Things to do in Vung Tau

Vung Tau is a seaside resort on the southern coast and the nearest beach escape from Ho Chi Minh City, a trip of a few hours by road or ferry rather than a full day's journey. Treat it as a weekend break, not a stop on a Vietnam itinerary. The draw is the waterfront, a promenade and beaches that fill with Saigon residents on Saturdays and Sundays; weekdays are far quieter.

Expect modest hotel rates, roughly 25 to 60 EUR a night in 2026, and seafood meals around 8 to 20 EUR per person. It has no major historic site, and the sea is more brown than turquoise. It is not Mui Ne with its dunes, nor the Mekong Delta, nor an island like Phu Quoc or Con Dao.

The climate follows the south: dry from December to April, then wet, with short late-afternoon downpours and no winter.