‘a hidden gem with that charming coastal character. a hotspot for locals and tourists to bask in the quaint and refreshing feelings of a seaside town’.
once a french colonial town, vũng tàu is now a ever developing port city. with resorts popping up across the coastline, restaurants, bustling markets day & night and specialist seafood in abundance. it’s definitely putting itself on the vietnamese map whilst being very much so under the radar for foreign tourists.
whether you’re looking for a seaside break from the city or wanting to supplement your vietnamese trip, vũng tàu is a destination for consideration. vũng tàu is a hidden gem with charming coastal character. a hotspot for locals and tourists to bask in the quaint and refreshing feelings of a seaside town.
vũng tàu is a destination for people all over vietnam. a spot where you’re more likely to socialise with natives as apposed to mixing with foreign tourists. it’s very common to find people who’ve taken the trip out of the cities of the south of the country. taking a brief retreat from the hectic lifestyle of saigon city life is an example of this. being a popular choice amongst both vietnamese and expats. just a 2.5 hour journey and only costing 130k VND for a return ticket from saigon; it’s a no brainer.
you can use baolau.com to book your tickets. the bus leaves from tan son nhat international airport and arrives in the centre of vũng tàu.
living and costs
the port city of vũng tàu is a fairly cheap location; with similar pricing to that of ho chi minh city and other southern vietnamese cities. affordable street food classics not excluding supreme seafoods and mostly free attractions.
if comfortable, bike rental for your visit is recommended. although vũng tàu isn’t the biggest, it certainly serves a purpose to ensure quick navigation of the seafront and inner city. costing around a fair 150k VND per day, it’s worthwhile.
mixed dorms in a hostel average around 120k VND per night. which is more or less the average for most cities in vietnam. however, given it was a weekend city retreat, we splashed a little and booked an airbnb costing 2m VND for two nights. a spacious 2 bedroom apartment complete with a kitchen, living room and balcony. situated in the centre of vũng tàu and walking distance from the back beach.
points of interest
although there’s wonderful things to do, vũng tàu isn’t thriving with touristic attractions waiting to be ticked off by a keen backpacker. it’s more of a place to unwind, reroot and be around simplicity again. a city rife with nature, many beaches, wavy seaside and spaces to bask in the comparatively calming atmosphere to other vietnamese cities. rather that’s what made vũng tàu so special for me; an obscure retreat.
jesus christ statue: take on the 133 step hike to the top. you’ll be met with both a beautiful view of the city and a huge monument of jesus. at a total height of 36m, it is the largest christian statue in asia. jesus himself appears to be looming over the city and is visible from quite the distance.
hồ bàu sen: a lake just inland from back beach. a tranquil wander around the beautiful lake centred amongst local residents going about their day.
back beach: a sizeable, sociable and sandy beach. accompanied with a wavy seaside perfect for swimmers and surfers.vũng tàu seafood market: home to the best seafood i had in vietnam. it’s really no wonder the city is renown for it. although on the slightly more expensive side, you will find many fresh seafood markets along the coastline and totally worth the price.
dồi con heo: feeling like a colourful vietnamese wonderland crossed with a movie set destined for young lovers. ride your motorbike up halfway and hike the rest. catch a view at sunset to capture a picturesque colourful landscape or to simply enjoy the magical moment unfold.
purple sunset undertones, seaside fun and delicious locally sourced fresh food. get off the mainstream tracks of vietnamese travel and check out vũng tàu. it’s truly a special place.
