You Should Visit Vung Tau - Exploring Vietnam In 2023
Table of Contents
Introduction
Vung Tau is a small beach town near Ho Chi Minh City. If you would like to experience the beach on a quick weekend trip away from Saigon this is the ideal location. I personally love the vibe of the place, especially in June 2023 as it was the school holidays and the place was packed and busy with happy families enjoying a break.
Vung Tau, situated on Vietnam’s southern coast, has a fascinating history shaped by various influences. Once a sleepy fishing village, it rose to prominence during the French colonial era when it became a strategic port city.
Later, Vung Tau gained significance as a rest and recreation destination for American soldiers during the Vietnam War.
The seafood was fresh, cheap and tasted beautiful. The local people were inviting and friendly and as a solo traveller, many people welcomed me in and had a chat about life and things to do. It’s less frequented by foreigners so if you would like to meet local people it’s a nice place. It had some cool cafes with beautiful views for me to explore, and of course a yoga studio and now even martial arts. I highly recommend you visit this peaceful little city.
Where To Stay
Ibis Styles Vung Tau
117 Thùy Vân, Street, Ward, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Located near Linh Son Co Tu and Lang Co Ong, ibis Styles Vung Tau is a hotel that offers a poolside bar, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a bar. It features a white sand beach and beachfront dining, perfect for enjoying the sun. The on-site restaurant, StrEATs, serves international cuisine with ocean views. Guests can stay connected with free in-room WiFi and access amenities like a 24-hour fitness centre and a conference centre.
Networking With Locals
If you’re on a budget I noticed as I walked around and spoke to people, I was offered many hotels for a fraction of the price of what you find on the travel websites. Walk around and see a building you like the look of and just ask about renting a room, the price can be as low as USD 8/10 per night for a clean, 2-star hotel with friendly hosts.
Coffee
I was only able to spend a short time in Vung Tau so I am sure I missed a lot of places. But these 3 cafes provided me with amazing views and a relaxing place to read, write and reflect. Two of these cafes were up a winding road wide enough for 1 car only so a motorbike or grab motorbike is recommended.
Cariban Coffee
126D Đ. Hoàng Hoa Thám, Phường 2, Thành phố Vũng Tàu, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/xYMpJJs3dExKpXEw8 In the heart of the city is Cariban Coffee. This is the place to go for real coffee connoisseurs. A friendly host and offers a wide variety of quality beans cold brew, Italian style and Vietnamese. It’s also a peaceful and cool environment to work and study. I tried the cold brew and a latte and they were both perfect.
Cariban Coffee
Lightroom Coffee
Address: 63/2 Hải Đăng, Phường 2, Thành phố Vũng Tàu, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/e9T891zV5R2y8D9t5
Lightroom Coffee provides a stunning view of the hills and beach. It’s a little way out of town up a winding road. It feels like you’re in a special place when you arrive, escaping the city and discovering a tranquil haven. It has 2 levels with an outside seating area. It’s a really cool place to read and relax for a few hours. They have some tasty food and snacks and a wide selection of juices, smoothies and coffee.
Lightroom Coffee
The Hill Coffee Vung Tau
Address: 2 Hải Đăng, Phường 2, Thành phố Vũng Tàu, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/Z2mHUDNZUrZfnTwR9
The Hill Coffee Vung Tau is located near the Lightroom Coffee. It has been designed and built on the cliff edge. You walk down several sets of stairs to enter and arrive at the best viewing platform. It is a stunning place to sit, chill, drink coffee and take photos of the town and beach below. It is probably the most expensive coffee shop I have been to in Vietnam but it has the best view I have seen so far. The entrance fee is built into the price of the drinks, so expect to pay 100k+ VND for a coffee.
