Synopsis :

Vung Tau used to be an old port town southeast of HCMC. The French developed it as a seaside resort called Cap Saint Jacques. Vung Tau is a favourite seaside weekend getaway for most Saigonese.

Distance : 2.5 hrs from HCMC by car; 1 hr 30min by hydrofoil. No open tour bus to Vung Tau so far.

Vung Tau is also the place to board a boat, plane or helicopter to visit the remote Con Dao Archipelago, 180km away.

Latest Info :

Aug 2013

Dangers of hydrofoils

http://www.thanhniennews.com/index/pages/20130808-authorities-lax-over-hydrofoil-safety.aspx

Company with Vung Tau tour :

http://www.his3site.com/2011/03/vungtau-tourist.html

Article on first visit to Vung Tau :

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/travel/aroundcountry/16430/

TAXIS

Always use Vinasun or Mai Linh. Never take the other taxis, whatever brand they are, as they're known to overcharge and rip you off. We had an arrangement with our driver - we paid him the indicated meter fare at every destination, and then tell him when to come back and pick us up. Both parties are happy with this. Note that the meter runs faster than in HCMC, about 30% more according to reports in the internet.

The following is an indication of our fares :

Terminal to Mary & Baby Jesus Statue : 70,000vnd

Mary & Baby Jesus to Ganh Hao Restaurant : 20,000vnd 

GH Restaurant to Imperial Plaza (Shopping Center) : 130,000vnd

(I estimated : GH Restaurant to Jesus Statue : 90,000vnd)

Imperial to Jesus Statue : 40,000vnd

Jesus Statue to Ferry terminal : 45,000vnd

All in all, we spent about 305,000vnd running between Mary & Baby Jesus statue, ferry terminal, Jesus Statue and the Imperial. So if you need to negotiate a flat fee for a day's visit to these 3 places, 250,000 to 300,000vnd for a taxi should be just fine.

HYDROFOIL SERVICE

Important things to note :

1. Vina Express is the best of the 3 hydrofoil companies, followed by Petro Express and then Greenlines. I took Greenlines the last time - it was small and being the last, we were squeezed into a small space at the back. Vina Express has bigger ferries and the aircon was working well. Too well, in fact, that it was cold ... but better cold than hot and stuffy.

http://www.vinaexpress.com.vn/

2. Determine when you want to come back and buy both the forward and return tickets together at the same time. Tickets cost 200,000vnd one way as of Dec 2011. We witnessed a group stranded because they "assumed" there would be tickets available (in Vung Tau) for them to return on the same day. Well, they had an extra night to spend there.

Although most sites say it's 1 hr and 15m one way, it's actually 1.5 hrs if you take into account the delays here and there. For us, it was 1.5 hrs there and the same when we came back.

We reach the HCMC ferry terminal at 8.10am on a Monday morning and managed to get Seat No 98-100 (out of 131 seats). A little later and we might have no seats. So if you plan to go on a weekend, better to book a day earlier or go there an hour before.

We took the last boat out at 4.30pm - that's the latest of the 3 companies. 

Address of HCMC Ferry Terminal :

Bach Dang Port

2 Ton Duc Thang, District 1

The terminal is at the end of Ham Nghi Street.

You can walk to the terminal if you're somewhere near Rex Hotel - it's off the end of Nguyen Hue Street.

Vina Express has 6 trips daily both ways, Petro Express 5 trips and Greenlines schedule looks confusing to me - seems like Greenlines has 11 trips daily but I'll need to check that. 

Take note of this comment I found on the internet:

Posted 28 December 2010 - 10:52 PM

I live in Vung Tau and take the boat to HCMC often. NEVER EVER take Greenlines.

VINA express is best. PETRO Express is ok also. Greenlines is a death trap. 

Lessons from a Greenlines hydrofoil ride (Nov 2010)

1. Book early to get the best seats.

2. If you're like me, booked at last moment, you'll end up at the back. There are some couches there and the last few are expected to squeeze in those couches. No air-con, only fans. It's also next to the engine room and the toilets. Everybody has to go past these couches to get to the toilets and the engine room - meaning the passengers going to the toilets, the staff going to the engine rooms, people going out for a puff or some fresh air - and every time the door opens, the engine noise will deafen everyone. So be forewarned. We took the smaller Greenlines hydrofoil.

