What to Do in Vung Tau – The Beautiful Seaside City of the South?

Vung Tau may not make you "fall in love at first sight" like dreamy Da Lat or romantic Sapa. Vung Tau wins your heart with small, endearing things – the more you explore, the more beautiful memories you collect. Only by travelling to Vung Tau and seeing it with the heart of a traveller who loves the simple beauty of the sea will you discover the charm of this seaside city of the South East. Not as glitzy and hectic as Saigon, nor as dreamy and quiet as the city of flowers, Vung Tau keeps its youthful spirit and the gentle simplicity of a daughter of the ocean – so that people keep going, and suddenly find themselves lost among its countless destinations, forgetting the way home.

What makes Vung Tau so hard to leave – Photo: Nghia Lam

YOUR LEGS GIVE OUT BEFORE YOU'VE SEEN ALL OF VUNG TAU

Arriving in Vung Tau, visitors may be a little surprised by the soaring skyscrapers – like a miniature version of glamorous Saigon. But don't be disappointed or judge too soon: there is another side that so many people dream of and long to visit, truly worthy of the name "beautiful seaside city".

It looks small, but you never finish exploring – Photo: Hieu Bui

GENTLE WAVES AT BACK BEACH

Back Beach (Bai Sau) is right in the city centre, so it is easy to reach. The long shoreline runs alongside green grounds shaded by poetic coconut palms. With calm waves and cool water all year round, it is the ideal place to swim and play without fear of being dragged by the waves. If Nha Trang has its famous Tran Phu Street, Vung Tau has Thuy Van Street and its sleepless nights – you can wander all night soaking up the charm of the seaside city at Back Beach.

Poetic Back Beach from above – Photo: Y Pham

WATCH THE SUNSET AT FRONT BEACH – A MUST AT LEAST ONCE

Most of Vung Tau's urban area is concentrated around Front Beach (Bai Truoc), so it is much more densely populated and the sea is not as clean or beautiful as at Back Beach. Even so, Front Beach keeps its appeal for visitors. If Back Beach is the ideal place to swim, Front Beach is the top choice for a stroll while the sunset paints the sea, the sky and the little city – full of enchanting moments.

The poetic sea and sky at sunset – Photo: Thach Tong Huynh

CLIMB THE LIGHTHOUSE TO TAKE IN ALL OF VUNG TAU

The lighthouse is a place almost every visitor to Vung Tau should visit for a sweeping view of the whole city and the vast, gentle sea. One of the oldest lighthouses in Vietnam and South East Asia, it was built by the French and stands 170 m above sea level. It sits on Small Mountain (Tao Phung mountain) in Ward 2, standing out with its old, sturdy European architecture. The lighthouse is most beautiful at night, but it is best to go in the afternoon while it is still light, so you can stroll the mountainside road and enjoy the wild, simple beauty of Vung Tau's nature.

The lighthouse shining at night – Photo: Brian Graney

DISCOVER LINH SON PAGODA – THE "OLDEST" PAGODA IN VUNG TAU

Linh Son pagoda is the oldest pagoda in Vung Tau. Though not as grand as other pagodas, its time-worn beauty and ancient architecture attract many pilgrims. It is located at 104 Hoang Hoa Tham, Vung Tau. In the main hall is a 1.2 m gilded stone Buddha statue, exquisitely carved, expressing the holy and compassionate beauty of the Buddha.

Linh Son pagoda – the "oldest" pagoda in Vung Tau – Photo: Xuan Dung

THE COMPASSIONATE AVALOKITESHVARA

Another stop for visitors who want to visit pagodas in Vung Tau is Quan The Am Bo Tat pagoda, about 500 m from Bai Dau on the road around Big Mountain. It stands out with its 16 m statue of the Goddess of Mercy, gazing compassionately down at the beach as if blessing the fishing folk. The serene space and incense smoke bring peace to the traveller's soul.

The striking statue of the Goddess of Mercy – Photo: vietnamtourism

VISIT NIET BAN TINH XA – THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PAGODA IN VUNG TAU

Another pagoda to remember on your Vung Tau trip is Niet Ban Tinh Xa – the most beautiful pagoda in the seaside city of the South East. It rests peacefully on the slope of Small Mountain and covers a vast 10,000 m². The pagoda impresses visitors with its modern, beautiful architecture and many carvings that show the skill and dedication of the artisans. Here you can immerse yourself in the serenity of the Buddha's place and breathe the fresh, gentle air.

Admire the modern, unique architecture of the most beautiful pagoda in Vung Tau – Photo: vominhtri

VISIT THANG TAM COMMUNAL HOUSE – A PRECIOUS PART OF VUNG TAU CULTURE

Thang Tam communal house, at 77 Hoang Hoa Tham, Ward 2, Vung Tau, is a complex including the Thang Tam communal house, the Whale Temple and Ngu Hanh shrine, of great historical and cultural significance for the seaside people. The Nghinh Ong Thang Tam festival, held every year from the 17th to the 20th of the 4th lunar month to pray for peace, is one of the spiritual attractions that draws many visitors.

The lively festival atmosphere at Thang Tam communal house – Photo: Dang Dinh

THICH CA PHAT DAI – WHERE THE HEART FINDS PEACE

Thich Ca Phat Dai is considered one of the most famous sightseeing and religious sites in Vung Tau. The pagoda lies on the northern slope of Big Mountain and covers about 5 ha, including the grounds, small pagodas and Buddha statues – the most striking being the meditating Shakyamuni Buddha.