The Hill Coffee Vung Tau
The Hill Coffee Vung Tau
Things to do
Jesus Christ Statue
Address: 01, Bà Rịa, Vũng Tàu, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/BhipuzzNYb72bxwr9 Dominating the skyline of Vung Tau, the Jesus Christ statue stands tall as the largest Christian structure in Asia, commanding attention with its towering height of 32 meters (105 ft) and expansive width of 18.3 meters (60 ft). Resembling the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, this monumental masterpiece was constructed by the Vietnam Catholic Association, beginning in 1974 and completing its awe-inspiring presence atop Mount Nho in 1994. As you ascend towards the statue, which sits on the hill formerly serving as a French outpost during the colonial era, you’ll encounter remnants of history, such as cannons and military equipment, dotting the path.
Ho May Park
Address: 1a Trần Phú, Phường 1, Thành phố Vũng Tàu, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/9qf2tHrooD5a2hQHA Ho May Park is a remarkable destination offering a multitude of attractions and activities. From its breathtaking panoramic cable car ride, providing stunning views of mountains and sea, to delightful onsite restaurants serving local cuisine, Ho May Park ensures an extraordinary experience for visitors of all ages.
Adventure enthusiasts can enjoy high-tech games like the Ultimate Slide, Quick Jump, and Zipline, while families can indulge in the indoor entertainment center, featuring over 70 games and captivating shows.
Cultural experiences await at Ho May Park, with notable landmarks including the Ho May Main Temple and Phat Tich Cave, along with traditional folk games and beautifully adorned cultural spaces that add a touch of enchantment. Getting to Ho May Park is convenient, located 120 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, accessible by speedboat or by road.
Nighttime Seafood and Beach Walk - Phố Đức Chính Street
Phố Đức Chính, Thắng Tam, Vũng Tàu, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/cWcGMVL1JzWdqXc17 My personal favourite was to go to the seafood area before going for a walk along the beach at night. Because it was holiday seas it was super packed at this time in June. Right next door to the Ibis Styles are the streets with an abundance of great seafood shops to eat at night. Take a walk along and pick one you like.
The seafood is fresh and cooked to order. Afterwards, right across the road, you can join the locals on a nice walk along the beach. At night people fly kites, there is music and dancing on the night I visited.
Karaoke Icool Vung Tau
Address: 283 Thống Nhất, Phường 8, Thành phố Vũng Tàu, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/Yp6N8e1G5X6W5qR1A Karaoke Icool Vung Tau, known as the “Singaporean karaoke experience” in Vietnam, offers top-notch audio-visual systems and a vibrant atmosphere. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats, providing a fun and memorable night out. I passed this place several times while exploring Vung Tau and it looked fun and lively.
Karaoke Icool Vung Tau
Sports and Leisure
If you are into some of the same sports as myself this little list might help you out. I always like to keep up with my flexibility and fitness while travelling.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Crossfit - Elab Sport Club
Address: 61/9 Trần Đồng, Phường 3, Thành phố Vũng Tàu, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu, Vietnam Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/AToaqWLF4MMqW4N26 Unfortunately, I did not get to visit but it looked really good and I plan to visit when I return to Vung Tau. It’s the first Jiu-Jitsu training centre in Vung Tau and I am excited to return and check it out soon.
Trung Tam Yoga Pro New
Address: 171 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Phường 3, Thành phố Vũng Tàu, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/616EYpDDQxHqXQpM9 For Yoga I went to this location. It’s a short ride away from the Ibis Styles, but also walkable. I was welcomed into class and fortunately for me it was a medium-difficulty class by Vietnamese standards. In Vietnam yoga can be a bit more in the higher range compared to Australia/US, especially if you add the heat and are not used to it.
I left feeling relaxed. Several other yoga studios look good, messaging on Facebook is the customary contact method in Vietnam, perhaps do this before arriving.
Summary
Overall this is a cool beach getaway location, easily accessible from Ho Chi Minh City. It has a low price for hotels and accommodation and the best seafood you will taste. It’s a cool and relaxed area popular with Vietnamese people, great sea views, with clean air and not a lot of traffic to deal with.