Maps :

My latest Google map of Vung Tau.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&view=map&msa=0&msid=203284632222931052683.000497e6fa8f7b4532f31&z=13

MAP of Vung Tau

Where to eat

This link has a good guide to eating places in Vung Tau - it's caters mainly to the Western tourist's taste bud though :

http://www.visit-mekong.com/vietnam/vung_tau-con_dao-islands/dining.htm

Photographs

My Visits

20-21 Nov 2010

The road to Vung Tau

Latest blog entry : http://www.his3site.com/2010/11/vung-tau-review.html

(sorry for repeating)

The worst trip to Vung Tau so far. Never remember the road being so bad, especially after National Highway 1A when we turn in Highway 51. The potholes, the roadworks or rather the lack of it makes travelling to Vung Tau a living nightmare, and to add to the woes, the bad roads of course will give rise to those notorious Vietnamese traffic jams - 4 lanes of traffic converging onto one lonely lane ever so often. There must be a good reason for this - there's always a reason for everything.

And we finally found out why when we met a VN tour guide gathering his "sheep" and he thought we were one of his "lost sheep". He explained that the local authorities awarded the upgrading of the road to Vung Tau to SEVEN local companies who then sub-contracted the works to even smaller contractors. Given the Vietnamese quirky "efficiency", of course the road will never be completed. It was supposed to be up and running by Jan 2010 - and this is already end 2010 with no "end" in sight - forgive the pun.

So if you have a bad back, motion sickness, or allegy to traffic jams and bumpy rides, give the road trip a miss and take the hydrofoil. Not that the hydrofoil's a great sailing experience either, but it certainly is the much lesser of 2 evils.

Hotel - Thuy Duong Hotel

See : http://www.his3site.com/2010/11/vung-tau-review.html

Latest development - Cable Car in Vung Tau

http://vungtau-city.com/?p=566

The only modern shopping centre along Back Beach is the Imperial Plaza, a cozy little brown building next to its sister Imperial Hotel.

Add : 159-163 Thuy Van Street, Vung Tau

http//www.imperialplazavietnam.com

Vung Tau

History

Interesting history from wikipedia.

Attractions :

Thich Ca Phat Dai Pagoda.

One of the largest pagoda in Vung Tau, this pagoda attracts pilgrims from the whole country. The pagoda is located 20 km from the center of town and sits on the north face of Nui Lon mountain. In 1957, Mr. Le Quang Vinh built a small temple at this site and called it Thien Lam Tu. In 1961, a larger temple was proposed by the many Buddhists in this region. Work commenced on July 20, 1961 and was completed in 1963. Various statues along the stairs leading to the pagoda describe the history of Buddha: Thích Ca Mâu Ni at his birth, his introduction to Buddhism and his becoming a Buddha. Thich Ca Phat Dai pagoda is made famous by its large and serene environment and its statue of Buddha, 6.2 m tall and in the meditation pose Kiê't Già, perching on a pedestal 4 m high shaped like a lotus. (vietscape.com)

My take : Described as "a hillside park of a monumental Buddhist statuary built in the early 1960s", it is supposedly a "must-see" for local tourists. Seems rather deserted and gloomy when I visited it in 2007 - perhaps it was because of the rain. Nothing very much for me to see - but then, I'm a Christian. Perhaps a Buddhist will view it differently.

Niet Ban Tinh Xa (Temple of Nirvana)

(vietscape.com) : Niet Ban Tinh Xa is also known as Chua Phat Nam or the Pagoda of the Lying Buddha. The pagoda 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. Perching 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.

Light House. It's a pity I have not visited the light house yet. It has been said that the 360-degree view of the entire hammer-head shape peninsular from the light house is truly spectacular, especially at sunset.

Giant Jesus Statue.

