Travel Tips for Vung Tau for Your Group and Family

Vung Tau has long been a popular tourist destination, especially for those starting from Saigon. It's suitable for couples, groups, and families due to its convenient geographical location, easy transportation, and abundant attractions and dining options. In this article, I want to compile 3 accommodation and experience options in 3 different places in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, namely: Sơn Thịnh 1 Apartment, Oceanami Villas & Beach Club, and Minera Hot Springs Binh Chau. All 3 places offer different experiences and prices, but they all provide memorable moments and connections with friends and family.

Map of my impressive accommodation options in Vung Tau

1. Sơn Thịnh 1 Apartment (Address: 23D Thùy Vân, Ba Ria - Vung Tau)

Son Thinh 1 Apartment is tall and a corner of the room inside the apartment

The first accommodation option is the Son Thinh 1 apartment building, although not luxurious, it is located near the center of Vung Tau city so it is very convenient to visit the attractions in the center. We traveled in a group of about 6 people so we chose a 3-bedroom apartment, the room was quite clean, fully equipped for cooking, washing, and it must be said that it has a beautiful view overlooking part of the sea and the pig hill. Standing in the room looking out, the feeling of floating because of the openness of one side is the blue sea, one side is the rocky hill with contrasting green and black colors is truly a new perspective of Vung Tau city.

View from the apartment

Actually, if the weather is quite hot in the summer or if it rains heavily and you can't go out to experience, you can still buy food together and cook at the apartment, which is very fun - an interesting point when traveling with a group. We also cooked breakfast at the apartment on this 2-day 1-night trip.

View from the apartment

Staying at Son Thinh 1 apartment makes it easy to reach familiar check-in spots in Vung Tau city such as the statue of Christ the King, Vung Tau lighthouse, seaside cafes, especially on a motorcycle trip, I found the morning walk along Ha Long Street extending to Tran Phu Street extremely beautiful. Layer after layer of seaside cafes, hotels stretch out, as you head towards Tran Phu Street, the nature and coastline become more spacious, fewer constructions, and you can fully admire the vast sea in front.

A section of Tran Phu Street overlooking the sea

Because it's a self-planned trip, the dishes we explored were quite easy to eat and find in downtown Vung Tau. In addition to dishes like Ut Muoi stingray hotpot (10 Truong Cong Dinh, Ward 1, Vung Tau City), durian avocado ice cream at Gac Mo Homestay & Cafe (29 Ba Trieu, Ward 4, Vung Tau City), I was most impressed with the banh khot dish at Banh Khot Co Ba Vung Tau (1 Hoang Hoa Tham, Ward 3, Vung Tau City). Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, with fresh shrimp toppings, and flavorful fatty meat combined with delicious fish sauce truly catered to the tastes of guests like me. The price for a plate is 70,000 VND, although it may be a bit expensive, I found the quality to be good and clean, and the ambiance of the restaurant was spacious.

Co Ba Vung Tau Banh Khot Restaurant

Moreover, in the evening, you can experience cocktails at Marina Club - Cafe & Lounge (3 Ha Long, Ward 2, Vung Tau City) - a Santorini-inspired spot nestled on the Vung Tau coast with the vibes of a Mediterranean heart.

Marina club

I sat right by the edge of the coastline, sometimes when the waves were too high, the sea droplets danced lively around the cocktail table. The cocktails here have a pleasant taste, not too strong, and the space is incredibly chill and spacious.

My Marina cocktail order

Those were impressive experiences and brought me many memories in the heart of Vung Tau City.

2. Oceanami Villas & Beach Club (address: National Highway 44A, Phuoc Hai town, Dat Do district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau)

On the trip with colleagues and friends to Oceanami, I had many experiences, including experiencing one of the most luxurious resorts in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province.

Long Son Mansion

Long Son Mansion

On the way to Oceanami resort, we stopped by a historical site called Long Son Mansion. Long Son Mansion, also known as Ong Tran Temple, is located on the eastern slope of Nui Nua Mountain, in Long Son Island, Vung Tau city, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, Vietnam. Long Son Mansion was built by Mr. Tran (real name Le Van Muu, born in 1856, from Ha Tien) from 1910 to 1929. The entire 2ha area is an architectural complex in ancient style, built mainly of tiles and precious woods.

Intricate details at Long Son Mansion

The compound is divided into three areas: temples; community halls, schools, markets, Ghe Sam conservation house, and Mr. Tran's tomb area. After Mr. Tran passed away (in 1935), in addition to Confucianism, Long Son Mansion also formed the worship of Mr. Tran, but the main purpose still directs people towards goodness and beauty. The cultural and traditional values are elevated when Mr. Tran taught his descendants to preserve his customs such as wearing traditional ao dai, walking barefoot, and neatly tying hair - a characteristic of Southern people. Before entering Long Son Mansion, visitors can take a break and learn about the architectural complex of Long Son Mansion in the main area. Inside, there are many precious wooden objects collected by Mr. Tran, and outside, there is unique architecture (resembling a Vietnamese village temple). Therefore, on August 3, 1991, the Long Son Mansion compound was recognized by the Ministry of Culture - Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism) as a national-level historical and cultural relic.

Unique architecture of Long Son Mansion

Details of the roof at Long Son Mansion

If you are someone who appreciates unique architecture, then Long Son Mansion is a place worth capturing many images to remember. Afterward, everyone continues the journey straight to Oceanami Resort.

Oceanami Resort

A villa apartment at Oceanami

The second accommodation option is Oceanami resort

Inspired by a cherry blossom forest, Oceanami resort possesses both the coastal element of Phuoc Hai and the proximity to Minh Dam mountain, making it one of the most beautiful resorts in Ba Ria - Vung Tau. With lush, fresh, and untouched greenery, Oceanami dons the radiant pink color of cherry blossoms - also the resort's logo - marking the arrival of spring.

