Vũng Tàu sits 95 kilometres south of Ho Chi Minh City, reached in two hours by hydrofoil down the Saigon River or via express bus. The peninsula is known for its working fishing fleet, French-era hilltop villas, and crisp bánh khọt pancakes sizzled in cast iron. Vũng Tàu is worth visiting if you want morning street breakfasts, breezy coastal scooter rides, and piles of grilled shellfish straight off the boats. Look elsewhere if you seek secluded turquoise coves, pristine dive reefs, or intense late-night club scenes.
Last updated 28 Oct 2026
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Vũng Tàu wraps around a rocky headland bracketed by Mount Lớn and Mount Nhỏ. Life here follows the sea: fishing crews land their catch at dawn, coffee shops along Quang Trung fill with morning gossip, and the seaside promenade buzzes as temperatures drop before dusk. It suits weekenders, solo travellers, and seafood obsessives looking for uncomplicated coastal rhythms just outside the capital.
Start at 7:00 with sizzling bánh khọt at Gốc Vú Sữa, then take the 45-minute shaded climb up Mount Nhỏ to the lighthouse before midday heat sets in. Spend the late afternoon strolling along Hạ Long Street, ending with grilled red snapper and tamarind crab at Gành Hào as cargo ships glide past. Select 1 Day above to see it.
Dedicate your second day to exploring the French colonial villa Bach Dinh on Mount Lớn, followed by a bowl of hủ tiếu mực squid noodle soup on Lê Lai. In the afternoon, head down to rocky Bãi Dứa for a quiet swim away from the Bãi Sau crowds, finishing with salted egg sponge cake from a bakery on Đồ Chiểu. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.
A third day allows time to time the low tide causeway walk to Hòn Bà temple, followed by a thirty-minute drive northeast to Long Hải. Here, wooden basket boats crowd the shoreline and open-air beach stalls grill mackerel over coconut charcoal without the urban weekend rush.
Order crispy bánh khọt topped with shrimp and scallion oil at Bánh Khọt Gốc Vú Sữa on Nguyễn Trường Tộ, wrapped in mustard greens.
Pick live mantis shrimp, grilled cockles, and salt-toasted crab claws at Bãi Trước stalls or along Trần Phú as the trawlers dock.
Follow Hạ Long and Quang Trung streets along Front Beach, catching afternoon ocean breezes and watching the shipping lanes drift past.
Climb the 800 stone steps to the 32-metre Christ of Vũng Tàu statue on Mount Nhỏ for sweeping panoramic views of the South China Sea.
Visit the 1862 French-built lighthouse atop Mount Nhỏ, accessible by a quiet paved lane winding through frangipani trees.
Tour Bach Dinh, the 1898 French governor's residence, filled with salvaged shipwreck porcelain and set amid coastal pine gardens.
Explore Linh Phong Pagoda and the Niet Ban Tinh Xa sanctuary on Mount Nho, featuring an 18-metre reclining marble Buddha.
Head to Bãi Sau for morning ocean swims along a wide sand stretch, or find calmer, rock-strewn shoreline at Bãi Dứa in the afternoon.
Navigate Chợ Mới market early for dried squid, salted fish, fresh jackfruit, and robust robusta beans roasted on site.
Walk the tidal causeway at low water to tiny Hòn Bà islet, where a stone temple perches amid crashing surf.
Rent a bicycle to trace the smooth coastal loop around the peninsula headland, linking Front Beach and Back Beach in under two hours.
Take a short drive inland to Long Hải fishing village or the thermal hot springs at Bình Châu for a quieter afternoon outside the town.