Ba Ria - Vung Tau, a coastal province in the Southeast region, is one of the most attractive destinations for tourists in Vietnam. Visiting Ba Ria - Vung Tau, the natural beauty of this destination will attract you. No matter what you are in Ba Ria Vung Tau, you can catch up with the charming landscapes of the blue beaches, mountains, quiet pagodas, etc.

Ba Ria – Vung Tau is about 3 hours driving from Ho Chi Minh City. With the coastal line of 20 kilometers, Ba Ria – Vung Tau has become a favorite destination for a beach holiday in the South of Vietnam. Besides the values of natural landscapes, Vung Tau is also a land with a long historical and cultural tradition. Below are things you should know before going to Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

The best time to visit Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Ba Ria - Vung Tau belongs to the tropical monsoon climate region, with two distinct seasons each year. The rainy season with Southwest monsoon starts from May to October. The dry season in Vung Tau starts from November to April next year. During this time, there will be a northeast monsoon. The average annual temperature is 27 Celsius, the lowest, and the highest is about 24.8 Celsius degree and about 28.6 Celsius degree in turn.

Due to the cool and mild climate weather conditions, you can come to visit and enjoy your relaxation time in Ba Ria - Vung Tau at any time in the year. However, if you want to swim and enjoy the beach's atmosphere, you should travel in the dry season. During the dry season, the sea is beautiful and quiet, safe to swim and sail.

How to get to Ba Ria – Vung Tau

Vung Tau city is 125 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. You can get there by private car, public bus or resort's shuttle service, or high-speed hydrofoil.

By motorbike or private car

If you go by your motorbike, it will take you about three to four hours to get Vung Tau. By following the Highway 1, passing Dong Nai bridge, then turning right along Highway 51 further 100 kilometers, you can reach Vung Tau City.

Another way to get there is the route from Cat Lai ferry in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City to Nhon Trach in Dong Nai. This route will lead to Highway 51; then, you will continue driving further 100 kilometers to reach Vung Tau. This road will help you to save your time as it is about 20 kilometers closer than the above one.

If you drive your cars or rent a private vehicle with a driver, you can choose to go to Vung Tau through Long Thanh - Dong Nai highway. It will help you to shorten the time to Vung Tau to about 2 to 2.5 hours.

By public bus or resort's shuttle service

You can choose to drive yourself to Ba Ria – Vung Tau to enjoy the beautiful sceneries along the way but it would be easier to travel on a private car or by bus. You can catch up with the sights around without getting lost.

You can go to the Eastern bus station (Bến Xe Miền Đông | Dinh Bo Linh street, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City) to buy a ticket. From the bus station, it will take you 2 to 3 hours to get Vung Tau. The high- quality coaches are available from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m., each of the buses is 15 minutes apart. Hoa Mai coach, Phuong Trang coach, Thien Phu coach, and Kumho coach are some coaches you can choose.

Besides, all the famous resorts or hotels have their shuttle service from the city center and vice versa. You can easily book a seat when booking your accommodation.

By high-speed hydrofoil

Traveling to Vung Tau by high-speed hydrofoil is the best way to save your time and enjoy the sceneries. It just takes you 1.5 hours to get Vung Tau while you will experience the river and the sea during the journey. You just need to stay in the catamaran and enjoy the view.

Green lines-DP is the newest and the most modern high-speed hydrofoil in operating. The hydrofoil departs from Bach Dang wharf in Ho Chi Minh city every two hour from 8h00 to 14h00 every day.

Tourist areas in Vung Tau

Let’s learn about some tourist areas in Vung Tau with many hotels, resorts, and varieties of services. They include Front Beach (Bai Truoc), Back Beach (Bai Sau), Long Hai, Ho Tram, and Con Dao island.

Vung Tau Front Beach

The Front Beach is directly located in the city center of Vung Tau, with many high buildings and busy shopping centers. If you would like to enjoy the tranquility, poetic seascape, and explore places with cultural imprints of Vung Tau, Front Beach will be an option that makes you satisfied.

