Buzz
Vũng Tàu's proximity to Ho Chi Minh City makes it an ideal destination for spontaneous weekend getaways for Saigonese, especially for those who love adventure travel. The guide below provides tips for a fun, safe, and budget-friendly trip.
Explore Vũng Tàu this weekend only (photo by ST)
Adventure Travel Experience in Vũng Tàu
1. Travel Experience
Vũng Tàu is approximately 110 km away from Ho Chi Minh City, so the climate is not significantly different from Saigon. It has two distinct seasons, with a pleasant climate and occasional sudden showers. The dry season is from November to April, while the rainy season is from May to October. Vũng Tàu enjoys a cool climate throughout the year, making it suitable for travel at any time. However, before you go, make sure to check the weather forecast to avoid rainy days that might spoil your plans.
You can travel to Vũng Tàu by motorbike, self-driving car, hydrofoil, or coach, depending on your preference.
A coastal road in Vũng Tàu (photo by ST)
Coach
Coaches are a convenient and safe means of transportation chosen by many travelers. You can catch a coach from Miền Đông Bus Station (Ho Chi Minh City) to Vũng Tàu Bus Station (Vũng Tàu City). Ticket prices range from 60,000 to 100,000 Vietnamese dong per trip, depending on the bus company.
Miền Đông Bus Station (photo by ST)
Hydrofoil
Hydrofoil is the fastest means of transportation from Saigon to Vũng Tàu, but it comes with a higher travel cost. Taking the hydrofoil will only take about 1.5 hours, with ticket prices ranging from 200,000 to 250,000 Vietnamese dong per trip. You can purchase tickets and travel from Bạch Đằng Station (Ho Chi Minh City) to Cầu Đá Station (Vũng Tàu City).
Cầu Đá Port - Vũng Tàu (photo by ST)
Motorbike, Self-Drive Car
Traveling by these two means of transportation provides you with the freedom to explore, visit places you like, or stop along the way to capture beautiful photos. You have three options for transportation.
Route 1: Take National Highway 1A, pass Đồng Nai Bridge and drive about 30 km until you reach a roundabout (locally known as Vũng Tàu intersection, formerly called Vũng Tàu crossroad). From here, turn right onto National Highway 51. Drive another 100 km to reach Vũng Tàu City.
Route 2: You can choose the route from Cát Lái Ferry (District 2, Ho Chi Minh City) to Nhơn Trạch (Đồng Nai). This road will lead directly to National Highway 51 at the entrance gate to Nhơn Trạch Industrial Zone. Drive another 100 km to reach Vũng Tàu City.
Route 3: Continue on National Highway 1A, pass Đồng Nai Bridge, then take National Highway 51. After traveling 27 km from Vũng Tàu, you will see a signpost for Long Sơn. This is a shortcut to Vũng Tàu. This newly constructed road has less traffic, offering beautiful scenery with floating fishing villages along the coast.
Map of the route to Vũng Tàu (photo by St)
Precautions before traveling you should remember
- Pack a compact but fully equipped backpack with water, raincoat, and a few snacks
- When traveling, remember to divide your money and store it in multiple places such as on your person, in your backpack, in your shoes to prevent loss or theft
- If traveling by motorbike, check the tires, battery, turn signals, lights..., change the oil, install both mirrors to ensure safety during the journey
2. Dusty tourist destinations in Vũng Tàu
Traveling to dusty beaches
If you want to go swimming, choose one of the following beaches: Front Beach, Back Beach, Pineapple Beach, Strawberry Beach, Long Hai Beach, Coc Lake, Tram Lake, Suoi O Beach…
The pristine beauty of Suoi O Beach (photo by ST)
Vung Tau is famous for its beautiful beaches so you can choose any beach to swim. However, if you want a lively atmosphere and many activities, you should choose Front Beach and Back Beach as they are the most densely populated areas with residents, restaurants, hotels, and entertainment areas. The other beaches are less developed so they are still quite deserted and pristine but very beautiful with their own charm
Visit Con Dao
Con Dao is a famous destination that you should visit separately because here you can find beautiful beaches like: Dam Trau Beach, Bay Canh Island…, historical relics such as: Hang Duong Cemetery, Con Dao Prison, and various islands to visit like Phi Yen Temple, Prince Cai's Tomb, Mountain One Pagoda.
