Vung Tau, The Nearest Beach By Ho Chi Minh City, All You Need To Know Before You Visit

Vung Tau, which is known its beautiful beaches, scenic vistas, and vibrant seafood scene, and this place offers a perfect getaway for those looking to unwind and recharge. I will introduce to you a journey to Vung Tau by motorbikes, a serene coastal retreat just a couple of hours away from the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Besides, all the things you need to know before you visit Vung Tau will be show the following.

My Experience Traveling Vung Tau By Motorbike In 2 Days

Vung Tau, nearly 120km from Ho Chi Minh City, and has 42km of coastline, with the longest being Back Beach, a 10km stretch of white sand beach in Vietnam. Front Beach, also known as Tam Duong, offers stunning views of the sea. Other popular beaches include Bai Dua, where the sea creates rocky rapids and private bathing pools, Bai Dau, a sheltered beach with numerous rapids, and Vong Nguyet Beach, located at the foot of Small Mountain with majestic cliffs. December to March is the ideal time of year to visit Vung Tau. The days are pleasant and there is not much rain at this season. It’s excellent for outdoor exploration because of this. The range of temperatures is 24°C to 32°C. Sometimes the nights are cool, but not too cold.

Day 1:

I start at 6 AM, it takes about 3 hours from District 10, Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau City by motorbike. I followed Highway 1, passed Dong Nai bridge and a traffic roundabout (Vung Tau intersection, formerly known as Vung Tau intersection), then I turned right along Highway 51. Then, I continued going for about 100 km to Vung Tau. I go on weekdays and avoid holidays so I won’t get stuck in traffic jam.

At 9 AM I arrived at Vung Tau, I drive along on Thuy Van Street and get Back Beach, which is also called “Bãi Thùy Vân”, the atmosphere here is always warm, bringing a very pleasant feeling. After that, my friends and I checked in a few photos to keep as memories at Thuy Van Beach.

The view at Back Beach has a peaceful beauty and warm weather.

Back Beach in Vung Tau

After that, we went to a local eatery to have lunch. I choose Banh Khot 14 on Hoang Hoa Tham Street, this is a Vietnamese mini pancake. The local eatery attracts locals and tourists with its quality dishes and fresh ingredients every day. It is designed with 2 floors and has tables and chairs along with ceiling fans, so it won’t feel too hot. Even though the restaurant is crowded, the service is very quick, you won’t have to wait long. The small, crispy pancake is prepared using petite round molds, incorporating various ingredients such as pork, shrimp, or squid, along with mung beans, shallots, and a drizzle of coconut milk. It’s essential that the edges are lightly charred to enhance its delicious flavor. This delicacy is typically enjoyed by rolling it in fresh leaves and dipping it in fish sauce before eating. The price list for meals and drinks is printed on the menu so it is easy for us to choose. Prices range from 50.000 VND – 80,000 VND per dish. I chose two plates of shrimp and squid pancake to enjoy. My feeling about this dish is that the cake is hot and the crust is crispy, served with vegetables and fish sauce to harmonize the taste. Besides, the fish sauce is homemade, so adjust it to your taste and not be too salty. So, when you get in Vung Tau, let’s try some Banh Khot and you will not regret it.

Banh Khot 14 Vung Tau, which attracts locals and tourists.

Address: No. 14, Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Vung Tau City.

Opening Hours: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM Everyday
Prices: 50.000 VND – 80.000 VND (2- 3.2 US Dollar)

After having lunch, I continued to the destination at Vung Tau Light House, where views of Vung Tau City from above are best enjoyed from the 149-meter-high Vung Tau Lighthouse, which is perched atop Tao Phung Mountain. The Lighthouse Vung Tau, constructed by the French in 1862, serves as the oldest among Vietnam’s 79 lighthouses, guiding ships in the waters of Vung Tau. You can go from Vung Tau city center to Front Beach, then go on Ha Long Street to the hydrofoil area, this is the foot of Nho mountain. Next, you need to drive around Nho Mountain. The winding road close to the edge of the mountain is loved by many tourists because of the beautiful scenery, surrounded by green trees creating a fresh and peaceful feeling. You should drive slowly to enjoy the fresh air of the scenery as well as take a few photos to preserve the beautiful scenery here.

The oldest lighthouse in Vietnam

Address: No. 40, Ha Long Street, Vung Tau City.

Opening Hours: 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM Everyday

To reach the top of the Vung Tau lighthouse, you first pass through a sturdy tunnel and then ascend a spiral staircase with 55 steps. Inside, you will appreciate its nostalgic Western-style architecture. Standing atop the lighthouse, you’ll feel the refreshing sea breeze. Beyond its cooling effect, this esteemed location offers a panoramic view of beautiful Vung Tau city. If you visit, dress stylishly and bring a camera to capture some truly artistic moments.


