Discover Ba Ria-Vung Tau – Vietnam's Riviera - Vung Tau City

Vung Tau City

Vung Tau city

Vung Tau is HCM City’s closest beach resort, and can be reached by a picturesque hydrofoil ride down the Saigon River or by a rather circuitous highway route. Those suffering from burn out during an extended stay in Ho Chi Minh City will enjoy Vung Tau during the week. 

To most tourists, Vung Tau is one of the most interesting destinations and loved for its extensive beaches. Tourists always prefer sightseeing at Front Beach (Bai Truoc) and going swimming in Back Beach (Bai Sau). 

The first beach is front beach, in the West of the city, where the sun goes down. The Front Beach is considered the facade of Vung Tau city. It is also called by other names such as Tam Duong beach or Hang Dua bay. Besides the best location, the beach is also preferred for having many restaurants and elegant hotels. Sparking, colorful and bright light boulevard make the Front Beach more beautiful.

Bai Truoc beach

Opposite to the Front Beach is Back beach (Thuy Van beach or Bai Sau in Vietnamese). Back Beach is well-known for its over 10 kilometers of fine sand seaside. The beach is busy with tourists both from the city itself and the world. At weekends or on holidays, thousands of people often come here for swimming and entertainment.

Other beautiful beaches are Pineapple Beach (Bai Dua) and Mudberry Beach (Bai Dau).

From the Front Beach, Ha Long Street curls to the Pineapple Beach. The name began a long time ago, when the beach had many pineapple trees. Many Vung Tau people also call the beach Lang Du, which originated from the first restaurant’s name.

Right here, the sea goes far into the land and the rock mountain goes from the land to the sea establishing hidden small beaches. Nearby, the Temple of Southern sea Saint and Tinh Xa nirvana are attractive tourist sites, built on one of these rock mountains.

Sights of interest in Vung Tau 

Jesus statue, standing at the top Nui Nho mountain, was built by the Vietnam Catholic Association in 1974 and completed in 1993. It is 32 meters high, standing on a 4-meter platform with two outstretched arms spanning 18.3 meters. Visitors can climb up a 133-step corkscrew staircase inside the statue to enjoy the whole view of Vung Tau. 

Bach Dinh (White Palace), built by the French (1898-1916) as a summer holiday house of French Governor General Paul Doumer, named Villa Blanche after his favorite daughter’s name. Villa Blanche is located on the slop of Nui Lon (Big Mountain), along Tran Phu Street, at 50m above sea level. 

From its balcony there's a panoramic view of Front Beach and opposite the Villa at the foot of that mountain is Hai Nguu islet with a stone rock shaped like a water buffalo wallowing in water. 

Next to Hai Nguu at the seaside was the helicopter yard. Today Villa Blanche exhibits hundreds of antiques collected from Cau Islet - Con Dao and is a cultural destination that attracts hundreds of tourists every day. 

Thich Ca Phat Dai pagoda, located on the northern slope of Nui Lon Mountain, built between 1961 and 1963, is set on a plot of around five hectares, with a Zen Buddhist monastery at the foot of the plot and a giant statue of Buddha in white cement sitting on a large lotus blossom at the top. The pagoda is famous as it lies in the harmonious combination between the natural surroundings and the architectural structure. 

Niet Ban Tinh Xa, also known as Chua Phat Nam or the Pagoda of the Lying Buddha, is 3 km from town and sits on the side of Nui Nho Mountain facing the ocean. 

Work began on the pagoda in 1969 and was completed in 1974. This is probably the most beautiful pagoda in Vung Tau for its many intricate architectural details and the granite work around the pagoda. 

There is a flag tower standing 21 m high in front of the temple covered by ceramic tiles. Perched atop the tower is a Lotus, signifying Buddhist purity. 

There are 42 steps leading to the Lotus signifying the first 42 pages of the Buddhist Sutra which made their way to Vietnam in the 2nd century. 

The main area of the pagoda is built in the likeness of the garden in which Buddha entered Nirvana. Here lies a 12 m statue of Buddha overlaid with marble. 

The gate of the garden is guarded by two gods, Ong Thien (God of Goodness) and Ong Ac (God of Evil). Standing in wait below the sleeping Buddha is the likeness of his closest disciples. 

To the rear of the temple is the boat Bat Nha built of concrete to signify Buddhism as a craft in which mankind can escape Be Kho or Sea of Sorrow. In the upper level hangs the giant bronze bell Dai Hong Chung 3.5 m high and weighing 3.5 tons.