Vung Tau

Vung Tau is a beach town at the tip of a peninsula, with swimming beaches, seafood markets and temples on two hills.

Find a room in Vung Tau Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Vung Tau

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Vung Tau is a ward of Ho Chi Minh City on Vietnam's southern coast, at the tip of a peninsula about 95 km southeast of the Saigon ward. The ward was formed in June 2025 from the former Vung Tau city and keeps its name. It covers most of that city's old downtown. The French called the town Cap Saint-Jacques and, in 1895, turned it into a resort and a defence base guarding Saigon. Bạch Dinh, a villa built in 1898, is now a museum.

Back Beach is the city's main swimming beach, and Front Beach has a park of about 3 hectares with dozens of coconut palms and 41 sculptures. Big Mount and Small Mount have temples and viewpoints, and a Christ the King statue, inaugurated in 1992, stands on Small Mount. For seafood, go to Bến Đá Market, the Sao Mai fishing village or the night food street on Đồ Chiểu. Late December to March is the driest stretch and suits beach days best, while the rainy season runs roughly May to October.

Vung Tau in five

Swim at Back Beach, not Pineapple BeachBack Beach is the city's main swimming beach, along the eastern coast of the ward. Pineapple Beach has long, rough rock reefs, so it suits a walk more than a swim.
Check which pier your ferry leaves fromMost ferry routes moved to a new pier at Hòn Ngưu. The old Bến Cầu Đá pier now serves only the fast boat to Côn Đảo.
Eat seafood at Sao Mai or Bến Đá MarketSao Mai has seafood restaurants such as Thành Phát, Tân Phát and Lâm Đường. Bến Đá Market is the ward's largest traditional market and a common place for visitors to buy seafood.
Visit Big Mount and Small Mount for the viewThe two hills of the old city have temples and viewpoints on their slopes. A Christ the King statue, inaugurated in 1992, stands on Small Mount.
Check lunar festival dates before you goFestivals follow the lunar calendar, so their solar dates shift each year. The Nghinh Ông Thắng Nhì festival falls on the 22nd to 24th of the third lunar month.Festivals

Things to do in Vung Tau

See all attractions in Vung Tau

Museum · Vung TauWorldwide Arms Museum

Sight · Vung TauFrench Field Guns

pink flowers are blooming on a sunny day

Sight · Vung TauWhite Villa

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Vung TauPut the places you like in Vung Tau on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND)
Entry: Visa exemption or e-visa for many passports; check before you book Read more
Emergency: 113 police, 114 fire, 115 ambulance
Tipping: Not expected; rounding up is common
Time: UTC+7, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear4 rainy daysHigh28°Low24°Dry, cooler
FebruaryClear1 rainy dayHigh28°Low25°Dry, Tết holidays
MarchClear2 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Dry, pleasant
AprilClear8 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Dry, warming
MayRain25 rainy daysHigh31°Low28°Hot, dry
JuneRain27 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Rains start
JulyRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Rainy season
AugustRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Rainy season
SeptemberRain29 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Rainy season
OctoberRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Rains ending
NovemberRain17 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Drier, cooler
DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Dry, pleasant

Average daily high and low in Vũng Tàu, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Vung Tau

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 28°
Humidity: 91%
Wind: 21 km/h
Chance of rain: 90%

Vung Tau

07:58 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+7

Today30°25°90%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 90%.
Wed30°25°94%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 94%.
Thu30°25°80%Thursday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 80%.
Fri30°26°74%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 74%.
Sat28°25°76%Saturday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 76%.
Sun30°26°75%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 75%.
Mon31°25°59%Monday: Cloudy. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 59%.

Updated 04:17 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 25,787 VND

Amount

Converted to

VND · Vietnamese Dong

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Cần Giờabout 30 min by ferryA mangrove district reached by the ferry from Vũng Tàu.
Ho Chi Minh Cityabout 95 km awayThe Saigon ward is the city's core.
Bà Rịaabout 25 km awayThe former provincial capital, now a ward of the same city.

Before you go to Vung Tau

eSIM for Vũng TàuMaps for ferry piers and beach roadsRead the guide

Money and cardsCash for markets and seafood stallsRead the guide

Where to stayHotels on Bãi Dâu, the ward's main hotel areaRead the guide

Travel insuranceCover for beach and boat activitiesRead the guide

Rules for Vung Tau, checked

Many passports need no visa for short stays, but others need an e-visa. Check the official Vietnam e-visa portal before you book.Source
Declare cash above the legal limit and any restricted goods on arrival. Check the current amount with Vietnam Customs before you travel.
Remove your shoes before entering a pagoda or communal house, and cover shoulders and knees at temples and churches.
Vietnam applies its drug laws strictly, with heavy penalties. Carry prescription medicine in its original packaging with the prescription.

Plan around Vung Tau

All of Vietnam

Regions, entry rules and transport for a Vietnam trip

Read the guide Visas and entry

Which passports need an e-visa and how to apply

Read the guide Getting around

Ferries, buses and taxis from Ho Chi Minh City

Read the guide Money and costs

Cash habits, cards and typical prices for food and rides

Read the guide Where to stay

Hotels and resorts on Bãi Dâu and near the beaches

Read the guide Festivals

Lunar calendar festivals at temples and fishing villages

Read the guide

Vung Tau FAQ

Is Vũng Tàu worth visiting?

Yes if you want beaches, seafood and temples. Back Beach is the main swimming beach, and Big Mount and Small Mount have temples and viewpoints. An overnight stay lets you see the morning markets.

How do you get to Vũng Tàu from Ho Chi Minh City?

The ward lies about 95 km southeast of the Saigon ward. Check the current bus and taxi options under getting around before you travel.

Can you visit Vũng Tàu as a day trip?

Yes, if you start early. The ward is about 95 km from the Saigon ward. One day covers Front Beach, Back Beach and one of the hills. Stay overnight to see the seafood markets at dawn.

Where should you eat seafood in Vũng Tàu?

Sao Mai has seafood restaurants such as Thành Phát, Tân Phát and Lâm Đường. Bến Đá Market is the largest traditional market in the ward, and Đồ Chiểu street is the night food street.

Is Pineapple Beach good for swimming?

Not really. It is a small beach near Cape Nghinh Phong with long, rough rock reefs. Back Beach is the better choice for a swim.

When is the best time to visit Vũng Tàu?

December to March, when it is driest. The rainy season runs roughly from May to October. Check the lunar festival dates if you want temple events.