10 Best things to do in Vung Tau, Vietnam
Vung Tau has always been one of my favorite easy escapes from Saigon. When I want some sea air, good food and a couple of slower days without planning a big trip, it’s usually one of the first places that comes to mind.
There are plenty of fun things to do in Vung Tau, but I don’t like packing every hour with sightseeing here. A morning swim, bánh khọt for lunch, somewhere high up for a sea view and a walk along the waterfront later already makes a very good day.
If it’s your first trip, these are the places I’d make time for and how I’d actually enjoy them.
Plan your Vung Tau trip
| Planning | What I’d do | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Where to stay | Choose Back Beach if you want easy beach mornings, or Front Beach if restaurants and evening walks matter more. | Compare hotels |
| Coming from Saigon | Join a day tour for an easier travel experience. | Book day tour |
| Water park | Sun World is a great option for a full day of slides and pools. | Get Sun World tickets |
| Ho May Park | Take the cable car up Big Mountain for rides, views and a few hours away from the beach. | Book Ho May tickets |
1. Ride the cable car up to Ho May Park
Ho May Park gives you something completely different from the beaches and viewpoints around Vung Tau.
You reach the park by cable car up Big Mountain, with the city and coastline opening up below as you climb. At the top, there are rides, family activities and viewpoints spread around the hill.
If you’re traveling with kids or friends who want a bit more action, I’d give it a few hours rather than trying to squeeze it between other stops.
2. Relax at Back Beach
Back Beach has always been my go-to when I want to swim in Vung Tau. The shoreline is long, there’s plenty of sand, and it feels much more like a proper beach day than Front Beach.
I like coming in the morning when the temperature is nicer and the beach feels calmer. If you stay nearby, it’s easy to swim for a couple of hours, head back to your hotel to change and then go out for bánh khọt or seafood for lunch.
Weekends can get much busier when people come down from Ho Chi Minh City, so an early start makes a big difference. For me, a morning swim followed by breakfast or coffee nearby is the nicest way to enjoy Back Beach.
9. Spend the day at Sun World Vung Tau Aqua Adventure
Sun World Vung Tau Aqua Adventure is one of the biggest new additions to the city.
The beachfront water park opened in 2026 with a huge mix of slides, pools and play areas. Some rides are all about speed and big drops, while other areas are much calmer if you’d rather float around and take things easy.
I’d make this the main plan for the day instead of trying to combine it with the lighthouse, Jesus Statue or other sightseeing.
It makes the most sense for families, groups of friends or anyone who wants one day that’s completely about having fun in the water.
4. Walk out to Nghinh Phong Cape
Nghinh Phong Cape feels much more open and rugged than the main beaches around Vung Tau.
The headland stretches out between Back Beach and Pineapple Beach, with sea on both sides and plenty of wind once you get farther out. I like coming later in the afternoon when the sun isn’t as strong, and you can sit around without feeling roasted.
There are rocky paths and uneven patches around the cape, so this isn’t the place for delicate shoes. I’d wear something comfortable, walk slowly and spend a little time looking back toward the coastline before heading on.
Join Vung Tau day tour from Ho Chi Minh City →
5. Wander around White Palace
White Palace is one of my favorite breaks from Vung Tau’s beaches and viewpoints.
The old villa sits on the lower slope of Big Mountain, surrounded by trees, with sea views opening up through the gardens. Inside, you can wander through the old reception rooms and see antique furniture, ceramics and objects recovered from shipwrecks off the coast.
I especially like the tiled floors, arched windows and balconies because the building still feels more like an old seaside residence than a formal museum.
Don’t rush straight out once you’ve seen the rooms. The garden paths and viewpoints around the villa are part of the visit, and they’re lovely when you want a quieter hour away from the busier waterfront.
6. Eat bánh khọt and plenty of seafood
Bánh khọt is one of the most famous Vung Tau food.
The little crispy pancakes come topped with shrimp, then you wrap them in lettuce and herbs before dipping everything into fish sauce. We’ve eaten them at Bánh Khọt Út Loan before, and this is exactly the kind of lunch I want after a morning at the beach.
