Where is Vung Tau
Vung Tau is a coastal city on a peninsula in southern Vietnam. Since 1 July 2025 it belongs to the merged Ho Chi Minh City, so you will see both names on signs and in booking systems. For travellers, Vung Tau Vietnam is still the seaside destination it has long been: a long beach on one side, a harbour bay on the other and two hills in between.
The city is built around two hills. Nui Nho, the Small Mountain, carries the Christ statue and the lighthouse. Nui Lon, the Big Mountain, has Bach Dinh, the Thich Ca Phat Dai temple and Ho May Park with its cable car. Most people come from Saigon for a day, and Vung Tau city also works as a base for a night or two at the sea.
Our picks: Vung Tau tours
For a full day with a guide and entrance fees, take the tour with hotel pickup in District 1. If you mostly want the sea, take the beach day; the Long Tan tour is for people who care more about war history than a plain beach trip.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Speedboat out, private car back, city tour
- One-way speedboat transfer
- Private car return
- Admission to Jesus Statue and Dinh Mountain
Only the way out is by speedboat; the return is by private car, not by boat. An English-speaking guide and a private car city tour are included, and it has two reviews so far.
Check availability →
Long Tan, Nui Dat and Vung Tau beach
- Entrance fee and permits in Long Tan
- English-speaking tour guide
- Lunch with Vietnamese food
The focus is Long Tan and Nui Dat; Vung Tau beach is one part of the day. A private car or minivan, incense sticks with roses and drinking water are included.
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One day in Vung Tau with hotel pickup in District 1
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- English-speaking tour guide
- Entrance fees to attractions
Round-trip air-conditioned transport, one Vietnamese-style lunch, water and a wet tissue are included. A surcharge can apply on certain dates, so check your travel date before you book.
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Museum, White Palace, Christ statue and banh khot
- Vung Tau Museum and White Palace
- Christ the King Statue
- Lunch with Bánh Khọt
The route also takes in Back Beach and Tam Thang Tower. Getting to Vung Tau is not part of the tour, and it has only one review so far, so there is little feedback to compare.
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Full-day beach trip from Ho Chi Minh City
- Air-conditioned bus or van
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Tour guide and entrance fee
One bottle of water per person is included. The meeting point is the District 1 address; check the pickup options when you book, as hotel pickup is not given by default.
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Full day: beach, Christ statue and White Palace
- Entrance fees per itinerary
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Round-trip air-conditioned transportation
An English-speaking guide and bottled water are included. Hotel pickup exists only for selected packages, so the default is the meeting point in District 1.
Check availability →Vung Tau tours and day trips
Day trips from Saigon, private tours and city sightseeing in Vung Tau, with live prices and availability.
Plan your Vung Tau trip
Start with the trips and sights, then open the practical pages.
Vung Tau tours and day trips
Day trips from Saigon, private tours and what each one includes.
Things to do in Vung Tau
Statues, the White Palace, temples, Hon Ba and the food.
Vung Tau beach guide
Back Beach, Front Beach, Bai Dua and Bai Dau.
Christ statue and lighthouse
The 32 m statue and the lighthouse of 1862 on Nui Nho.
Ho May Park
Cable car, package tickets and opening hours from the operator.
Ho Tram and Long Hai
The coast east of the city and the link to Con Dao.
Ho Chi Minh to Vung Tau
Speedboat, limousine bus and the airport transfer.
Where to stay in Vung Tau
Which part of town suits which kind of trip.
Vung Tau weather by month
Historical monthly averages for temperature and rain.
History of Vung Tau
From Cap Saint-Jacques to oil and the 2025 merger.
Day trips from Saigon
Most visitors reach Vung Tau on a day trip. The group tours on our tours page leave Saigon in the morning and combine the Christ statue, a beach and lunch. Some include hotel pick-up in the centre of District 1, others meet at a fixed address, and a private tour with a guide can start in Vung Tau itself. Read the inclusions before you book, because the entrance fees and the lunch are not part of every offer.
If you prefer to organise the trip yourself, the page on getting to Vung Tau compares the speedboat, the limousine bus and the transfer from Tan Son Nhat Airport. For Saigon itself, see our guide to Ho Chi Minh City.
What to see and do
Short introductions with links to the full pages.
Back Beach and Front Beach
Bai Sau, the Back Beach, is a sandy beach lined with guesthouses, cafes, beach clubs and umbrella rental. Bai Truoc, the Front Beach, sits in the centre with a promenade, a waterfront park and boats at anchor. It is more for a walk and the view. Bai Dua and Bai Dau complete the list of local beaches.
