Vung Tau Travel Guide: A Beach Weekend From Ho Chi Minh City

This Vung Tau travel guide covers the beach city on a peninsula southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, the closest seaside escape for the city's residents. From our Vietnam travel blog, it explains how to get there by boat or road, what to see, the best time to go, and two extensions: the quieter beaches of Ho Tram and boats to Con Dao.

Vung Tau is part of Ho Chi Minh City since the 2025 provincial merger, though it keeps its own character. If you need a visa for Vietnam, apply for a Vietnam e-visa online before your trip.

Vung Tau at a glance:

Getting from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau

The trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau takes about two to two and a half hours by road, using the expressway and coastal highway. Buses, limousine vans and private cars run all day.

High-speed boats from the city center along the Saigon River are a scenic alternative, taking under two hours when the sea is calm. Check timetables and book ahead on weekends. Our Ho Chi Minh City guide covers the city before or after.

Things to do in Vung Tau

Things to do in Vung Tau center on two hills, two beaches and a lot of seafood. Most sights are a short ride apart.

Climb the steps to the giant Christ the King statue on Small Mountain, with views over the sea and city; you can climb inside to the arms. The 19th-century lighthouse on the nearby hill has the best view of the peninsula. Back Beach (Bai Sau) is the long swimming beach, while Front Beach is better for sunsets and seafront walks. In the evening, eat seafood at the restaurants along the coast.

Vung Tau's local specialty is banh khot, small crispy rice cakes topped with shrimp, wrapped in lettuce and herbs and dipped in sweet fish sauce; look for busy stalls in the morning. The fish market near the seafront shows the city's working side at dawn, when boats unload the night's catch. If you have time, the small Thich Ca Phat Dai pagoda complex on Big Mountain adds another viewpoint.

Best time to visit

November to April is the best time to visit Vung Tau, in the dry season, with sunny days and calmer seas. May to October brings afternoon showers but still plenty of beach days.

Avoid weekends and public holidays if you can, when visitors from Ho Chi Minh City fill hotels and roads. Two extensions make a longer trip: Ho Tram and Con Dao.

Vung Tau travel guide: beyond the city

The coast east of Vung Tau and the islands to the south offer quieter options. Here are two.

Ho Tram and Long Hai

Ho Tram, about an hour east, has long beaches lined with resorts and is much quieter than Vung Tau; Long Hai is a smaller seaside town on the way. Further east, Binh Chau has a hot springs park, covered in our guide to hot springs in Vietnam.

Boats to Con Dao

Vung Tau is a departure point for speedboats to the Con Dao islands, a few hours away in good weather. Our Con Dao guide explains the routes and what to see.

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