Refreshing weekend in Vung Tau

A popular weekend getaway for Ho Chi Minh City residents, Vung Tau is best known as a beach destination but visitors who make the two-hour trek east of the southern hub will also appreciate the town's fresh seafood as well as some of the coastal history.

Vung Tau, view from above (source: dulichvietnam.com.vn)

Sights of interest

With a combination of religious relics, French military garrisons, beautiful beaches and oceanfront real estate, Vung Tau makes for a perfect getaway for residents in HCMC.

Vung Tau's Tallest Resident

Perhaps Vung Tau's most famous attraction is the Christ of Vung Tau, a towering 105-foot-tall structure akin to Rio de Janeiro's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. Arms outstretched, the Jesus figure stands part way up Vung Tau's Small Mountain. Visitors are able to make the hike up a generous set of stone stairs, enter the statue and perch on his shoulders for an incredible view of the ocean.

French Forts

Nestled in a tangle of trees are several old military garrisons which, it seems, have gone largely untended since the French departed in the mid-20th century. These outposts, set up to protect the mouth of the Saigon River from invaders, remain outfitted with cannons and other military equipment, though a few of these historical sites have been left untended.

On yet another hillside, the Vung Tau lighthouse makes for a pleasant place to take in the surrounding coast, while the White Villa near the center of town was originally built for a former French official.

Vung Tau lighthouse (source: bariavungtautourism)

Release the Hounds

On the weekends, you'll find the locals at Lam Son Stadium, home to Vietnam's sole greyhound-racing track. The stadium holds races every Friday and Saturday, drawing a lively crowd.

Nearby Beaches

Ho Tram beach (source: ivivu)

While Vung Tau is easily the most accessible beach destination from Saigon, its waterfront isn't the most stunning in Vietnam. Instead, beachgoers often opt to head slightly further afield to spots like Long Hai, an even sleepier, more local seaside town, or Ho Tram, home to a high-end resort casino and Greg Norman-designed golf course. While you'll have to hop on a local bus to make it to Long Hai, resorts in Ho Tram routinely offer shuttle service to and from Ho Chi Minh City.

Food

Banh khot (source: vnexpress)

History aside, Vung Tau's other claim to fame is one specific Vietnamese dish, bánh khọt. While the setting isn't much, the home of the local specialty, Bánh Khọt Góc Vú Sữa, serves mouthwatering fried rice cakes, which are combined with fresh lettuce and fish sauce for a perfect snack. Apart from the town's most famous dish, fresh seafood is also abundant here.

Itineraries

24 hours in Vung Tau

Depart from HCMC in the morning, either by boat or hydrofoil, and arrive in Vung Tau around mid-morning. Make the trek up to the Christ of Vung Tau for an aerial view of the city before exploring the French garrisons that dot the hillside. When you've had enough, grab lunch at Bánh Khọt Góc Vú Sữa and laze for a while either on Front Beach or in one of the nearby cafes. Pay a visit to White Villa once you've recovered from the midday heat. You can also tuck into a helping of local seafood, time permitting, before heading back to HCMC in the evening.

48 hours in Vung Tau

For a full two-day stay in Vung Tau, tack on a sundowner on your first evening and make the local seafood a must. The following morning, make a trip out to the Vung Tau lighthouse before putting in some quality beach time; for sunbathers, Back Beach is best.

*When To Go

Vung Tau experiences its best weather from November to April, when the dry season staves off heavier rains, though it tends to get hot around the end of April and into May. Just when the heat becomes unbearable, the rains arrive and provide steady, daily downpours from May through October. The coolest weather occurs during December and January.

*How To Get There

As a popular destination for city dwellers, prices in the beach town tend to go up at the weekends. (baobariavungtau.com.vn)

Currently, most travellers visiting Vung Tau make the trip from Saigon by bus, with regular, air-conditioned vehicles departing from the southern hub and traveling along a relatively new, motorbike-free expressway, cutting travel time down to about two hours. The only other transportation option is one of the hydrofoils which depart from downtown Saigon and take around an hour and 20 minutes to reach downtown Vung Tau. As a popular destination for city dwellers, prices in the beach town tend to go up at the weekends./.

( VNF/ Vietnam National Administration of Tourism )