of Shakyamuni meditating on the mountain halfway. Standing from afar, visitors can also admire the statue.

Shakyamuni Buddha partly recreates the life of Buddha Shakyamuni with images of Buddha’s birth, crown prince Siddhartha, Buddha’s enlightenment, Buddha sitting on a lotus and Buddha entering Nirvana. In addition, the pagoda also has a 17 m high Xa Loi stupa, inside is a gold box containing 13 relics of the true monk. At the foot of the stupa are four large peaks, in which the sacred ground was brought back from the place where the Buddha was born.

Photo: Tuan Quyen

Vung Tau Lighthouse

The lighthouse is located on Small Mountain, from here visitors can take in the panoramic view of the city hidden in the mist. To get to the top, you will follow a tunnel that is firmly built in a two-story house that is the residence and living space of the lighthouse keepers. This place is most beautiful in the season of falling leaves. If you come to visit the lighthouse directly , you should come in the evening, the scene will be more interesting than during the day.

The lighthouse in Vung Tau is one of the oldest lighthouses in Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Sy Duc

Vung Tau Church

The Catholic church with bold Asian characteristics was built in 1940. The church is located in the city center, in front is Tran Hung Dao street, about 200m from Front Beach, behind is Ly Thuong Kiet street and about approx. In the middle of Thong Nhat street, there is a spacious campus and rows of old trees.

Photo: Do ​​Tuan Hung

Dinh Thang Tam

This is the place where the imprints of the Vietnamese people in the past went to open the realm. In the campus of Thang Tam communal house, there is Ong Nam Hai’s mausoleum containing the bones and worshiping 180 Ong Nam Hai fish (whales); was recognized as a National Historic Site in 1991.

White Palace

Also known as Villa Blanche, Bach Dinh is one of the most famous buildings in Vung Tau City. This European-style mansion was built in the late 19th century, located on the side of Big Mountain. This place was once used as a resort for Governor-General of Indochina Paul Doumer. Currently, this place still keeps 19 cannons. Address at 10 Tran Phu Street, Vung Tau City.

Photo: Nguyen Sy Duc

The Robert Taylor Museum of Antique Weapons

Located in an ancient French villa of 1,500 m2 at 98 Tran Hung Dao Street, the museum is divided into 3 zones corresponding to 3 historical periods: ancient, medieval and modern. Each artifact on display is a historical story that took place in the past. This is the largest private museum of antique weapons in Vietnam (Vietnam Record Organization, 2011) with about 4,000 antiques of all kinds of ancient weapons, military equipment and tools dating from the 12th to 20th centuries. collected by owner Robert Taylor from many countries around the world.

Collection of guns at the Robert Taylor Museum of Antique Weapons. Photo: MAG

Experience

Visiting boats and rigs

In addition to swimming, one of the new and favorite activities in Vung Tau is renting a canoe to visit boats and oil rigs. The tour to visit the oil rig costs about 170,000 VND per person. Visitors will have a panoramic view of the modern oil and gas industry, the largest in the country, including seaports, shipyards, and rig base factories.

Watch dog racing

Another equally interesting activity is watching dog racing at night at Lam Son Stadium (15 Le Loi, Ward 1). The race takes place at 19h – 22h15 every Saturday. The ticket price for the grandstand is usually 90,000 VND a turn, the ticket for the VIP stand is 180,000 VND. You can bet as low as 10,000 VND.

Video: Huynh Nhi

Sightseeing from the helicopter

The helicopter has only 2 seats, serving one passenger per flight. Pilots both fly the plane and interact with guests like a tour guide. During the journey, the helicopter flies over famous landmarks of Vung Tau such as Christ statue, lighthouse, Front Beach, Back Beach… 15-minute sightseeing helicopter service costs 3,500,000 VND. Note, this experience is not suitable for customers with acrophobia or a history of heart disease.

Statue of Christ seen from above. Photo: Tran Thanh Duy

Go to the Xom Luoi market

Hamlet in Vung Tau is a spontaneous market of fishermen, mainly selling fresh seafood. The market is located near Bai Truoc park, right at the junction of Phan Boi Chau – Nguyen Cong Tru streets.

The seafood here is considered fresh and affordable. Visitors have many choices from fish, shrimp, squid to snails, mantis shrimp, octopus, crabs, crabs… On holidays, many places also offer discounts for customers who buy a lot.

