Vung Tau

Vũng Tàu

Saigon's weekend beach, with sunrise and sunset over the sea.

Region: South · Southeast coast
Province: Ho Chi Minh City
Best weather: November–May
In this guide: 5 places · 3 dishes

Overview

Vung Tau is where Ho Chi Minh City goes to breathe. The city sits on a narrow peninsula with 20 km of coastline, so you can watch the sun both rise and set over the sea. Back Beach (Bai Sau) is the long swimming beach; Front Beach is for evening strolls.

Between the beaches, two hills hold the sights: a 32-metre statue of Christ with arms outstretched, an old lighthouse, and the French governor's seaside villa. Weekends are busy with domestic visitors — come midweek for quieter beaches.

Like the rest of the south, Vung Tau is dry from December to April and gets afternoon storms from May to November.

Where to go

Back Beach

Bãi Sau

The main swimming beach, a long sweep of sand with seafood restaurants behind it. Mornings are calmest.

Christ of Vung Tau

Tượng Chúa Kitô Vua

A 32-metre statue on Small Mountain. Climb about 800 steps, then the stairs inside to look out from the shoulders. Modest dress required.

Villa Blanche

Bạch Dinh

The French governor-general's white seaside villa from the early 1900s, now a small museum in gardens overlooking the sea.

Hon Ba Island

Hòn Bà

A tiny island temple off Back Beach that you can walk to across the rocks at low tide — check tide times first.

Ben Dinh Fishing Port

Bến Đình

A working fishing harbour lined with colourful boats. Early morning is the time to see the catch landed.

What to eat

Local specialties worth seeking out in Vung Tau.

Banh khot

Bánh khọt

Bite-sized crispy coconut-rice pancakes topped with shrimp, wrapped in mustard leaves with herbs and dipped in fish sauce. Vung Tau's signature dish.

Mai fish salad

Gỏi cá mai

Small translucent fish cured in lime and mixed with herbs and roasted rice powder, rolled in rice paper.

Stingray hotpot

Lẩu cá đuối

A sour hotpot flavoured with fermented bamboo shoots and tamarind, with tender stingray and fresh greens.

When to go

The most comfortable months for sightseeing in Vung Tau are usually November–May.

Hover a month for details. Compare with other places on the season calendar.

Vietnam season calendar arrow_forward

Daily temperature range (°C)

20°25°30°35°

Rainfall per month (mm)

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Apr

May

Jun

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Aug

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Oct

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Dec

Score

Great
Good
Fair
Wet / extreme

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Month	High °C	Low °C	Rain mm	Wet days	Rating
January	29.1	24.1	20	4	Great
February	29.4	24.4	6	1	Great
March	30.2	25.4	10	2	Great
April	31.2	26.9	39	7	Great
May	31.0	27.2	158	23	Great
June	30.2	26.6	171	26	Good
July	29.5	26.2	211	29	Good
August	29.7	26.2	200	28	Good
September	29.2	25.8	254	28	Good
October	29.2	25.5	231	25	Good
November	29.4	25.3	119	15	Great
December	29.0	24.4	55	8	Great

Averages for 2016-2025 from Open-Meteo (ERA5 reanalysis, CC BY 4.0). Model data can overstate light drizzle; treat wet-day counts as a guide. How the score works.