VUNG TAU TRAVEL: TIPS FROM A TO Z

Vung Tau is considered as an ideal destination in the Southern Vietnam thanks to the natural beauty. The city is the coastal city belong to Ba Ria – Vung Tau. Sau beach is the tourist place which chosen by visitors. Besides, Vung Tau has many great places to offer such as, statue of Jesus standing on Mount Nho, notable Theravada Buddhist temple or the White Palace near the sea. Nghinh Ong and Dinh Co are the most significant festivals in Vung Tau.

VUNG TAU TRAVEL OVERVIEW

Located about 3 hours driving from Saigon, Vung Tau is one of the most favorite destinations in the South with 20km coastal line. Lying off the mainland, from here, we can see the East sea at both sunrise and sunset. Besides the natural beauty, Vung Tau is the land of long-standing history.

To Vung Tau, visitors will find the peace and comfort thanks to the spacious streets, beautiful sea, grandiose mountains and tranquil temples, all of which make the unignorably impressive.

Climate:

Ba Ria – Vung Tau is located in the tropical monsoon climate, there are two distinctive seasons: the rainy season starts from May to October and the dry season is from November to April. The average temperature is about 27oC and 24oC is the lowest temperature of year.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT?

In Vung Tau, all year round is tourist season because the weather is not too hot or cold. You only need to follow the weather forecast to avoid the storm or rainy times. Furthermore, during weekends or national holidays, Vung Tau is very crowded so all services will be expensive.

HOW TO TRAVEL TO VUNG TAU FROM SAIGON

Vung Tau is located 125km from Saigon so this is an ideal place for short travel. There are currently three mode of transportation including motorbikes, buses or hydrofoils.

• By motorbikes

Opt 1: travel along the road No 1, through Dong Nai bridge, you will see the roundabout (cross street of Vung Tau), next you will turn right and then follow the road No 51. From here, it takes 100km to Vung Tau.

Opt 2: from Saigon, follow the way from Cat Lai port (Dist 2, Saigon) to Nhon Trach (Dong Nai). This way leads to road No 51. Besides, if you drive by yourself to Vung Tau, you should drive through Long Thanh – Dong Nai highway which will save your time to 2 – 2.5 hours.

Note: duration for Saigon – Vung Tau by motorbike is: 3-3.5 hours.

• By public bus

Prices of the high quality buses are from VND 80,000 (US $4) to VND 160,000 (US $7) per ticket. You can take the buses from Mien Dong bus station. Duration: 2.5 – 3 hours.

Mien Dong bus station: 292 Dinh Bo Linh, Ward 26, Binh Thanh district, Saigon

Hotline: (08) 3899 4056; (08) 3898 4441; (08) 3898 4442; (08) 3898 4893.

• Vung Tau bus station: 192 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ward 3, Vung Tau

Hotline: (064) 3859727.

Some high quality bus companies:

Mien Tay bus station

- Time: 4.00am to 7.00pm (operated every 15 to 30 minutes)

- Ticket offices:

+ In Vung Tau – Hotline: 0643.527 500

+ In Mien Tay bus station – Hotline: 01207 226 226 – 01207 227 227

Mien Dong bus station

- Time: 4.00am to 7.00pm (operated every 15 to 30 minutes)

- Ticket offices:

+ Hotline: 0937 756 756

- Hoa Mai:

Open Tour: Vung Tau - Saigon

 Time: 4.00 am – 5.30pm (operated every 15 minutes)

- Ticket offices

+ In Vung Tau – hotline: 0643.531 980 – 0643.531 981

+ In Ben Thanh – hotline: 0838.218 928 – 0838.218 927

- Phuong Trang express bus: price: VND 95.000 (USD 4.5)/ticket.

- Kumho express bus: price: VND 85,000 (USD 4)/ticket

• Address: 292 Dinh Bo Linh, Ward 26, Binh Thanh district, Saigon

- Toan Thang express bus: price: VND 90,000 (USD 4)/ticket

• By hydrofoil

You can travel by Pacific Express which takes about 1.30 hours and price: VND 200,000 (USD 9). The hydrofoil departs at Nha Rong port (05 Nguyen Tat Thanh str., Dist.4) going along Saigon river through Ganh Rai bay and reach Cau Da port, Vung Tau. Hotline: 01222 69 69 68.

