Vung Tau

Travel Guide
Long Hai Beach showing landscape views and tropical scenes
This beach town, once a popular place for soldiers to relax during the Vietnam War, has a beautiful landscape and a lively weekend bar scene.

A few hours’ drive from Ho Chi Minh City, the resort town of Vung Tau has been a popular beach getaway for decades. The town sits on a peninsula and is cradled by two mountains. It was a favourite spot with off-duty American and Australian soldiers during the Vietnam War. The town’s proximity to the country’s largest city makes it a perfect escape for weekends and longer stays.

European trading ships visited Vung Tau’s bay as early as the 14th century. Vung Tau later earned fame as the site where the Vietnamese first fired cannons against invading French battleships. Australian and American servicemen used the area as a rest and recuperation zone during the Vietnam War.

Vung Tau’s beaches may not be Vietnam’s most spectacular, but they still offer plenty to see and do. An array of hotels, bars and restaurants make the most of picturesque Back Beach, while Front Beach is the place for watching sunsets. Meanwhile, the smaller Pineapple Beach offers a tranquil, rocky cove and cleaner sand.

Climb up the smaller of the two mountains, which is helpfully named Small Mountain, to see Vung Tau Lighthouse, a magnificent structure that offers panoramic views of the whole region. Look for four old French cannons that stand nearby. Further up Small Mountain you’ll find one of the tallest outdoor statues of Jesus in Asia.

On Big Mountain, visit Villa Blanche, the former holiday house of the French Governor General of Indochina. Today the elegant villa is home to a collection of Ming pottery as well as lush gardens.

Vung Tau can get busy on the weekends as people from the city flock to its beaches, but is generally much quieter during weekdays. Vung Tau is a 3-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City. If you have a car, take the time to explore the scenic coastal route between Vung Tau and Phan Tiet.

Vias Hotel Vung Tau
Vias Hotel Vung Tau
5 out of 5
179 Thuy Van, Ward 8, Vung Tau, Ba Ria-Vung Tau
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is RM296 per night from 15 Nov to 16 Nov
RM296
RM338 total
includes taxes & fees
15 Nov - 16 Nov
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Vung Tau. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (135 reviews)
"Great place to stay by the water for a great price. They were lovely to stay at for my honeymoon and would definitely recommend! Would stay again"

Reviewed on 24 Oct 2024

Vias Hotel Vung Tau
The IMPERIAL Vung Tau Hotel
The IMPERIAL Vung Tau Hotel
5 out of 5
159 Thuy Van Street, Vung Tau, Ba Ria-Vung Tau
The price is RM379 per night from 10 Nov to 11 Nov
RM379
RM430 total
includes taxes & fees
10 Nov - 11 Nov
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Vung Tau. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (609 reviews)
"Friendly staffs and super clean. Beach is clean and well equipped. Definitely go back again if visiting Vũng Tàu"

Reviewed on 25 Oct 2024

The IMPERIAL Vung Tau Hotel
The Sóng Vũng Tàu - Shin's Apartment
The Sóng Vũng Tàu - Shin's Apartment
5 out of 5
28 Thi Sách, 20, Vung Tau
The price is RM43 per night from 5 Nov to 6 Nov
RM43
RM49 total
includes taxes & fees
5 Nov - 6 Nov
Stay at this 5-star luxury apartment in Vung Tau. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 outdoor pools, and valet parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Back Beach and Lotte Mart ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (49 reviews)
"Our first experience in Vietnam/ Vūng Tàu it was simply amazing. My 2 teenage kids and I travel with friends and we could experience Vietnamese hospitality to the max! Kai is an excellent host and just a phone call away. 100% recommended. I hope to see them next year again and start a new ..."

Reviewed on 29 Sep 2024

The Sóng Vũng Tàu - Shin's Apartment
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Sóng Vũng Tàu - Shin's Apartment
The Sóng Vũng Tàu - Shin's Apartment
5 out of 5
28 Thi Sách, 20, Vung Tau
Stay at this 5-star luxury apartment in Vung Tau. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 outdoor pools, and valet parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Back Beach and Lotte Mart ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (49 reviews)
"Our first experience in Vietnam/ Vūng Tàu it was simply amazing. My 2 teenage kids and I travel with friends and we could experience Vietnamese hospitality to the max! Kai is an excellent host and just a phone call away. 100% recommended. I hope to see them next year again and start a new ..."

Reviewed on 29 Sep 2024

The Sóng Vũng Tàu - Shin's Apartment
The Sóng Vũng Tàu - Xuân's Homestay
The Sóng Vũng Tàu - Xuân's Homestay
4 out of 5
28 Thi Sach street, Vung Tau, Vung Tau
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Vung Tau. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Back Beach and Lotte Mart Vung ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (11 reviews)
Excellent
"Excellent hosts, fast communication responses and good English speaking, helpful, and met all of my requests promptly, infinity pool is amazing, building has 24 hour security, only negative is elevator waiting times, but that’s nothing to do with the property but the way the lifts has been designed ..."

Reviewed on 11 Oct 2024

The Sóng Vũng Tàu - Xuân's Homestay
The Song Vung Tau Apartment Cookies
The Song Vung Tau Apartment Cookies
4.5 out of 5
28 Thi Sách, Vung Tau, Ba Ria Vung Tau
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury apartment in Vung Tau. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 outdoor pools, and free water park access. Popular attractions Back Beach and Lotte Mart ...
7/10 Good! (14 reviews)
"I had a good staying, communication takes some effort and check in takes a lot of time due to late or incorrect instructions. First unit where I stayed was not beet clean, however I got transferred to a perfectly clean unit afterwards. It’s worth the price."

Reviewed on 17 Oct 2024

The Song Vung Tau Apartment Cookies
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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