Vung Tau

Travel Guide

Long Hai Beach which includes tropical scenes and landscape views
Vung Tau showing general coastal views and a beach
Vung Tau which includes boating and a sandy beach
Vung Tau featuring heritage elements, wildflowers and a statue or sculpture
Vung Tau which includes cycling and street scenes

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 ¥10,413 per night from Jul 15 to Jul 16
¥10,413
¥11,837 total
Jul 15 - Jul 16
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Vung Tau. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (248 reviews)
"I wrote this email to the property manager, Dear Vias Manager, I regret that I wasn’t able to meet you in person before we left Vung Tau, but I wanted to take a moment to express our family’s deepest gratitude for the truly exceptional service we received during our stay at Vias. From the moment ..."

Reviewed on Jul 11, 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
The price is ¥14,527 per night from Jul 20 to Jul 21
¥14,527
¥16,473 total
Jul 20 - Jul 21
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Vung Tau. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (670 reviews)
"Well organized"

Reviewed on Jun 16, 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 ¥1,493 per night from Aug 7 to Aug 8
¥1,493
¥1,693 total
Aug 7 - Aug 8
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Vung Tau. Enjoy free WiFi, 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 Feb 20, 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.
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 WiFi, 2 outdoor pools, and valet parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Back Beach and Lotte Mart ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (96 reviews)
"Phòng đẹp, phù hợp cho gia đình đông người. Phục vụ nhiệt tình dễ thương."

Reviewed on Jul 12, 2025

The Sóng Vũng Tàu - Shin's Apartment
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 WiFi, parking (surcharge), and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Back Beach and Lotte Mart Vung Tau ...
8/10 Very Good! (8 reviews)
"Rất gần bãi sau, khu nhà cũng yên tĩnh. Chủ nhà thân thiện lắm"

Reviewed on May 21, 2025

Coastal Suite CSJ Tower Vung tau
The Song Apartment - Homestay Vung Tau 1992
The Song Apartment - Homestay Vung Tau 1992
5 out of 5
28 Thi Sach, TSC 27-43, Vung Tau
Stay at this 5-star luxury apartment in Vung Tau. Enjoy free WiFi, free water park access, and a sauna. Popular attractions Back Beach and Lotte Mart Vung Tau ...
"there was a lack of toilet paper and it was difficult to communicate with the person."

Reviewed on Feb 26, 2024

The Song Apartment - Homestay Vung Tau 1992
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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