On top of Nui Nho mountain stands the statue of Jesus overlooking the southern point of the peninsula and facing the South China Sea. The statue is 30 m high and was built in the early 70's. The statue is hollow. The inside is illuminated by light coming from 6 windows, 3 in the front, 3 in the back, that are shaped like the chinese character Tho (longevity). A spiral stair of 129 steps leads to the head. This is the largest sculpture in the South of Vietnam. Recent construction of a pathway has made the 30-minute hike up the mountain more pleasant and the panoramic view from various vista points along the way is magnificent. (vietscape.com)

My take : This 30m-high Giant Jesus statue was completed in 1993. Located at the top of Small Mountain (a hill at the southern end of Back Beach), the statue can be reached by climbing a long flight of steps - penance for sinners if one would like to see it that way.

There is a spiral staircase inside of the statue that leads you up to the shoulders of Christ - a shoulder to cry on? Please take note that ladies must be dressed in pants - but not men - such meaningless discrimination but no choice. Ladies wearing shorts are not allowed in - had to get my VN friend in HCMC to talk to the guard at the statue. He finally relented but we (my daughter and nieces) had to wait until late evening - about 4.45pm when most of the tourists have left. There's space for about 6 persons on each shoulder and you're literally packed back-to-back. If you go during the times when it's crowded, it'll be a long wait to look out from the shoulders.

Giant Christ Statue

The following link gives a very good description and history of the Jesus statue but unfortunately it's in Vietnamese. If you can get in translate in Google, you'll even find the history of the cannons at the foot of the statue.

http://my.opera.com/tongiao-kientruc/blog/2009/09/08/tren6-d9inh3-tao-phung2

Bach Dinh (aka White Villa, White Mansion, Villa Blanche)

The Villa Blanch is a former royal residence set on a lushly forested hillside overlooking the sea. Built in 1909 as a retreat for French Governor Paul Doumer, it later became a summer palace for Vietnamese King Thanh Thai of the Nguyen dynasty. FRom the late 1960s to early 1970s, the building was a part-time playground for South Vietnam President Thieu. Today, it serves as a museum housing antiques from centuries ago.

(vietscape.com) : Bach Dinh or the White Mansion was built during the French occupation. The mansion sits at the bottom of Nui Lon overlooking the South China Sea and is one of Vung Tau's major landmark. Work on the mansion began in 1898 and was completed in 1916. At the time, no expenses were spared as the amount of work and manpower involved in laying the road leading to the mansion were done almost completely by manual labor. Commissioned by French governor Paul Doumer, this mansion has served as summer retreat for Emperor Bao Dai as well as vacation home for vietnamese heads of state.

The mansion is 50m above sea level and is designed in the style of 19th century French architecture. The grounds of the mansion still show signs of a once glamorous lifestyle of the French governor who commissioned this building. The garden has an open air dance floor and many statues and details of Greek mythology. In terms of historical significance, Bach Dinh was where King Thanh Thai of the Nguyen Dynasty was under house arrest before he was finally exiled to Reunion island in Africa.

Mary & Baby Jesus Statue (Đức mẹ Bãi Dâu)

Nhà thờ Bãi Dâu (Name of the Church)

Tran Phu Str

My take : The Mary and Baby Jesus Statue (Duc me Bai Dau means Mary Bai Dau - Bai Dau is the name of this place) is located at Big Mountain along Tran Phu Str and is a peaceful and serene place for a visit. Do drop by the church (Bai Dau Church aka Nha Tho Bai Dau) which is quite deserted during the weekdays. There are also the 14 Stations of the Cross built along the hillside which makes a very meaningful walk for Catholics. Right at the top of Big Mountain is a white cross which can be reached by following a small footpath (if you can call it a footpath at all!) up the slope. The view is great at the top. Be prepared to sweat it out though - it's not an easy climb and there are some rocky obstacles to overcome.

Lang Ca Ong temple

It is dedicated to the whale. It is one of a number of fishing areas where the little-understood ‘whale cult’ of Vietnam is established. Inside are whale skeletons revered as votive objects, and photographs of the rituals and ceremonies involved in worshiping.