Surrounded by Big Mountain and Small Mountain, Front Beach is a cove, calm and peaceful bay, where boats find moored after sailing. The beach is located next to Front Beach Park with white sand stretching, blue seawater, gentle waves, and the restaurant serving visitors to sunbathe or relax after swimming.

There are many places in Front Beach for you to visit, such as the cable car to the Big Mountain, watching the blue Vung Tau beach below, and visiting the Ho May area on the top of the mountain.

Besides, you can walk along the coastal roads around Small Mountain, stop by the lighthouse to see the shimmering, vibrant Vung Tau city. You can also find historical and cultural sites of Vung Tau in Front Beach, such as Bach Dinh built by the French, General Museum, Vung Tau Pilot Station, one of the unique architectures in Vung Tau.

Vung Tau Back Beach

If you enjoy the excited and crowded atmosphere and admire a bustling and colorful Vung Tau at night, the Back Beach is more suitable than the Front Beach.

Back Beach, also known as Thuy Van beach, is located in the southeast of Vung Tau city, stretching about 8km from the foot of Small mountain to Cua Lap. Back Beach has a harmonious beauty of sand dunes stretching, caesarian forest, coconut palm, and the blue beach.

From the Back Beach, you can see Hon Ba island, a small island on the beach. You can follow the stone path to reach Hon Ba and visit Hon Ba temple at low tide.

Visiting the Back Beach, you will have a chance to climb nearly 800 steps to admire Kito God statue, one of the sites you should not miss in Vung Tau. Christ statue overlooks Nghinh Phong Cape - a small windswept headland with clear sea water scattered with small pebbles spreading to the sea.

Long Hai Beach

Long Hai Beach, a popular vacation spot for many travelers, is located about 15km from Vung Tau's city center. Long Hai has stunning beaches with clear sky-blue water, stretching golden sand and resorts near the sea. Due to less exploitation of tourism, Long Hai beach retains its original and calm features.

Coming to Long Hai beach, you can swim, immerse yourself in the cool water and enjoy the sea breeze with the salty taste. The long white sandy beach here attracts any beach lover whether it is for swimming or strolling along the coast and admire the romantic sea. For hundred years, Long Hai is a preferred beach destination for Saigon people to relax and recharge energy during weekends.

Visiting Long Hai, you can take your time to drop in the Phuoc Hai fishing village, the earliest fishing village in the region. Binh Chau hot mineral spring is located on the Long Hai tourist route, which is also an exciting destination for visitors.

Ho Tram Beach

Sky-blue water at Ho Tram Beach

Ho Tram Beach is 30 kilometers from the North of Vung Tau city and about 120 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Tram appeals travelers by the wild and charming beautiful nature, untouched and pristine scenery, and tranquil atmosphere with crystal-clear beaches.

Ho Tram has typical tropical climate with two main seasons. The rainy season is from May to October while the dry season is from November to April. However, the climate is always pleasant all year round with cool breeze from the beach making it a year-round destination.

There are lots of hotels and resorts built for the relaxation and traveling aim of tourists. Most of them are peaceful and near the beach, surrounded by indigo forests. You can enjoy the idyll atmosphere of the wild forest ecosystem combined with the sandy beach, and the wind is flowing from the beach.

Con Dao island

Con Dao island- off the beaten path beach paradise

Con Dao Archipelago, also called Con Lon or Con Son, is an archipelago belonging to Ba Ria – Vung Tau province. It is about a one-hour fly from Ho Chi Minh City. Being known as "The hell on Earth," the island witnesses Vietnam's history of the colonial times and the sacrifice of many heroes. Today Con Dao is an ideal attraction for those interested in discovering Vietnamese history and enjoying the pristine beauty and escape from the daily bustle life. Con Dao has long and white sandy beaches, a beautiful ocean world with colorful coral reefs, and primary rain forests with rich flora and fauna.