Con Dao Prison – Vung Tau (photo by ST)
Visiting Con Dao will take quite some time to explore all the attractions on the island, and every place here is so beautiful that you shouldn't miss any. Con Dao is now considered a paradise for tourism, so you shouldn't miss it
Dusty trip in Con Dao (photo by ST)
Spiritual tourism areas
Vung Tau is also home to many sacred temples and pagodas that attract tourists to come and pray for blessings: Thich Ca Phat Dai, Niet Ban Tinh Xa, Quan The Am Bodhisattva Pagoda, Linh Son Co Tu Pagoda, the outstretched arms of Jesus Christ statue, Ba Shrine…
Dai Tong Lam Pagoda
Visiting these spiritual landmarks, tourists can explore, listen to teachings for inner peace, enjoy tea ceremonies with monks, or pray for themselves and their loved ones
Famous dusty tourist attractions
If you're tired of beach bathing and want to enjoy fresh air, climb mountains for physical activity, and seek out serene places away from the hustle and bustle of urban life, then Vung Tau stands out with its beautiful mountains: Big Mountain, Small Mountain, Dinh Mountain, Nua Mountain, Minh Dam Mountain, Fairy Feet Mountain…
Small Mountain – Vung Tau
Mountain climbing gives you an exciting feeling as you conquer heights. When you reach the summit, you can admire the majestic mountains and far-off houses and beaches, creating a breathtaking natural scenery
Minh Dam Mountain – Vung Tau (ST photo)
Moreover, there are historical sites such as Vung Tau lighthouse, Bach Dinh, ancient weapons museum… which are places rich in historical significance attracting tourists to visit and learn about the glorious history of the Vietnamese nation.
Bach Dinh in Vung Tau
Beautiful Check-in Spots
Vung Tau is a famous tourist destination, so there are stunning check-in spots for tourists to capture beautiful photos after their trip, such as Da Xanh Lake, sheep field, stone stream, Cloud Lake, Maria Boat Wharf, Pig Hill,…
Blue Stone Lake in Vung Tau (photo by ST)
Visiting these spots, you will be amazed by their stunning beauty, a romantic and elegant charm that creates sparkling photos giving you a feeling of being in the Western sky. These places attract many couples to take wedding photos due to their breathtaking scenery.
Marina Boat Wharf
Maria Boat Wharf (photo by ST)
Entertainment Hotspots
There are plenty of entertainment spots here to help travelers unwind after days of hard work, such as Vung Tau Water Park, dog races at Lam Son Stadium, tandem bike rentals for a leisurely ride, Kayaking...
Dog Racing Competition – Vung Tau (photo by ST)
These entertainment activities provide travelers with ample time for carefree fun and excitement.
Water Park here
Water Park in Vung Tau (photo by ST)
3. Dining Experience When Traveling to Vung Tau's Dusty Paths
Vung Tau, being a coastal city, boasts fresh and delicious seafood at reasonable prices, making it a must-try for visitors. Seafood here is so fresh and tasty that many tourists pack foam boxes to take home as gifts. In addition, there are other dishes that travelers shouldn't miss such as: banh khot, hotpot, noodles,...
Fresh seafood in Vung Tau
You can enjoy coffee at O Cap Cafe, Pho Dong Cafe,... Indulge in seafood at Thanh Phat, GanHao, Le Dung... Banh khot, shrimp raw, Russian-style grilled meat, banh canh, broken rice, rice in clay pot... are typical dishes of Vung Tau, so there are many delicious and cheap eateries like: night food street on Le Lai street, Do Chieu street, Huong Duong eatery. In the evening, you can stroll by the beach and enjoy snails, which are also very delicious here
Banh canh Vung Tau (photo by ST)
4. Where to stay when traveling to Vung Tau
Vung Tau offers a wide range of homestays, hotels, luxurious resorts,... for you to choose from. Depending on the number of members and your preferences, choose the most beautiful hotels here.
The Grand Hồ Tràm Strip Resort is a luxurious integrated resort
Lan Rừng Resort & Spa is located right on the coast of Vung Tau
- Many people choose budget guesthouses in Vung Tau
- Stay at 7 affordable resorts in Vung Tau
- Explore the top 6 budget hotels near the beach in Vung Tau
Additionally, there are plenty of other types of hotels you can consider:
Above are some weekend travel experiences in Vung Tau, wishing you an enjoyable weekend trip here.