WHAT TO VISIT IN VUNG TAU

• Sau (Behind) beach

This beach is very beautiful with mild waves which is the central place for many hotels and restaurants. Accordingly, almost visitors will stay at this place.

• Truoc (in front) beach

The central city is located on the Truoc beach which is the place for many high buildings and shopping areas. Almost visitors will choose the Sau beach, because it is more beautiful and less polluted and touristy than Truoc beach. However, Truoc beach is a great place for sunrise contemplation or walking.

• Long Hai

Is located 110km from Saigon to the Northeast (equivalent to 2-2.5 driving), Long Hai beach is a wonderful place for relaxing which is fallen in love by many visitors. Long Hai has a beautiful beach with emerald sea and long yellow sandy beach and resorts next to the sea. Binh Chau hot stream along the way to Long Hai is also the amazing stop for visitors.

• Ho Coc – Ho Tram

These beaches are located in Xuyen Moc district and are attractive tourist places for visitors due to its rarely pristine features. The water is emerald of which visitors can see the bottom. The beach is quite wide with mild slopes and especially these beaches are impressed thanks big and small stones.

• Suoi O

The beach is located in Binh Chau, XUyen Moc district which is 3km from Binh Chau market, on the way to Binh Chau hot stream. Suoi O beach offers both fresh water stream and soft sandy beach and vast emerald sea. This is a rare beach which has both fresh and salty water.

• Con Dao island

The island is very famous for its clean beach with long green coconut tree lines and white sand which will impress any visitors. It is easily impressive to a lot of domestic and international visitors. Con Dao island is still untouched and has not much been affected by tourism industry which help this island to be the rare tourist paradise in Vietnam.

“CANNOT-MISSED” PLACES IN VUNG TAU

Shakyamuni Buddhist pagoda

The pagoda is located on the mountain side of Lon in Vung Tau. The beauty of this pagoda is the perfect combination of religious architecture and natural landscape. The most significance of the pagoda is 19-meter-high Bac Giac tower and Shakyamuni Buddhist statue siting upon the lotus throne built on the middle mountain and can be seen from a long distance.

Location: visitors can travel on Le Loi, then Tran Phu or from Tran Phu – Truoc beach going along the coastal road through Dau beach, to Ben Da area.

Christ the King statue (Tuong chua Kito)

Locally known as the statue of Jesus stretching the giant hands on the top of Nho mountain in Vung Tau, the statue was built in 1974. It is 32 meters high with the arm length of 18.3 meters facing the sea. There are a 133-step stairs from the bottom to the arms of the statue. This statue in considered as the copied version of the statue in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

 Location: on the top of the Nho mountain in Vung Tau.

The white palace (Bach Dinh)

In 1898, this house was constructed (known as Villa Blanche) as a retreat for the governor-general of Indochina, Paul Doumer on the Phuoc Thang fortress where was the first place firing on the French ships. The white palace is a Roman-architecture house with 3 floor in 19-meter-high leaning on the mountain of Lon. This place is keeping 19 canons.

Location:  10 Tran Phu, Vung Tau

Ho May tourist site

This is one of ideal places which should not be missed for your travel to Vung Tau. You will both ride the cable cars to enjoy the wonderful scenery and participate interesting games.

Thang Tam pavilion complex

At this place, besides the pavilion of Tien Hien or Ong Nam Hai (Southern Sea’s whale), Ngu Hanh goddess shrine, there is a shrine of the goddess located on a small island facing the sea. The festival of Nghinh Ong Thang Tam (dedication to the whale) is considered as the religious festival of Ba Ria Vung Tau which attracts a lot of visitors.

Location:77A Hoang Hoa Tham, Thang Tam ward, Vung Tau

Nirvana Buddhist temple

This is one of the most beautiful temple in Vung Tau with modern architecture. The Nirvana Buddhist temple is locally known as the “laying Buddha” temple built on the mountain side of Nho facing the sea. The temple was constructed from 1969 and completed in 1974.