Con Dao is voted as one of the ten most charming beaches in the planet by Lonely Planet with lots of peaceful and picturesque beaches. Unlike other places, Con Dao remains an off the beaten path island and an excellent destination for a beach holiday. It has a good choice of accommodations from budget to top luxury, including our favorite Six Sense Con Dao and Paolo Condo Boutique beach resort.

The best time to travel to Con Dao is between March and September, with mellow sea waves and beautiful sunshine. Coming to Con Dao this time, you will have a chance to see Vic coming to Con Dao from everywhere to lay an egg. The must-do activities while visiting the island are snorkeling, diving, fishing, watching turtles laying eggs, and exploring deserted beaches.

Top things to do in Vung Tau

Visiting Vung Tau Lighthouse, the museum of ancient weapons, Kito God Statue, White Palace, Binh Chau hot mineral spring, Con Dao Prison in those tourist areas above will be an unforgettable experience for you.

Visiting Vung Tau Lighthouse

Vung Tau Lighthouse is located in the Small Mountain surrounding the Front Beach. Vung Tau Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in Vietnam and is the symbol of Vung Tau. Built from 1862 by France, it is used to signal and direct ships.

To get to Vung Tau Lighthouse, you will have to follow the Small Mountain winding road. Following the way, you will catch up with various types of tropical plants and beautiful sceneries. On top, you can enjoy Vung Tau's panoramic view hidden in the fog, crescent-shaped beaches, green Minh Dam mountain, or the forest of bright porcelain flowers.

Visiting the museum of ancient weapons

The museum of ancient weapons is one of the attractions you should not miss when visiting Vung Tau. This old-fashioned museum was built by Robert Tay, an English man with a passion for collecting valuable artifacts from ancient times. The museum is home to nearly 3000 ancient weapons artifacts of countries around the world such as guns, swords, spears, marks, bayonets, military uniforms, etc.

Some of the featured artifacts include the military uniforms of the British, French, Dutch, Russian, German, etc. in the ancient wars, the costumes of Japanese samurai, Chinese cavalry, the Roman army, Napoleon Bonaparte’s carbine guns, Russian Maxim machine gun popular in World War I and so on.

Visiting the museum, you will have an opportunity to discover the values ​​of history through each period from ancient, middle to modern times.

Taking pictures with Kito God statue

The statue of Kito God, also known as the figure of Jesus stretching his arms, is a 32 meters high statue of Jesus with an arm span of 18.4 meters. Kito God Statue is one of the most important religious symbols in Vung Tau, which can be seen from all directions.

This statue has set a record of the most prominent Christian statue of Asia in 2012. Located on the top of Small Mountain at 176 meters high, to reach this attraction, you will have to cross the 1,000-step path. Reaching the top, you will have an opportunity to see the whole city from above and show your photography skills in each corner.

Admiring the architecture and sceneries around the White Palace

White Palace is one of the French ancient architectural works in Vung Tau. The front of the Palace faces the Front Beach; the back leans against the mountain. It is a three-floor building at a height of 19 meters and a length of 25 meters. When visiting the villa, you can see the French architecture from the shape to the layout with artistic decorative borders.

Not only does the White Palace attract tourists by its architecture, but it also appeals to tourists by the poetic sceneries. Setting foot on the Palace, you will feel that you are lost in an ancient castle amidst a mysterious forest. You can catch up with the green leaves spreading the pathway or porcelain flowers full of colors along the way.

Immersing yourself in the Binh Chau hot mineral spring

Binh Chau hot mineral spring is in Xuyen Moc district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, about 60 kilometers northeast of Vung Tau city.

Binh Chau hot mineral spring consists of many lakes and small streams, surrounded by the primeval indigo forest with about 7 ha. There are more than 70 open-water sprays with an average temperature of 37 ° C to 82 ° C, depending on the area. Binh Chau hot spring has been voted by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as one of 65 sustainable eco-tourism sites of 47 countries worldwide.