Beaches

There are four beaches in the city center located in different positions.

Bãi Truoc (Front Beach)
The Front Beach is located in the centre of Vung Tau and stands between Big and Small Mountain. It is popular with tourists because it is right in the centre and one can even watch the sunset in the evening. Numerous restaurants and hotels are close to the beach. Front Beach is connected through a small park called Front Beach Park. (Like Esplanade in Singapore in the old days)

(vietscape.com) : Bai Truoc is also known as Bai Tam Duong. Tam Duong means "searching for the sun". The beach is located between Nui Lon mountain and Nui Nho mountain. From afar, the beach is shaped like a crescent moon, and along the beach, there are many coconut trees. Not a clean beach for swimming, it has many kiosks, open-air restaurants and bars and it is the beach closest to urban Vung Tau.

Bãi Sau (Back Beach)
Bãi Sau aka “Thùy Vân Beach” is the only standard beach for tourists in Vung Tau. It is 3 kilometres long according to some sources while other sources say 10km,  and stretches from the Small Mountain to Paradise Park. All beaches here are free. There are services for keeping your belongings, usually 15,000 VND each person. Fresh water baths costs 8,000 VND. Sea parachute with canoeing are available too. There are many hotels lining the Back Beach and a new shopping centre too. The Jesus Statue is visible from the southern end of the Back Beach.

(vietscape.com) : Bai Sau is also known as Bai Thuy Van. This stretch of beach is located in the southeast side of town and is about 10 km in length from the base of Nui Nho. The most popular beach in Vung Tau, it is packed with Saigonese every weekend during the summer months. Teenagers arrive on scooters (3 hrs travel), locals by mini-van or bus (2 hrs) and affluent tourists by hydro-foil boats (1 1/2 hr). The sea is calm during the rainy season but there are frequent periods of high winds and big waves during the dry season. Strong undertow currents make swimming dangerous in some spots.

Bãi Dua (Pineapple Beach)
Small beach located along Ha Long street, by Small Mountain.

(vietscape.com) : Historically known for its wild pineapple trees and black rocks, Bai Dua is located at the foot of Nui Nho Mountain. It is the smallest of the four major beaches in Vung Tau but very popular for its calm waters and its majestic sunset. Bai Dua is also known as Huong Phuong beach. Visitors come to this rocky cove for its tranquility and cleanliness.

Bãi Dâu (aka Foreigner's Beach, Mulberry Beach)
Small beach located on the western side of Big Mountain.

(vietscape.com) : Bai Dau is situated 3 km northwest of town. It is a small, rocky beach but its water is calm, shallow and very clear. Known as "foreigners' beach", it is frequented by travelers who want relaxation. Vietnamese visitors also go to Bai Dau, but for a different reason: to eat at "Cay Bang", widely recognized as the best sea-food restaurant in Vung Tau.

Paradise Beach

In 1994, a Taiwanese conglomerate paid a large sum of money to the Vietnamese government for the right to build a theme park with private beach on the northern end of Bai Sau. This beach, not too aptly named Paradise Beach, is open to the public but requires an entrance fee. Everything here costs twice as much as at the other beaches. It is populated mostly with group tourists from other asian countries.

Hon Ba

(vietscape.com) Hon Ba - Islet of the Goddess, just off Nghinh Phong tip between Bai Dua and Bai Sau, can be reached only on foot when the tide is low. It has the shape of a tortoise and is home to a temple built by fishermen in honor of the Goddess of the Sea.

Other Highlights
Fresh seafood, Ocean Park, The Lighthouse, Giant Jesus Statue and Bach Dinh House

Dog Racing in Vung Tau

This greyhound racing track was once a football field and was renovated in 2000 into a state-of-the-art dog track. It has a total of 38 betting terminals with a VIP section with hostess’s services too. The races take place every Saturday night. 

Location: 15 Le Loi Street, Vung Tau

Vung Tau Golf Course

Try the only golf course in Vung Tau, the Paradise Golf Resort. Established in 1992, it offers 27 holes and has practice facilities with full putting and chipping green and driving range – all with sea views.