Goddess of compassion pagoda

This is a small pagoda which is impressed by its white giant goddess of compassion with the height of 16meters facing the sea and standing on the lotus throne with Cam Lo vase.

Location: on the road of Lon mountain, Vung Tau

Vung Tau lighthouse

After walking along the solid-built tunnels in the 2-floor house which used by the lighthouse guards, you will reach the top of lighthouse. From here, you will see the whole Vung Tau city, beaches, Minh Dam mountain.

Location: on the Nho mountain, Vung Tau.

The Worldwide arms museum

The museum was founded by Mr. Robert Tylor and his wife Mrs. Nguyen Thi Bong. According to the visitors, this is one of the most attractive museums in Vietnam. Opened early 2012, the museum is displaying 500 effigies which have similar sizes with the human wearing beautiful army uniforms.

Location: 98 Tran Hung Dao, Vung Tau.

WHERE TO STAY IN VUNG TAU

Hotels in Vung Tau offer a wide range depending on your expectations and budgets. However, you should stay at hotels located on Halong, Thuy Van or Tran Phu streets…in order to have most convenient for walking and enjoying view. The prices are totally based on the quality and location.

1. Imperial Vung Tau

Location: 159 Thuy Van streets

2. Pullman Vung Tau

Location: 15 Thi Sach, Thang Tam ward

3. Conrvin Vung Tau

Location: 21 Thuy Van, Ward 2

4. Palace Vung Tau

Location: 1 Nguyen Trai, Bai Truoc

5. Carmelina beach resort

Location: Phuoc Thuan, Xuyen Moc, Vung Tau

SOME “SHOULD-NOT-MISS” FESTIVALS

There are many traditional festivals held every year in Ba Ria Vung Tau which is rich in culture, custom and religion of the coastal province.

Tran Hung Dao god festival

On every August 20^th (lunar calendar), the death anniversary of the god – Tran Hung Dao is held at Duc Thanh Tran temple at 68 Ha Long street, ward 2. The festival is attractive to not only the locals but also the visitors. Through the festival, its activities are recognized as the lesson for generations about the patriotism and national pride.

Dinh Co festival

Dinh Co is the temple with wonderful traditional architectures located on the sea bank of Long Hai. Dinh Co festival (held from February 10 to 12 – lunar calendar) is rich in folk colors which attracts a lot of visitors.

Nghinh Ong festival (honoring whale)

Every year, the festival is held at Ca Ong mausoleum in Hoang Hoa Tham street. The festival is opened from August 16^th -18^th (lunar calendar). This is the biggest water festival in Vung Tau and is one of fifteen biggest festivals in Vietnam.

WHAT TO EAT

Vung Tau is not only famous for its Khot cake but also seafood, coffee and Russian-style dishes…Below are some delicious dishes and restaurants for your reference.

- Vu Nang snail

Is a unique seafood of Con Dao (Ba Ria Vung Tau). Vu Nang is a conical snail specie with dark gray shell. The snail can be steamed, grilled or combined with vegetable.

- Salad with Mai fish

As the local said, if you do not try this type of dish, it means you cannot experience all typical features of Vung Tau. Salad with Mai fish is very delicious which has been familiar with the locals for long. The Mai fish is white like anchovies and can be found mostly in Sau beach area.

- Long Hai rice pancake folded in half

Is a traditional dish made of rice flour, water, turmeric powder or coconut milk, shrimp, pork, onions and beansprouts, cat’s ears and chicken eggs. However, the pancake in Long Hai offers many special features. Firstly, the ingredients are fresh which are bought directly from the fishing villages. Secondly, the skillful chefs make the pancake crispy. Finally, the fish sauce is prepared carefully which is the combination of sour salted vegetable.

- Khot cake

is a typical specialty of Vung Tau which is one ofe 12 Vietnamese dishes listed in the Asian Records in 2017. The main ingredients of the cake are rice powder and well-grinded pork. This dish is served with flavor sauce, snack vegetable and cucumber.