Besides, it also has abundant natural mineral mud formed from friendly and wonderful ingredients, which are the leaves and stems of melaleuca sediments under open hot mineral streams dating back hundreds of years. Therefore, no matter how the weather is, soaking in hot water and mud will improve both your health and your skin.

Let’s come to Binh Chau hot mineral spring and relax, dispel fatigue, and refresh your mind!

Learning about the history of Vietnam in Con Dao Prison

Con Dao Prison is the largest prison in the Indochina, 180 kilometers far from Vung Tau city. It is regarded as a terrifying hell in Asia and also on the list of 10 most cruel prisons in the world. For more than 100 years, nearly 20,000 revolutionary soldiers in different generations have been imprisoned, tortured, and sacrificed.

Con Dao Prison is famous for the brutal exile of French colonialists and American imperialists, which held patriotic, revolutionary fighters in Vietnam. This prison system includes Camp Phu Son, Camp Phu Hai, Camp Phu Tho, Camp Phu Tuong, isolated area Tiger Cages, Cow Cages, Camp Phu An, Camp Phu Phong, and Camp Phu Hung.

It's an excellent place for visitors who are interested in learning about Vietnamese history. You will undoubtedly have unforgettable memories in Con Dao Prison.

Accommodation in Vung Tau

There are many hotels and resorts from budget to luxury available in Vung Tau. However, if you want to admire and walk along the beach, you should choose hotels or resorts in Ha Long, Thuy Van, or Tran Phu road, which are easy to access to the beaches. Below are some recommended hotels for you:

Ho Tram Beach Boutique Resort

Ho Tram Beach Boutique Resort is a highly recommended resort. It has the best private beach in the area. The resort appeals to beach holidayers with the traditional Vietnamese architectural style and a wide range of room choice from classical building to garden or sea view bungalows. It's an extensive resort featuring a lush green garden surrounded the lotus lakes that create a beautiful tropical vibe. The resort facilities include a fitness center, two restaurants, bars, and two enormous swimming pools (both saltwater and freshwater). Activities provided include fishing, kayaking, beach volleyball, cycling, cooking and yoga classes. Besides, Ho Tram Beach Boutique Resort is also a suitable choice for a family holiday in Vung Tau. You can find the children's playground on the resort's campus and enjoy the time with your children here.

Imperial Vung Tau

Imperial Vung Tau is the only 5-star hotel in the Back Beach area. The hotel's architecture is affected by the classic Western style of the magnificent castle of Queen Victoria. All 300 rooms are very large with a minimum size of 40m2, decorated with elegant wooden border wallpaper, wood, and handmade marble furniture, and some famous paintings inspired by the Victorian era.

The Grand Ho Tram Strip

The Grand Ho Tram Strip Resort is located in Ho Tram Beach, Vung Tau is a luxurious 5-star resort that is fully equipped with modern furniture. Staying in the resort, you can join a lot of beachfront activities, two kiddie-pools for children and two full-size pools for adult, mini-golf course, cinema, and family karaoke rooms. There is no doubt that you will have a good time at this resort.

The Grand Ho Tram Strip Resort is a popular choice for beach and golf lovers. The resort has excellent rooms with all five-star facilities and a beautiful private beach. The Bluffs Golf Course, a part of The Grand Ho Tram Strip is the first international-class integrated resort in Vietnam. Designed by the legendary Greg Norman, The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip is a dream golf course for any golfer. It is a golf course with the most exquisite design with an excellent arrangement that no other golf course has.

Melia Ho Tram Beach Resort

Melia Ho Tram is a unique destination serving customers with a luxurious and modern lifestyle. With advanced facilities, sophisticated, elegant decoration in every detail and the intersection in the traditional beauty of Vietnam combined with the West's modern culture, Melia Ho Tram opens an ample, comfortable space, helping you to escape from the hustle and bustle from the city. Covered by the natural beauty of the East Sea, along with the delicate Ray River that meanders through the Melaleuca forest, Melia Ho Tram is a great holiday destination for guests.