VUNG TAU – AN IDEAL CITY TO BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT!

Located just a 125km south east of Saigon, this bustling city has oceans on three sides, salty but fresh air, sandy beach and many coastal activities to make this an ideal destination for you.

Location

Vung Tau city is located in Southern Vietnam. It is 125 km from Ho Chi Minh City.

Best Time to Visit

Ba Ria – Vung Tau is located in the temperate climate zone impacted by the sea and classified into two clear seasons: The rainy season lasts from May to October and the dry season lasts from November to April of next year with the average annual temperature of from 25 – 27oC. The province has rarely storms and it is frequently sunny with average humidity of more than 80%. Ba Ria – Vung Tau does not have winter so the tourism activities can be exploited all year round.

How to get there

By plane: Tan Son Nhat International Airport located in Ho Chi Minh City, provides the closest air link to Vũng Tàu. After arriving in Ho Chi Minh airport, passengers can take either a bus or a taxi to Vung Tau city.

By bus: Generally the trip to/from HCMC takes 2-3 hours, depending on the size of the bus and traffic, which greatly increases from Friday to Sunday. By boat

By boat: Weather permitting, Vina Express-Petro Express, operates daily hydrofoil service between Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau. The trip takes one hour and 30 minutes. It’s also a more interesting journey as you travelling along the city’s river ways, conveniently departing/arriving very close to District 1.

Things to see

The 20km coastline in Vung Tau City with many beautiful beaches such as Ho Tram Beach, Ho Coc Beach, Pineapple Beach, etc. is ideal for sea bathing and leisure. Besides, the city also houses many unique relics such as Vung Tau Lighthouse, Jesus Statue, Niet Ban Tinh Xa Pagoda, Thich Ca Phat Dai Pagoda, Long Son Large House, etc.

Besides, Con Dao is the biggest archipelago in Ba Ria- Vung Tau province, and also the most famous destination in Vung Tau city. Con Dao is notable for its paradoxes, namely one of very few “Hell on Earth” – Con Dao prison and the wonderful natural scenery with the ocean, mountains and grass field getting together. This abnormal combination explains for astonishing looks at the island: the beautiful of nature and the evilness of human.

Ho Coc Beach

Ho Coc Beach, located north of Ho Tram Hamlet, is home to mostly mid-range and high-end resorts as well as one of the most pristine beaches in Vietnam. Accessible within a three-hour leisurely drive from central Ho Chi Minh City, the beach features five kilometres of white sand where you can enjoy a day of sunbathing, swimming and beach games, as well as sample fresh seafood and local Vietnamese cuisine.

Ho Tram Beach

Ho Tram Beach, set within the Ba Ria, Vung Tau Province, boasts 10 kilometres of unspoiled waters, fine sand and palm trees. The beach offers a wide range of accommodation options with expansive views of the East Sea, and thatched seafood restaurants close to the Ho Tram fishing village with deck chairs and camping facilities at affordable rates.

Con Dao Museum

The Con Dao Museum was once the home of the island's governors and was converted into a museum in 1975 after the Viet Cong liberated the island. The museum is a good starting point to learn about the ‘prison island’ history. There are photos and artwork showing prisoners’ conditions in those days as well as interesting lists of official French and U.S. policies toward prisoners.

Trai Phu Hai Prison

Built in 1862, this is the oldest of the island's prisons. It was the place where over 5,000 inmates were held in extremely overcrowded conditions. At the centre of the prison is a large courtyard surrounded by large common rooms of high yellowed walls.

Next to it is another similar prison called Trai Phu Son Prison. One of its many famous prisoners included Le Duan, who succeeded Ho Chi Minh as the president of Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War.

Vo Thi Sau Tomb

Vo Thi Sau is one of the most famous women in Vietnam. She was a Viet Minh revolutionary against the French. Imprisoned in the 'tiger cages' in Con Dao at 16, she was executed about four years later and was the first Vietnamese woman to be sentenced to death. Her tomb is permanently adorned with fresh flowers as many islanders and Vietnamese tourists come to pay respect to her memory. As a national heroine, her face also features on Vietnamese stamps.

Vung Tau Lighthouse

First built in 1907 at a nearby location it was rebuilt and moved to its current location about five years later. The lighthouse is 18 metres high and projects light as far as 64km away and is equipped with telescopes to follow and direct ships at sea.

Thich Ca Phat Dai

This famous pagoda was built in 1957, originally as a small temple. Later, in 1961, it was renovated and enlarged. The beauty of this pagoda is the harmonious combination of religious architect and spectacular natural landscape. The highlight of Thich Ca Phat Dai is the 19-meter-octagonal tower and the statue of Buddha on a lotus. They are so giant that tourists can see them from such a long distance.

Statue of Jesus

This huge hollow 32-metre statue of Jesus stands overlooking the South China Sea. It was built in the early 70's but was completed only in 1993 due to the conflicts. It is the largest sculpture in the South of Vietnam. There is a spiral staircase inside the statue going up to the head. You can enjoy fabulous panoramic views here. Located at the southern base of the small hilltop on which Bao Dai's Villa sits

Things to do

Swimming at Vung Tau beaches

Exploring Con Dao Island by Bike or Motorbike

A great way to experience Con Dao Island is by renting a bike and spending at least half a day riding around to see Con Son Town, its coastline, rugged hills, deserted stretches, rice fields, green mountains and fishing boats in the bays. It is hard not to stop to take pictures when passing through this unique scenery.

Diving

Con Dao is one of the best places to dive and snorkel in Vietnam. Con Dao and its island/islets are under the National Park's auspices. There are over 1,300 species of sea life in the area, including rare dugongs and sea turtles as well as beautiful coral reefs. This area's weather conditions allow water sports all year round.

Trekking

A good place to start to plan any of your trekking trips is at the Con Dao National Park Office. The park office features a small museum, funded by the World Wildlife Fund. Trekking in Con Dao National Park provides good glimpses of jungle and a few remote bays and beaches. The island's highest peak is Thanh Gia (577m) and it takes about 90 minutes to trek up. There are also quite a few interesting short hikes which will reveal fruit plantations and local wildlife.

Things to eat

Are you pursuing your way to explore different food cultures along Vietnam? Vung Tau is an absolutely perfect destination for you to stop by and experience all famous local dishes here.