Seafood usually comes later.
I like ordering several dishes for the table, especially grilled squid, oysters, crab and fish. Stingray hotpot is another Vung Tau favorite, and it’s a good one to try when you want something different from the usual grilled seafood.
If you only have one day, make bánh khọt your lunch and save seafood for dinner. That way you get two very different Vung Tau food experiences without cramming everything into one meal.
7. Spend the evening around Front Beach
Front Beach is where I like Vung Tau most once the sun starts going down.
The waterfront gets much livelier in the evening, with people walking along the coast and fishing boats sitting out on the water. I prefer coming here for sunset and a slow walk rather than treating it as my main swimming beach.
Start around the waterfront, wander toward the park and then find somewhere nearby for dinner or coffee. There are plenty of cafés and seafood restaurants around this part of town, so you don’t need to plan the evening too carefully.
This is also a nice area to stay if you care more about evenings and restaurants than waking up right beside a swimming beach.
8. Climb up to the Jesus Christ Statue
The climb to the Jesus Christ Statue is one of those Vung Tau activities where I’m always reminded how hot southern Vietnam can get.
I prefer going in the morning, taking my time on the steps and stopping at the viewpoints whenever I need an excuse for a break.
Once you reach the statue, you can climb the narrow staircase inside and come out near the shoulders when access is available. That’s the best part for me because you’re suddenly looking down over Back Beach, Nghinh Phong Cape and the rooftops below.
The staircase inside is quite narrow, so don’t bring a bulky bag. And because this is a religious site, wear something that covers your shoulders and knees before you set off.
3. Drive up to Vung Tau Lighthouse
The road up to Vung Tau Lighthouse is one of my favorite little drives in the city. It winds around Small Mountain, and as you get higher, you start catching better views through the trees.
The lighthouse itself is fairly simple, but the view is why I keep coming back up here. From the top of the mountain, you can look across Front Beach, the city and long stretches of coastline that are much harder to appreciate from street level.
Stop at a few viewpoints on the way rather than driving straight to the top. It’s also easy to combine the lighthouse with Nghinh Phong Cape or the Jesus Christ Statue since you’re already exploring this side of Vung Tau.
10. Walk out toward Hon Ba at low tide
Hon Ba is one of the more unusual places to visit in Vung Tau because the route to the island changes with the tide.
When the water drops far enough, a rocky walkway appears between the mainland and the tiny island temple. Seeing that path slowly emerge from the sea is part of what makes the place interesting.
If the route is clearly exposed, you can walk across and visit the temple. The rocks can be uneven and slippery, so I’d wear shoes with decent grip rather than flip-flops.
Don’t only look toward the island either. Once you’re out on the path, turn around because the view back toward Vung Tau and the coastline is just as good.
Have another day? Head beyond Vung Tau
If you have another day, go farther along the coast rather than adding more sightseeing in central Vung Tau.
Ho Tram is where I’d head for a quieter beach and more of a resort feel. The coastline is much calmer than central Vung Tau, and it works especially well if you want to extend the trip by another night.
Binh Chau is nearby and gives you something completely different.
The hot springs are good when you want a slower day of soaking and relaxing. I’d combine Binh Chau and Ho Tram if you’re already heading in that direction rather than making two separate trips.
Book Minera Hot Springs tickets →
Where to stay in Vung Tau
I’ve stayed around both Back Beach and Front Beach, and they give you quite a different kind of trip. Back Beach is the one I prefer when I want easy beach mornings, while Front Beach is better when I know I’ll be out for dinner and walking around in the evening.
The Imperial Vung Tau is my pick when I want the stay to feel a bit more special. I like the classic style, the big pool, and being so close to Back Beach, especially on those trips where I don’t really want to leave the hotel too much.
Pullman Vung Tau feels more modern and easygoing. It has beautiful rooms, a nice pool, and a good base near Back Beach without making the hotel the whole focus of the trip.
For Front Beach, I really like Fusion Suites Vung Tau. The rooftop pool is the part I enjoy most, and it’s a lovely place to slow down in the evening before heading out for dinner or a walk by the water.
