Vung Tau Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Long Hai Beach featuring tropical scenes and landscape views
Vung Tau
Vung Tau showing boating and a beach
Vung Tau
Vung Tau

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 - Transportation Included
Vias Hotel Vung Tau - Transportation Included
5 out of 5
179 Thuy Van, Ward 8, Vung Tau, Ba Ria-Vung Tau
The price is ฿2,587 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
฿2,587
฿2,933 total
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Vung Tau. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (246 reviews)
"Excellent services!!!"

Reviewed on 15 Jun 2025

Vias Hotel Vung Tau - Transportation Included
The IMPERIAL Vung Tau Hotel
The IMPERIAL Vung Tau Hotel
5 out of 5
159 Thuy Van Street, Vung Tau, Ba Ria-Vung Tau
Fully refundable
The price is ฿2,629 per night from 29 Jul to 30 Jul
฿2,629
฿2,982 total
29 Jul - 30 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Vung Tau. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (670 reviews)
"Well organized"

Reviewed on 16 Jun 2025

The IMPERIAL Vung Tau Hotel
Queen Garden Hotel
Queen Garden Hotel
2 out of 5
H3 A Chau - Phan Huy Chu Street, Ward 2, Vung Tau
The price is ฿327 per night from 11 Jul to 12 Jul
฿327
฿371 total
11 Jul - 12 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Vung Tau. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Back Beach and Linh Son Co Tu are located ...
9/10 Wonderful! (35 reviews)
"The price was inexpensive and very good places. I Would highly recommend staying here"

Reviewed on 20 Feb 2025

Queen Garden Hotel
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.
Coastal Suite CSJ Tower Vung tau
Coastal Suite CSJ Tower Vung tau
4 out of 5
169 Thùy Vân, Vung Tau
Stay at this 4-star apartment in Vung Tau. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Back Beach and Lotte Mart Vung Tau ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (7 reviews)
"Rất gần bãi sau, khu nhà cũng yên tĩnh. Chủ nhà thân thiện lắm"

Reviewed on 21 May 2025

Coastal Suite CSJ Tower Vung tau
The Sóng Vũng Tàu - Shin's Apartment
The Sóng Vũng Tàu - Shin's Apartment
5 out of 5
28 Thi Sách, 20, Vung Tau, Ba Ria-Vung Tau
Stay at this 5-star luxury apartment in Vung Tau. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 outdoor pools and valet parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Back Beach and Lotte Mart ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (93 reviews)
"Nice and clean property. Easy access.would come back and stay here for next visit. Very well cared host. Thank you"

Reviewed on 9 Apr 2025

The Sóng Vũng Tàu - Shin's Apartment
Meomeo Homestay - The song Apartment
Meomeo Homestay - The song Apartment
3.5 out of 5
28 Thi Sach, Vung Tau
Stay at this 3.5-star family-friendly apartment in Vung Tau. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 outdoor pools and a rooftop terrace. Popular attractions Back Beach and Lotte ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (11 reviews)
Nice place to stay
"Nice place very clean"

Reviewed on 9 Mar 2025

Meomeo Homestay - The song 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.

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