Location: Paradise Golf Resort

Bowling

If you like indoor activities, try this third-floor 10-pin bowling alley. The prices for games and shoe rental are reasonable.

Location: Third Floor, 36 Nguyen Thai Hoc

Reference : http://www.visit-mekong.com/vietnam/vung_tau-con_dao-islands/activities.htm

Mam Ruoc

(vietscape.com) : Just as Phu Quoc is known for its Nuoc Mam - fish sauce, Vung Tau is famous for its Mam Ruoc - fermented shrimp paste. "Ruoc" are small shrimps that are caught only during the rainy season. To prepare "mam ruoc", the "ruoc" are first cleaned and let dried under the sun for 3 months. They are then mixed with salt, grinded into powder and put in a jar and exposed to the sun for another 45 days. Sugar is then added to the mixture which is left fermented for 30 days. Finally the ruoc are dried again under the sun for 10 days and "mam ruoc" is now ready to be served, usually as sauce for various types of meat dishes

References :

http://hochiminh.myvietnam.info/2009/06/vung-tau/

http://www.vietscape.com/travel/vung_tau/resort.html 

Long Hai

Near Vung Tau

Twenty kilometres from the city is Long Hai town, once a fishing village and now a decent small resort popular with Vietnamese people. During the American war, about seven thousand Australian soldiers were stationed in the area. Many former soldiers, and the families and friends of the 423 servicemen and technicians who died in Vietnam, return to visit the battle grounds and graves.

My take : Long Hai is an up-and-coming seaside resort town, well-known to locals for its expanse of clean sand and beaches. I like Long Hai because it is not as congested as Back Beach - the latter is a cluttered mass of bodies at the peak season and I cannot understand what's so great about being packed like sardines under a few hundred beach umbrellas at noon. There are many resort developments in Long Hai currently; it might even make a close second to Mui Ne in a few years. I don't think the resorts are cheap by Singapore standards though, mainly because they're targeted at foreign tourists. However, if you want to travel VN-budget style, there are hotels and resorts catering to local Vietnamese and they are definitely come at a much cheaper price. The main problem is finding your own transport to Long Hai.

The most  famous resort in Long Hai is the Anoasis Resort (bungalows in a park setting with sea views) but it'll be facing stiff competition in the years to come. Another famous resort is the Long Hai Beach Resort managed by the new owners, Plus-One Group from Las Vegas, USA.

Links :

My blog on Vung Tau

http://www.virtourist.com/asia/vietnam/vung-tau/index.html

http://www.haivenu-vietnam.com/des-south-vung-tau.htm

http://www.vietnamtourism.com/e_pages/country/province.asp?mt=8464&uid=1197

http://vungtauinfo.com

ABOUT PHU MY PORT IN VUNG TAU

Travellers who come to HCMC via cruise ships will dock at Phu My Port in Vung Tau, a port that is far from nowhere (as far as the tourist is concerned).

Here are a few links to get you acquainted with the port and tours to HCMC or Vung Tau city.

http://www.privateasiatours.com/Shore_Excursions_from_Phumy_Port_Vungtau.html

http://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowTopic-g293925-i8433-k2924948-o10-Phu_My_Port_to_Ho_Chi_Min_City-Ho_Chi_Minh_City.html 

http://www.travellerspoint.com/forum.cfm?thread=83798 

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/business/tourism/19674/ 

http://lutherbailey.blogspot.com/2009/11/phu-my-port-information.html 

http://www.virtualtourist.com/hotels/Asia/Vietnam/Thanh_Pho_Ho_Chi_Minh/Ho_Chi_Minh_City-1470720/Hotels_and_Accommodations-Ho_Chi_Minh_City-Mondial_Hoan_Cau-BR-1.html

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g293925-i8433-k4414977-Ho_Chi_Minh_City_PHU_MY_VIETNAM_Sun_Princess_Shore_tour-Ho_Chi_Minh_City.html

http://www.theglobe-trotters.com/2011/01/ho-chi-minh-vietnam.html

 (Nhà thờ Bãi Dâu)