The famous Shakyamuni Buddha statue in Vung Tau – Photo: collected

THE OPEN-ARMED CHRIST STATUE – WHERE THE FAITHFUL GATHER

The open-armed Christ statue on top of Small Mountain in Vung Tau is similar to the Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It stands 170 m above sea level, and inside, 133 steps lead straight up to Christ's two arms, offering visitors a novel experience.

Beautiful Vung Tau seen from the Christ statue – Photo: Sinh Nguyen

HO MAY TOURIST AREA – ANOTHER BA NA IN THE SOUTH

Ho May tourist area, halfway up Big Mountain, brings together fairy-tale beauty and exciting entertainment no less than Ba Na in Da Nang. Besides the largest artificial lake in Vietnam and an overwhelming rushing waterfall, Ho May has its own romantic natural beauty: green forest on one side, the sparkling blue sea on the other, shimmering at dawn and dreamy at dusk, with a cool mist swirling around at night – utterly enchanting.

The fresh air at Ho May – Photo: Ho May Tourist Area – Vung Tau Cable Car

A POETIC, MAGICAL VUNG TAU IN SOMEONE'S EYES

If people in the city love Vung Tau for its small, charming pieces, the poetic landscapes further away – which take a little time to "meet" – make the heart flutter many times more. Only by going do you realise how stunningly beautiful Vung Tau is, in ways you never knew.

Listening quietly to the breath of the sea – Photo: Huy Nguyen

HON BA – A MYSTERIOUS PATH UNDER THE SEA

Off Nghinh Phong Cape lies the Hon Ba shrine on a small island, with a mysterious path under the sea that fascinates everyone. Perched on a small rocky outcrop in the sea a few hundred metres from the shore, Hon Ba shrine is where fishermen often come to burn incense and pray for safe voyages.

Silvery water shimmering around Hon Ba – Photo: Nghia Lam

On normal days you need a boat to reach the shrine, but on the 14th–15th and 1st days of each lunar month the tide goes out completely, revealing a stone path to the little island and the magical Hon Ba shrine – a truly memorable experience for visitors to Vung Tau.

The path to Hon Ba at low tide – Photo: Thong Thong

THE CHARM OF LONG HAI

Long Hai, about 12 km from central Vung Tau and some 110 km from Ho Chi Minh City, has been blessed with lovely natural scenery. Besides beautiful murmuring beaches lined with windswept casuarinas and green, shady mountain slopes, Long Hai charms people with its apricot blossoms in spring, and in autumn the roads are carpeted with romantic fallen yellow leaves. The cool weather all year round makes Long Hai a favourite – when you come to Vung Tau, don't forget to visit this seaside sweetheart.

Fresh in the early morning – Photo: Pham Thinh

HO COC – HO TRAM: THE OCEAN'S DAUGHTER?

Ho Coc and Ho Tram are "super hot" beaches in Xuyen Moc district, Ba Ria – Vung Tau province, only about 5 km apart. Visitors are captivated by their pure, unspoilt beauty – from white sand as smooth as cream to crystal-clear water, from mysterious rocks to wild primeval forest, from gentle slopes scented with herbs to waves breaking in white foam – all making you love the poetry of the sea even more.

Relaxing in the soft sun and blue sea – Photo: O Studio

The tourist areas and resorts at Ho Coc – Ho Tram have many beautiful corners, cleverly designed in harmony with nature, adding charm to your photo album. The sheep farm and green fields, no less beautiful than Phan Rang – Ninh Thuan, are another memorable part of a Vung Tau trip.

Enchanted by the lovely sheep – Photo: Phuong Ng

Lost in dreamlike resorts – Photo: Long Huynh Ba

SUOI O – SONG LO: FOR THOSE CRAVING ADVENTURE

Suoi O is remembered for its pristine beauty and something unique that only this beach has – both salt water and fresh water. To reach the beach at Suoi O, visitors must wade across the gentle Lo river in front. It isn't far, but it's enough to make anyone burst with joy at experiencing something so new for the first time.

Suoi O, for those craving adventure – Photo: @bigturtle05

CON DAO – TODAY'S PARADISE

Of course, no talk of travelling to Vung Tau can skip Con Dao – a paradise at sea painted in endless beauty. Con Dao lies 97 nautical miles from Vung Tau. The pain of the past is long gone; it has risen to show off its sweet beauty that leaves people endlessly enchanted. Still little touched by human hands, Con Dao keeps a pure beauty, like a sweet candy that melts every visitor's heart. In Con Dao you can lose yourself in beautiful nature and explore historical and cultural sites, adding many poetic choices to your journey.

Con Dao, pure and sweet as candy – Photo: Tho Ngo Duc

That's Vung Tau – it makes people love it and long for it, with countless pieces that seem scattered but fit together surprisingly well. Wherever a traveller's feet take them in Vung Tau, they want to go one place further. And so on, going and going without wanting to stop, because the heart doesn't want regrets when it leaves. When you travel to Vung Tau, remember to give yourself plenty of time to experience it and keep its sweet, unforgettable moments.

Scodaisym – Mytour.vn