In addition to fresh varieties, this place also sells dry goods to take home as gifts and snacks to eat directly on the spot. The most common cooking method is baking, steaming or boiling. Guests only need to wait about 10-15 minutes to have delicious food at a cheaper price than restaurants and eateries in the city.

Photo: Phong Vinh

Check-in alley 107-109 Tran Phu

The alley is known as the ” divine check-in point”. The alley is a bit difficult to find, visitors go to Tran Phu street near Dau beach, and look on the left hand side to see confetti, this alley is close by. The best time to visit is in the afternoon when the tide is close to the shore.

Festival

  • Dinh Co festival usually takes place from 10 to 12 of the 2nd lunar month, all day and all night.
  • Nghinh Ong Festival in Thang Tam communal house is held on the 16th, 17th and 18th of the 8th lunar month every year.
  • The Thang Tam Temple Festival takes place from February 17 to 20 of the lunar calendar.
  • The Great Feast of Mary, Mother of God is held at the Shrine of Our Lady of Bai Dau on January 1 of the solar calendar every year.

Eat what

Seafood

The typical seafood dishes of the sea you should enjoy include grilled fingernail snails with onion fat, blood cockles stir-fried with garlic butter, mantis shrimp dishes, steamed grouper with ginger served with vermicelli, add a plate of fried rice with garlic, or enjoy it as a special dish. Famous fried squid with fish sauce.

Khot cake

The famous dish of Vung Tau is Banh Khot. Goc Vu Sua cake shop is a famous culinary address on Nguyen Truong To Street, Ward 2, Vung Tau City. This address only serves Banh Khot with shrimp paste. Although the form of processing is not much different from the surrounding shops, Goc Vu Sua still scores points because the way of mixing rice flour can not be imitated anywhere. The cake is poured directly on the cast iron oven and then brought to the customer, so it remains crispy and hot. Shrimps have a sweet taste.

Banh Khot is one of the famous specialties of Vung Tau, sold a lot at Ba Trieu Street in the city center. Photo: Spirit

Hotpot Stingray

Many tourists think that going to Vung Tau without eating stingray hotpot is considered as not coming here. The stingray hotpot of each restaurant will have a different taste, the spiciness and sourness of the other hot pot, but also the uniqueness of the fish meat, depending on the source of the fish, the way the restaurant’s spices are seasoned.

If you want to eat delicious stingray hotpot, you should go to Nguyen Truong To Street, because this is a street of “stray hot pot” with many shops that have been open for more than 30 years. Some restaurants cook according to traditional recipes and are very crowded including 7 Luom restaurant, Battle restaurant, Hoang Minh restaurant, Ut Muoi restaurant…

Photo: MAG
Photo: Phong Vinh

Noodles “all”

Over many generations passed down from father to son, Nghiep Ky Mi Gia restaurant located on Ba Cu street in front beach of Vung Tau is no longer a stranger to diners. When entering here, you will witness the skillful throwing (throwing, throwing) of noodles. Noodles are divided into evenly squeezed pieces and then put into a racket to empty. While boiling, the chef toss it in the air a few times to drain the water before putting it in the bowl. This has created a special attraction of this address.

Great way to throw noodles of the original Chinese restaurant. Video: Ho Thanh Truc

Bread with fish cake

Bread with fish cake costs about 10,000 – 15,000 VND a loaf. In Vung Tau city, visitors can easily find trolleys and small cupboards selling this popular specialty on Hoang Hoa Tham, Vo Thi Sau, Ba Cu, Truong Cong Dinh, Le Lai streets…

The coffee

Photo: SOHO Coffee

In Vung Tau, there are many sea view cafes along with Ha Long, Tran Phu, and Hai Dang streets. You can go to Gazebo Beach Front Lounge & Cafe, with a space decorated in Mediterranean style, a beautiful sea view, serving live music in the evening. Some other shops are SOHO Coffee, O Level Coffee, La Vie En Rose…

Hotels, homestays

You should rent a room in the area of ​​Back Beach and Front Beach for more options and convenient transportation. Room prices range from 100,000 VND to several tens of millions of VND depending on the type of motel, hotel, homestay or resort. Some high-end hotels include Pullman Vung Tau, The Imperial Vung Tau, InterContinental Grand Ho Tram, Melia Ho Tram Beach Resort, Holiday Inn Resort Ho Tram Beach…

Back Beach is in Thang Tam ward, located in the southeast of the city, stretching 8 km from the foot of Small Mountain, the first intersection of Thuy Van and Phan Chu Trinh streets to Chi Linh area. Photo: Do ​​Tuan Hung

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