Buzz
Vung Tau, a coastal city, is not far from Ho Chi Minh City. To reach Vung Tau, travelers only need about 1 hour and 15 minutes on the hydrofoil.
MONDAY
1 p.m – Start at Bai Sau
Leave your luggage at the hotel and head straight to the beach for some fun under the warm sun. Among the many beaches in Vung Tau, Bai Sau is considered the best choice. The beach is wide, although not very clean, and suitable for swimming. In front of Bai Sau is Thuy Van street, where many seafood restaurants are crowded. After swimming, visitors can choose a restaurant to enjoy the specialties here.
5 p.m – Stroll along Bai Truoc
Bai Truoc is one of the most bustling and friendly areas of Vung Tau. It is home to many shops, budget hotels, Vietnamese restaurants, Western restaurants, cafes, and bars. In the evening, tourists often gather on the sidewalks along Tran Phu Street to watch the sunset. Additionally, Bai Truoc is also an ideal place for a leisurely stroll. It takes about 15 minutes to walk from here to Tran Hung Dao Street – near the city center.
7:30 p.m – Enjoying local specialties
If you are a food enthusiast, you must not miss the opportunity to enjoy the local specialties when visiting Vung Tau. Ganh Hao Restaurant, located at 3 Tran Phu Street, is a familiar address for tourists. Although rated as one of the best seafood restaurants in Southeast Asia, the prices at Ganh Hao are very affordable.
TUESDAY
9 a.m – Visiting the lighthouse
Located atop a mountain, the lighthouse was built around 150 years ago. Using a rotating Fresnel lens, the lighthouse emits a light signal every 12 seconds that can be seen from a distance of nearly 30 nautical miles. From the lighthouse's position, tourists can enjoy the bustling scenery of the city.
10 a.m – Christ the King on Tao Phung Mountain (Little Mountain)
Similar to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Vung Tau also has a statue of Christ with outstretched arms (also known as Christ the King) standing 32m tall on Tao Phung Mountain. To reach the arm position of the statue, tourists must climb over the mountain and 133 steps. The Christ the King statue is a prominent landmark in Vung Tau, and also a source of pride for the locals.
12 p.m – Buddhist Inspiration
The Thich Ca Phat Dai relic (45 Tran Phu Street) is a visitation site classified as a historical and cultural relic of Ba Ria - Vung Tau. This is an architectural complex depicting the life story of Buddha Thich Ca, which is worth visiting. On major holidays, there are many pilgrims coming here.
2 p.m – Sports
If you want to relax by playing golf, then Paradise Golf Club (1 Thuy Van Street) is a suitable place for you. This is a highly rated golf course in Vietnam with 27 holes. In addition to golf, this place also offers other services like tennis courts and some water sports. Paradise Golf Club also has a restaurant. The weekday fee is $70 (add $30 on weekends).
7 p.m – Enjoying fresh fish
Cat Bien Restaurant at 38 Quang Trung Street is where tourists can enjoy delicious dishes made from fresh fish and seafood. An evening for two here costs around $7 - $10.
9 p.m – Sipping coffee, enjoying the sea view
Vietnam is considered a coffee paradise. In Vung Tau, there are many coffee shops, both indoor and outdoor, with a sea view. The menus at these shops are also very diverse, offering not only coffee but also tea, beer, and wine. O Cap 1 at 90 Ha Long Street is an ideal choice for you.
WEDNESDAY
9 a.m – Banh Khot for breakfast
One of the most delicious breakfast dishes in Vung Tau is Banh Khot. This is a characteristic dish of this land, made from familiar ingredients such as a mixture of rice flour for the cake, fresh shrimp, minced meat... used as filling. Depending on personal preference, you can choose a suitable cake filling. Goc Vu Sua Restaurant at 14 Nguyen Truong To Street is a famous place serving Banh Khot.
10 a.m – White Palace
Located on the most prime hill in Vung Tau, the White Palace is a majestic white villa. Built during the French colonial period in European architectural style, this is a historical site attracting many tourists.
***
Source: Mytour Travel Handbook
MytourSeptember 12, 2013