Vung Tau beaches →Christ statue and lighthouse on Small Mountain
The statue is 32 m tall and stands on Nui Nho, with roughly 800 steps on the outside. The French lighthouse of 1862 stands on the same hill, reached by a winding mountain road. Check the current visiting arrangements locally before you plan around the inside of either building.
Statue and lighthouse →Ho May Park on Big Mountain
A cable car climbs Nui Lon to a hill park with gardens and play areas. The operator sells a full package and a smaller cable car and garden ticket, and the price depends on your height rather than your age.
Ho May Park →Banh khot and seafood
Banh khot, small crisp pancakes often topped with shrimp, are the local speciality. Stingray hotpot, banh canh noodle soup with crab and the seafood market on Tran Phu near the Sao Mai fishing village round out the menu.
All the sights →Is Vung Tau worth visiting
It depends on what you want from a short trip.
Vung Tau suits you if you want a sea day within reach of Saigon, a few easy sights and a seafood dinner. It is a working coastal city with an active beach front, not a quiet resort. Weekends and national days off bring crowds and heavy traffic on the beach roads,. If you want a longer stay, the coast east of the city around Ho Tram and Long Hai is another option, and the weather page shows which months have the least rain.
Good to know
A few points that change how you plan.
Vung Tau is part of Ho Chi Minh City
Since 1 July 2025 the former Ba Ria Vung Tau province is merged into Ho Chi Minh City. Vung Tau remains the name of the destination, and older maps and guidebooks still show the old province.
Con Dao ship from Vung Tau is suspended
According to the operator, the ship from Vung Tau to Con Dao has been suspended since 1 August 2026 until further notice. Flights go from Saigon instead.
Ho Tram, Long Hai and Con Dao →Long Thanh Airport is not open yet
The government announced 24 December 2026 as the planned start of operations. For now, Tan Son Nhat is the airport to use.
Getting there →Weather figures are averages
The monthly values on our weather page are historical averages from the official building code, not a forecast.
Weather by month →More independent Vietnam guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place.
Ha Long Bay
Cruises, caves and the quieter Bai Tu Long Bay.
Cat Ba Island
The island, its national park and kayaking in Lan Ha Bay.
Hoi An
The lantern-lit old town, My Son and the beaches.
Cam Thanh
Basket boats in the coconut forest near Hoi An.
Hue
The Imperial City, royal tombs and the Hai Van Pass.
Sapa
Treks through rice terraces, Fansipan and the Ha Giang Loop.
Nha Trang
Beaches, island trips and the Po Nagar towers.
Phu Quoc
Beaches, the Hon Thom cable car and island hopping.
Can Tho and the Mekong Delta
Floating markets, river towns and trips from Saigon.
Phu Yen
Basalt columns at Ganh Da Dia, quiet beaches and lagoons between Quy Nhon and Nha Trang.
Quy Nhon
Ky Co, Eo Gio, the Cham towers and island trips on the Binh Dinh coast.
Ba Na Hills
The Golden Bridge, the cable car and Da Nang's beaches, bridges and mountains.
Ha Giang
The Ha Giang Loop, easy riders, Ma Pi Leng Pass and Dong Van.
Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon's sights, the Cu Chi Tunnels, street food and Mekong day trips.
Ninh Binh
Trang An and Tam Coc boat trips, Hang Mua and Hoa Lu.
Vung Tau: frequently asked questions
How far is Vung Tau from Ho Chi Minh City?
The speedboat takes about 120 minutes according to the operator, and the limousine bus about 2 hours according to its operator. Traffic can change the road time. See Ho Chi Minh to Vung Tau for the options.
Can I visit Vung Tau in one day?
Yes, many visitors do. A day trip usually covers the Christ statue, a beach and lunch. If you want to add Ho May Park or the White Palace as well, a private tour or an overnight stay gives you more time. See Vung Tau tours.
Is the Christ statue free to visit?
An official source without a date lists entry as free. Opening hours and access to the inside are not guaranteed, so ask locally on the day. More on the statue and lighthouse page.
Which beach should I choose?
Back Beach has the most services, Front Beach is close to the centre and better for a stroll. Read the beach guide and check the sea and weather on the day before you swim.
Is vung-tau.org the official website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the official website of the city, of any tourism office or of any tour operator.