Tours out of Ho Chi Minh City and across Vietnam
Day trip from Saigon
The city’s own beach town, by road or by water
Vung Tau is where Saigon goes to the sea. It is not a resort in the international sense, but it is lively, full of seafood, and a good way to see how the city relaxes.
Overview
What Vung Tau is, and what it is not
Vung Tau sits on a peninsula at the mouth of the Saigon and Dong Nai rivers, and for most of the twentieth century it was the city’s seaside. It still is. On a Sunday the beaches are full of families from Saigon, the seafood places along the front are loud, and the roads up the two small mountains are lined with parked motorbikes. On a weekday it is calmer and more pleasant.
It is not Phu Quoc or Con Dao. The water is greenish from the river silt and the town is built up. What it offers is a genuine southern seaside day: fresh fish, a walk above the sea, the fishing fleet in the harbour, and the curious hilltop Christ, which was built in the 1970s and is one of the tallest of its kind in Asia.
- Length
- About 11 hours
- Pick-up
- 07:00
- Back
- Around 18:00
- Travel
- 2 to 2.5 hours each way by road, or 2 by boat
- On foot
- About 3 km, including the statue steps
- Group
- 12 at most
Day by day
How the day runs
Day 1
Saigon to Vung Tau and back
The view from the lighthouse over both bays
07:00 — we meet you in the lobby and head east. The road trip takes two to two and a half hours, crossing the rivers and passing through the port town of Phu My. Alternatively, you can take the fast boat from the District 1 riverfront, about two hours down the river and across the bay; we meet you at the Vung Tau terminal.
09:30 — Nui Nho, the small mountain. First the lighthouse, with a view down both coasts, then the Christ statue: about eight hundred steps up, shaded in parts, with the option to climb inside to the arms when it is open. Those who prefer can wait at the foot with a coconut.
11:30 — the fishing harbour and the market beside it, busiest when the night boats unload. 12:30 — seafood lunch: grilled squid, clams with lemongrass, fish in a clay pot, crab when in season.
14:00 — Back Beach, for a swim or a walk. Changing rooms and showers are available for a small fee. 15:30 — departure by road, back at your hotel around 18:00. If you took the boat out, you return by road; it gives you more beach time than waiting for the afternoon boat.
Price
Price
| Option | Per person (USD) |
|---|---|
| Shared, maximum 12 | from 69 |
| Private, 2 people | from 130 |
| Private, 4 people | from 90 |
The fast-boat leg is an extra, paid at cost, and depends on the day’s sailing times. A private car lets you choose how long you spend on the beach and makes a Saturday more bearable, since you are not waiting on anyone.
Included
What is included
What the price includes
- Hotel transfers in District 1, 3 or Binh Thanh
- Air-conditioned vehicle all day
- Guide
- Lighthouse entrance
- Seafood lunch
- Water and cold towels
What it does not include
- Fast-boat ticket (optional, at cost)
- Beach chairs, showers and lockers
- Drinks with lunch
- Tips
- Travel insurance
Practical
Swimming, weekends and the weather
Back Beach is the swimming beach; the front of the town faces the river mouth and is better for walking. The sea is usually calm from March to October and choppier with the north-east wind from November to February, when red flags go up on some days. Lifeguards patrol the main stretch. Bring swimwear, a towel and sun cream; there is little shade on the sand.
Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening traffic between Saigon and Vung Tau can add more than an hour. If your dates allow it, a weekday is the better choice.
Not for everyone
Who this does not suit
If you are looking for clear water and white sand, you will be disappointed; fly to Phu Quoc or Con Dao instead. It is also a poor fit for travellers who dislike crowds, especially at weekends and during holidays. The statue climb is hard work in the heat, but it is optional, and the rest of the day is gentle.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Road or boat?
The boat is more interesting and avoids traffic, but depends on the weather and the timetable. We suggest the boat out and the road back.
Is the Christ statue open every day?
The grounds are open daily; access inside the statue closes at lunchtime and in bad weather. Your guide checks on the day.
Can I swim?
Yes, at Back Beach, which has lifeguards and facilities. Swim between the flags.
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Or talk to us:+84 766 045 399