Vũng Tàu, Vietnam

Vũng Tàu, the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, is a coastal city in southern Vietnam. With a population of 250,000 people (2011 estimate), it is one of the bigger cities in the south.

Vũng Tàu is today a major petroleum center for Vietnam, supporting the country's offshore oil fields. The city also has a shipyard and a port. With funds flowing in, Vũng Tàu is one of the economically well developed cities of southern Vietnam.

Statue of Christ, Vung Tau


The area around Vũng Tàu has been documented to have been settled as early as the 14th century. It was a swampy cape which the Portuguese named Cape Saint Jacques. The modern city of Vũng Tàu was created from the merger of Cape Saint Jacques and the Ba Ria county in the late 19th century.

In the early days, there was a village here called Tam Thang, which means "three boats", in reference to the three villages in the area. Due to its proximity to the Malay archipelago, the area became a hideout for Malay pirates until the 18th century, when the ruler Gia Long cracked down on piracy in the area.

Ho Phap Pagoda, Vung Tau

Visiting Vũng Tàu

You can go to Vũng Tàu by bus as well as by hydrofoil. The advantage of taking the hydrofoil is of course the scenery along the way. The bus trip takes two hours while the hydrofoil takes about an hour and a half.

Exploring Vũng Tàu

The city itself is quite small and can be explored on foot. For sights farther away can be reached by taking a motorbike taxi or double-bike.

Vung Tau Hydrofoil Terminal

Places of Interest in Vũng Tàu

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