HOW TO TRAVEL TO VUNG TAU FROM SAIGON
Vung Tau is located 125km from Saigon so this is an ideal place for short travel. There are currently three mode of transportation including motorbikes, buses or hydrofoils.
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By motorbikes
Opt 1: travel along the road No 1, through Dong Nai bridge, you will see the roundabout (cross street of Vung Tau), next you will turn right and then follow the road No 51. From here, it takes 100km to Vung Tau.
Opt 2: from Saigon, follow the way from Cat Lai port (Dist 2, Saigon) to Nhon Trach (Dong Nai). This way leads to road No 51. Besides, if you drive by yourself to Vung Tau, you should drive through Long Thanh – Dong Nai highway which will save your time to 2 – 2.5 hours.
Note: duration for Saigon – Vung Tau by motorbike is: 3-3.5 hours.
By public bus
Prices of the high quality buses are from VND 80,000 (US $4) to VND 160,000 (US $7) per ticket. You can take the buses from Mien Dong bus station. Duration: 2.5 – 3 hours.
By hydrofoil
You can travel by Pacific Express which takes about 1.30 hours and price: VND 200,000 (USD 9). The hydrofoil departs at Nha Rong port (05 Nguyen Tat Thanh str., Dist.4) going along Saigon river through Ganh Rai bay and reach Cau Da port, Vung Tau. Hotline: 01222 69 69 68.
WHAT TO VISIT IN VUNG TAU
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Sau (Behind) beach
This beach is very beautiful with mild waves which is the central place for many hotels and restaurants. Accordingly, almost visitors will stay at this place.
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Truoc (in front) beach
The central city is located on the Truoc beach which is the place for many high buildings and shopping areas. Almost visitors will choose the Sau beach, because it is more beautiful and less polluted and touristy than Truoc beach. However, Truoc beach is a great place for sunrise contemplation or walking.
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Long Hai
Is located 110km from Saigon to the Northeast (equivalent to 2-2.5 driving), Long Hai beach is a wonderful place for relaxing which is fallen in love by many visitors. Long Hai has a beautiful beach with emerald sea and long yellow sandy beach and resorts next to the sea. Binh Chau hot stream along the way to Long Hai is also the amazing stop for visitors.
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Ho Coc – Ho Tram
These beaches are located in Xuyen Moc district and are attractive tourist places for visitors due to its rarely pristine features. The water is emerald of which visitors can see the bottom. The beach is quite wide with mild slopes and especially these beaches are impressed thanks big and small stones.
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Suoi O
The beach is located in Binh Chau, XUyen Moc district which is 3km from Binh Chau market, on the way to Binh Chau hot stream. Suoi O beach offers both fresh water stream and soft sandy beach and vast emerald sea. This is a rare beach which has both fresh and salty water.
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Con Dao island
The island is very famous for its clean beach with long green coconut tree lines and white sand which will impress any visitors. It is easily impressive to a lot of domestic and international visitors. Con Dao island is still untouched and has not much been affected by tourism industry which help this island to be the rare tourist paradise in Vietnam.
“CANNOT-MISSED” PLACES IN VUNG TAU
Shakyamuni Buddhist pagoda
The pagoda is located on the mountain side of Lon in Vung Tau. The beauty of this pagoda is the perfect combination of religious architecture and natural landscape. The most significance of the pagoda is 19-meter-high Bac Giac tower and Shakyamuni Buddhist statue siting upon the lotus throne built on the middle mountain and can be seen from a long distance.
Location: visitors can travel on Le Loi, then Tran Phu or from Tran Phu – Truoc beach going along the coastal road through Dau beach, to Ben Da area.
Christ the King statue (Tuong chua Kito)
Locally known as the statue of Jesus stretching the giant hands on the top of Nho mountain in Vung Tau, the statue was built in 1974. It is 32 meters high with the arm length of 18.3 meters facing the sea. There are a 133-step stairs from the bottom to the arms of the statue. This statue in considered as the copied version of the statue in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Location: on the top of the Nho mountain in Vung Tau.
The white palace (Bach Dinh)
In 1898, this house was constructed (known as Villa Blanche) as a retreat for the governor-general of Indochina, Paul Doumer on the Phuoc Thang fortress where was the first place firing on the French ships. The white palace is a Roman-architecture house with 3 floor in 19-meter-high leaning on the mountain of Lon. This place is keeping 19 canons.
Ho May tourist site
This is one of ideal places which should not be missed for your travel to Vung Tau. You will both ride the cable cars to enjoy the wonderful scenery and participate interesting games.
Thang Tam pavilion complex
At this place, besides the pavilion of Tien Hien or Ong Nam Hai (Southern Sea’s whale), Ngu Hanh goddess shrine, there is a shrine of the goddess located on a small island facing the sea. The festival of Nghinh Ong Thang Tam (dedication to the whale) is considered as the religious festival of Ba Ria Vung Tau which attracts a lot of visitors.
Vung Tau lighthouse
After walking along the solid-built tunnels in the 2-floor house which used by the lighthouse guards, you will reach the top of lighthouse. From here, you will see the whole Vung Tau city, beaches, Minh Dam mountain.
The Worldwide arms museum
The museum was founded by Mr. Robert Tylor and his wife Mrs. Nguyen Thi Bong. According to the visitors, this is one of the most attractive museums in Vietnam. Opened early 2012, the museum is displaying 500 effigies which have similar sizes with the human wearing beautiful army uniforms.
WHAT TO EAT
Vung Tau is not only famous for its Khot cake but also seafood, coffee and Russian-style dishes…Below are some delicious dishes and restaurants for your reference.
- Vu Nang snail
Is a unique seafood of Con Dao (Ba Ria Vung Tau). Vu Nang is a conical snail specie with dark gray shell. The snail can be steamed, grilled or combined with vegetable.
- Salad with Mai fish
As the local said, if you do not try this type of dish, it means you cannot experience all typical features of Vung Tau. Salad with Mai fish is very delicious which has been familiar with the locals for long. The Mai fish is white like anchovies and can be found mostly in Sau beach area.
- Long Hai rice pancake folded in half
Is a traditional dish made of rice flour, water, turmeric powder or coconut milk, shrimp, pork, onions and beansprouts, cat’s ears and chicken eggs. However, the pancake in Long Hai offers many special features. Firstly, the ingredients are fresh which are bought directly from the fishing villages. Secondly, the skillful chefs make the pancake crispy. Finally, the fish sauce is prepared carefully which is the combination of sour salted vegetable.
- Khot cake
is a typical specialty of Vung Tau which is one ofe 12 Vietnamese dishes listed in the Asian Records in 2017. The main ingredients of the cake are rice powder and well-grinded pork. This dish is served with flavor sauce, snack vegetable and cucumber.