After finishing sightseeing at Light House, I chose a SOHO Coffee to enjoy a drink and admire the view of beach. SOHO Coffee achieves sophistication through its artistic color scheme, blending elegant white with cool blue to create a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. The menu boasts a diverse selection, including milk tea, tea, latte, mocha, various refreshing beverages, and homemade cakes. I recommend you the smoothies and bubble milk tea here, this is the best seller of SOHO. The quality here is quite good and the decoration is beautiful. While some may find the drinks less exceptional, in my experience, the SOHO excels in service quality and offers reasonable prices, distinguishing itself. SOHO Coffee is a must-visit destination.

SOHO Coffee has reasonable prices and a sea view, attracting many locals.

You can enjoy the coffee with the view overlooks the sea at SOHO Coffee.

Address: No. 66, Ha Long Street, Vung Tau City.

Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Prices: 30.000 – 60.000 VND (1.2 – 2.4 US Dollar)

 In the afternoon, I checkin Suntorini Boutique Hotel at 2:30 PM, I have booked the room through Agoda app, and I has the 10% discount. The price for my room is 800.000 VND (32US Dollar) per night, including the breakfast for 2 people. This is 4-star hotel, has a lots of high rating service. It is located at 86 Ha Long Street, designed with Santorini style, white and blue tones, making it stand out and always have a joyful feeling. The location here is near Vung Tau Front Beach, convenient to travel everywhere. Sitting right at the restaurant you can see the sea from afar. The support staff is enthusiastic, thoughtful, and friendly. Although the rooms here are a bit small, they are fully equipped and clean. Besides, in the corner of the hotel there is a small swimming pool for families and groups to gather.

Suntorini Boutique Hotel – The style has inspiration from Santorini.

The combination of white and blue tones, symbolizing the sea here, creates a feeling of always being cool and cheerful.

The next destination I choose is Nghinh Phong Cape, the south pole of Vung Tau is located at No.1, Ha Long Street, between Vong Nguyet beach and Dua beach, it takes 5 – 7 minutes from my hotel by motorbike. Mui Nghinh Phong, translated as “the cape embracing breezes“, and Cong Troi, meaning “a gate of the sky”, aptly reflect the distinctive features of this picturesque location. Weekends are crowded, so weekdays are the best choice for taking pictures here. A decent camera, a selfie stick, and a jacket to keep warm on blustery days are among recommended items to pack. You may bring a decent camera, a selfie stick to capture the best photos here. For travelers who enjoy romantic vistas and striking photos, Mui Nghinh Phong and Cong Troi are the perfect hideaways. Besides, this is special for couples who wish to have memorable wedding photos. Visiting Nghinh Phong cape, you do not lose admission tickets, you only pay parking fees.


Nghinh Phong Cape, one of the attractions in the Vung Tau

You can selfie with Cong Troi to capture the sea view and sky.

Next, I visit Hon Ba Island, nestled among Vietnam’s islands, is celebrated for its unspoiled natural splendor and peaceful atmosphere. It is located near Vung Tau’s Back Beach, it is a mere 200 meters from Nghinh Phong Cape and the foothills of Nho Mountain. This enchanting island is distinguished by its spiritual significance, anchored by the revered Ba Temple. Additionally, visitors can stroll along the scenic coastal path that connects Hon Ba Island to the mainland, offering breathtaking views of the sea. The pathway to Hon Ba Island remains submerged for much of the year. However, you can check the current tide times for accessing Hon Ba via the pathway by searching on Google in that day. Once the pathway emerges, you can proceed to walk towards the island. The path is full of large and small rocks and moss, making it very slippery, so you should be careful, or you can wear sandals or shoes with thick soles to make walking easier.

Natural beauty of Hon Ba Island

The beauty of Hon Ba temple on the island. This is the spiritual place for you to pray for your health, success, happiness, or job.

I have enjoyed my dinner at Oc Diem, it is located at No.500, Truong Cong Dinh Street. When it comes to seafood, Vung Tau specialties is a place for you to eat fresh seafood with variety dishes. Oc Diem, is a food house located right at the front, you can easily see it, the restaurant is spacious, decorated with tables and chairs with fans, and filled with yellow lights, making the restaurant bright and warm. In particular, at Oc Diem, you will always be attracted by the delicious way of cooking, and reasonable prices. Seafood is always guaranteed to be fresh and delicious, staffs are friendly, good service, so it attracts locals here. Even though the eatery is crowded, the dishes still served very quickly, not making you wait too long.

The food house space is spacious, fresh, and clean.

At Oc Diem, the standout dishes feature snails with tamarind sauce, spicy avocado with cheese sauce, steamed Thai clams, and stuffed snails known for their hearty, chewy meat complemented by kumquat lemongrass fish sauce. You must-try these delicacies that define the eatery’s culinary offerings. For a meal for 2 people, I order 4-5 different types of seafood to enjoy. 

Address: No. 500, Truong Cong Dinh Street, Vung Tau City.

Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM Everyday

Prices: 40.000 – 150.000 VND (1.6 – 6 US Dollar)

After finishing dinner, I continued to eat snacks such as Ba Hai Hot Tofu and drink lemon tea, which was sold on the roadside. The tofu dish at Ba Hai Hot Tofu is distinguished by its delicate aroma of coconut milk, subtle sweetness, and satisfying crunch. Enhancing its flavor and appeal, the tofu is accompanied by a blend of sugar water, coconut milk, pandan leaves, basil seeds, and roasted peanuts. When savoring this dish, you’ll experience the harmonious fusion of these elements, resulting in a delectable and distinctive culinary delight. This is one of the familiar tofu stalls that is highly appreciated by locals and tourists for its taste and price.

Address:  No.21, Ba Huyen Thanh Quan Street, Vung Tau City.

Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM Everyday

Prices: 5.000 – 20.000 VND (0.5 – 1.25 US Dollar)

After exploring the attraction places in Vung Tau and experiencing the food here, I returned to the hotel to rest and prepare to continue my journey on the second day.

Day 2:

I have breakfast at 7:00 AM in Suntorini Hotel. Breakfast in this hotel is very diverse with many dishes such as spaghetti, pho, meat noodles, and fruit juice, coconut water or soft drinks. The dishes here are cooked by professional chefs and the quality of the food is excellent. The staff recommend Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) for me, which is cooked to the same standards as those in Saigon. I and my friend enjoy breakfast with the sea view.

Breakfast at Suntorini Boutique Hotel, Vung Tau City.

My next plan is to swim and sunbathe at Back Beach Vung Tau after having breakfast. It takes 7–10 minutes from my hotel to this location. My companion and I enjoyed a relaxing time swimming. Besides, in this early morning, it is not crowded by people, I can take lots of photos in the beach.

After spending a few hours at the beach, I returned to the hotel to change outfit, checkout and have lunch before preparing to visit Da Xanh Lake. I decided to enjoy Banh Canh Ghe Ngoc Lam, which is crab thick noodle soup. It is quiet near from my hotel, just takes 5-7 minutes by motorbike. Banh Canh Ghe Ngoc Lam food house is renowned for its wide, tender noodles and flavorful, yet not overly oily broth. The chef selects firm crab meat that diners can dip in delicious green chili salt. You have the option to choose the size of crab meat they prefer. The eatery offers a spacious and airy environment with attentive staff always ready to assist diners promptly. While the food is prepared quickly, the lack of private parking can be inconvenient when the restaurant is busy with many customers. I think Ngoc Lam is the best Banh Canh Ghe in Vung Tau, so you must try this dish.

Ngoc Lam crab noodle soup attracts many locals thanks to its large noodles and rich broth.

Address: No.88, Le Lai Street, Vung Tau City.

Opening Hours: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Prices: 35.000 VND – 60.000 VND (1.4 – 2.4 US Dollar)

Next, I visit Da Xanh Lake, which is located alongside the slopes of Dinh Mountain, Da Xanh Lake is a beloved spot for photography enthusiasts, renowned for its incredibly picturesque scenery. It takes approximate 40 minutes from Banh Canh Ghe Ngoc Lam by motorbike. It captivates with its expansive lake, serene blue waters encircled by lush trees and cliffs. You can capture a poetic photo here is effortless; simply raise your camera and adjust the angle for a breathtaking shot. Moreover, you can enjoy boating activities to explore the lake further and even visit nearby sheep fields. It’s an ideal destination for both relaxation and capturing memorable moments amidst nature’s beauty.

When you visit Da Xanh Lake, you can admire the poetic natural scenery and enjoy the quiet space.

Beautiful white sheep may be seen at a sheep herding region at Da Xanh Lake. Many tourists opt to visit this location in order to capture virtual images. The focal point of this lovely natural environment will be a herd of amiable white sheep.

After taking beautiful photos in Da Xanh Lake, I returned to Ho Chi Minh City.

Not to do and avoid when go to Vung Tau

When visiting Vung Tau, here are some things to avoid or be mindful of:

  • Keep the beaches and streets clean by disposing of trash properly.
  • Be aware of local customs and traditions, especially when visiting religious sites or interacting with locals.
  • Keep your belongings secure to prevent theft, especially in crowded areas or on public transportation.
  • Be cautious when crossing streets and follow traffic signals to ensure safety.
  • Pay attention to signs and warnings on beaches to avoid dangerous currents or restricted zones.
  • Some religious sites may require modest clothing, so dress appropriately when visiting these places.
  • Be mindful of noise levels, especially at night, to respect the peace and tranquility of the area.
  • If shopping at local markets, bargaining is common, but do so respectfully and with a smile.

By being mindful of these points, you can enjoy a pleasant and respectful visit to Vung Tau.

Ending the 2 days 1 night trip to Vung Tau by motorbike, there were many unforgettable memories. The total cost of food, hotel, and gasoline is 1.200.000 VND (48 US Dollar) per person. I hope my experience and the guide to Vung Tau are useful for you.