Oceanami provides ample space for events and group experiences, catering not only standard rooms but various villas with different location choices and accompanying price ranges; the facilities include conference rooms, stages, large outdoor swimming pools with multiple swimming spaces for different demographics, spacious restaurants, sports rooms, and long beach promenades. In more detail, Oceanami boasts around 400 seaside villas corresponding to over 1000 rental rooms within 2 operational and residential blocks, catering to a diverse range of customers from individuals, families to large organizations.

The perfect Instagram spot at Oceanami resort

During the stay at Oceanami, I spent all my time at the resort, from evening events to morning buffets, and I was very satisfied because every dish was excellent. Additionally, guests can use private cars or taxis to reach Phuoc Hai market area with numerous seafood restaurants and local eateries in this area.

Witnessing the stunning moonrise by the seaside at Oceanami resort

At the check-in spot for Instagram-worthy photos, both the pathway leading to the villa and the villa itself offer ideal locations for photo shoots. In front of the villa, taking photos with lush greenery is a must, but my favorite spot is on the rooftop. With one side facing the mountains and the other overlooking the long stretch of villas extending to the sea, the rooftop provides a captivating and deep perspective for photos. You can't miss out on the Instagrammable moments in this area.

Beautiful Photo Spots at Oceanami Resort

3. Minera Hot Springs Binh Chau (Address: National Highway 55, Binh Chau Commune, Xuyen Moc District, Ba Ria - Vung Tau)

On the way to Minera Hot Springs Binh Chau

Morning Commencement of the Journey

The journey started from Saigon early in the morning to avoid traffic jams on the highway to Ba Ria - Vung Tau. Breakfast was enjoyed at a nearby pho restaurant. Upon reaching Binh Chau commune, Chau Duc district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, the group stopped at Saigon Casa Café, a coffee chain offering Saigon-style menu items at Novaworld Ho Tram to savor tea and coffee. The commercial street here has a very European atmosphere, and the drinks are delightful.

Coffee at Saigon Casa Café

By noon, everyone had lunch at Quan Hai Loc (Address: straight along the beach road from Novaworld Ho Tram; ask locals for directions). The restaurant offers a variety of fresh seafood dishes with a strong coastal flavor. The most impressive dish was the vinegar-dipped shark (hammerhead shark).

Vinegar-Dipped Shark Dish

Check-in Accommodation at Minera Hot Springs Binh Chau

Minera Hot Springs offers various accommodation options, and since our group was quite large, we opted for three different spaces: a basic room for 2 people, a family room for 6 people, and a villa for about 4 people. The villa was undoubtedly the perfect choice, albeit the most expensive, but it was worth it for its private rooms, lush garden, and a mini swimming pool. The villa space is designed in a minimalist Japanese style, with pathways between the villas resembling Japanese streets.

Beautifully Designed Villa at Minera

What to Do at Minera Hot Springs Binh Chau During Noon and Afternoon?

I checked in right upon arrival at Minera.

During the noon and afternoon, it's best to experience the pools here, which have shallow water and a bubbly massage system – jacuzzi pools. It's a completely relaxing feeling and really refreshes oneself.

Afternoon Coffee, Cake, and Tea

If staying in a villa, there will be 2 servings of afternoon tea at the Japanese-style cafe. Taking a stroll around the area, you can also experience the lush green landscape, filled with sunlight and shade from large trees.

Evening at Minera Hot Springs Binh Chau

In the evening, the whole team dines at the resort's large restaurant. The food quality is extremely good and suits my taste perfectly, feeling energized all day by the diverse and hearty meals.

Interior Design of Minera Resort's Large Restaurant

A feast full of delicious dishes

The restaurant features a staircase lobby that's very picturesque for check-ins

If possible, in the late afternoon, you can still participate in activities such as relaxing spa treatments, hot stone massages, and hot spring baths (with a fee).

That evening, with a bit of a delay, our team gathered at the villa for karaoke and heartfelt conversations, which also served as a bonding activity for everyone.

The morning after

New day, new outfit check

The ticket booth with its Japanese-style architecture also serves as an ideal photo spot, especially in the early morning sunlight, so I took the opportunity to snap a few check-in shots.

After my outfit check, I enjoyed a buffet breakfast at the large restaurant and visited the temporary zoo area of the Minera resort. Here, there are only small animals such as dwarf horses, deer, pigeons, and ponies, but each one is tiny and adorable, as well as friendly. The entire zoo area is quite spacious, with diverse landscapes and themes, so everyone can freely take check-in photos.

Diverse landscape within the zoo

Houses and animals at Minera's zoo

Apart from walking, you can also rent bicycles or horse-drawn carriages to explore the entire zoo.

Further inside are vast fields of flowers, with the blooms selected according to the season to ensure the freshest colors. When I visited early last year, the vibrant star-shaped flowers were in full bloom (in yellow and pink).

Capturing the flower field moment

Enjoying the flower field scenery

Moreover, there are various combos available for guests to experience the unique features of the resort, particularly the hot springs. Other exciting activities include soaking in the largest hot mineral soaking pool in Southeast Asia, boiling eggs in the 82 Degrees area, mud baths, onsen baths, water and snack buffets, and lunch buffets.

It can be said that Minera Hot Springs Binh Chau is an ideal destination not only for couples but also for groups of friends due to its high experiential value, uniqueness, and many beneficial activities.

Conclusion

With three different accommodation options for guests to stay and experience, it's all about personal preferences and desires to plan connecting moments with loved ones. Hopefully, the article provides interesting information for readers to consider when planning future trips to Ba Ria - Vung Tau, especially during this summer season.

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