Stand on the promenade at Bãi Trước as the light goes orange over the water and you will understand why Saigon residents treat this peninsula as their coast. The curve of Front Beach Park fills with families and couples at sunset, and the hills of Núi Lớn and Núi Nhỏ rise behind the rooftops.
Vũng Tàu suits travellers who want a short coastal break with a mix of beaches, hilltop viewpoints, temples and a few unusual museums, rather than a resort strip. Most of what is described here sits close to the centre, and the two mountains give the day its shape.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, with a one-day plan at the end that strings the best of them together.
Top things to do in Vung Tau
1. Statue of Christ the King
The enormous figure of Jesus with outstretched arms stands at the south end of Small Mountain, resting on a high platform. The interior is hollow, with a spiral staircase of 129 steps running from the foot of the statue to its neck, and the two shoulders serve as balconies that look out over the surrounding landscape.
The pathway up the mountain makes for a pleasant hike, and the views from the various points along the way are part of the experience. Combine the climb with the Vũng Tàu Lighthouse, which sits on the same mountain, and go early or late in the day when the light is kinder for the walk.
2. Vũng Tàu Lighthouse
Built in 1907 on the lower peak of Small Mountain and later rebuilt and moved to the higher peak where it stands today, the lighthouse projects its light far out to sea and is equipped with telescopes used to follow and direct ships. Next to the platform you will find four old French cannons, once used to defend the area from naval attacks.
The lighthouse affords a panoramic view of the whole of Vung Tau. Pair it with the Statue of Christ the King on the same mountain, and note the small entry fee if you plan to go up.
3. Bãi Sau (Back Beach)
Also known as Thùy Vân Beach, this is the standard beach for tourism in Vung Tau, stretching from Small Mountain to Paradise Park. The water is shallow quite a way out, there are very few jet-skis and hardly any beach hawkers, and sea parachuting and canoeing are available through the day.
All beaches here are free. In some places you pass through water parks to reach the sand, while in most there is a promenade leading directly down. Locker, umbrella, chaise longue and fresh water shower charges apply if you use them, so bring small notes.
4. Bạch Dinh (Villa Blanche)
Built by the French between 1898 and 1916 as a summer holiday house for Governor-General Paul Doumer, this mansion on the slopes of Big Mountain was a getaway for French governors and for Bảo Đại, the last Emperor of Vietnam, and was later used for R&R during the American War. It mixes French colonial and Vietnamese architecture and holds lavish decorations and a collection of antiques, including fine porcelain and African elephants' tusks.
It sits along Tran Phu Street on the slopes of Big Mountain, which makes it an easy stop on the way up or down the mountain road. Allow time inside for the antiques rather than treating it as a photo stop.
5. Bãi Trước (Front Beach)
Sitting between Big Mountain and Small Mountain in the centre of Vung Tau, Front Beach has restaurants, kiosks and hotels close to the sand and connects through a small park, Front Beach Park. Because it lies near the tourist centre, most people come here for the park and the sunset, when it becomes hugely popular with local tourists.
Come in the late afternoon and stay for the light. It is also the natural starting point for walks into town and for reaching Đình Thần Thắng Tam.
6. Đình Thần Thắng Tam (Thắng Tam Local Gods Communal House)
According to legend, this communal house was built in the Minh Mạng dynasty as a place to worship the three men who set up the three villages of Thắng in Vũng Tàu. The architecture is particularly interesting around the Tam Quan Gate, the sanctum, the public commune, the meeting room and the stage for military operas, and the sanctum is roofed with ying-yang tiles in the shape of a pair of dragons with the moon, with pillars engraved with dragons.
On the right of the commune is the Whale Tomb, which holds a set of whale bones, and on the left is Ngũ Hành Temple, celebrating the five elements. From Front Beach, follow Truong Cong Dinh Street to Tran Hung Dao Park, then take Hoang Hoa Tham Street to Thang Tam.
7. Robert Taylor Museum of Worldwide Arms
This collection at 98 Tran Hung Dao Street covers arms and uniforms from around the world, with most major wars and battles represented. The emphasis is on British and Australian regimental uniforms, and there are also Samurai, Mongols, Saracens, Turks and Bulgarians as well as most European and North American armies, alongside a wide range of guns, swords and other weapons.
If you have even a passing interest in military history it is worth a couple of hours. It sits right in the centre of town, so you can walk from Front Beach or take a cab, and there is an entry fee for foreigners.
8. Ho May Park
Reached by cable car from the station just next to the hydrofoil terminal, this hilltop park includes dodgems, go-karts, various fairground rides, a large water park, a games centre and the Alpine Luge, with the attractions included in the cost. It is a fun day out if you have kids, and quite fun even if you do not.
The ticket includes the return cable car, so plan it as a half day rather than a quick stop. It opens daily from morning until late evening.
9. Lam Son Greyhound Racing Stadium
Racing here takes place on Saturday evenings, with gates opening earlier. You are given a form card and can use it to bet on the races, either next to the track with the locals or in the air-conditioned VIP area. Beers cost a little more than in local bars but not much more.
It is a good place to engage with locals and expats alike, and a fun evening if you do not have hang-ups about dogs racing. Take a taxi from Front Beach.
10. Đài Liệt Sĩ (Martyrs Monument)
A stone obelisk on a hilltop on the way to the sea, on Lê Hồng Phong Street. The Soldiers' Memorial Hill is said to incorporate the biggest traffic circle in Indochina, and it is a cool hangout for lovers.
Treat it as a short pause on a route between the centre and the coast rather than a destination in itself, and go when you want a breezy spot to sit.
11. Bãi Dâu (Mulberry Beach)
A small beach on the west side of Big Mountain. It is a quieter stretch of sand than Back Beach, and works well as a stop while you are exploring the western side of the peninsula.
Combine it with a circuit of Big Mountain, whose trail starts on Tran Hung Dao Street and whose flat top has a couple of restaurants.
12. Bãi Dứa (Pineapple Beach)
A small beach along Hạ Long Street, by Small Mountain. Like Bãi Dâu it is a modest strip rather than a full tourism beach, which makes it a calm place to break up a walk.
It sits naturally with the Small Mountain sights, so slot it in before or after the climb to the Statue of Christ the King or the Vũng Tàu Lighthouse.
13. Pagodas on Small Mount summit
Niết Bàn Tịnh Xá and Thích Ca Phật Đài are the most popular among the pagodas and temples in Vũng Tàu, both on the summit of Small Mountain.
Visit them as part of the same Small Mountain outing as the statue and the lighthouse, since the paths connect the high points of the hill.
14. Long Sơn
Head here for the wooden Nhà Lớn Long Sơn complex dating from the 19th century. It is one of the further-afield options if you have already covered the centre and the mountains.
Because it lies outside the city, give it a proper half day rather than squeezing it between two central stops.
15. Long Hải
A nearby seaside town northeast of Vung Tau. The beach here is smaller, but the town owns a local goddess temple called Dinh Cô, which holds an annual cultural festival called the Dinh Cô Festival, one of the three well-known traditional festivals in southern Vietnam. The town also features Minh Đạm Tunnel, a former hideout of the Viet Minh during the wars.
If you make the trip, check the timing of the festival if it interests you, and pair the temple with the tunnel in the same visit.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start on Small Mountain. Hike up to the Statue of Christ the King and take in the panoramic views from the shoulders and the vista points along the pathway, then continue to the Vũng Tàu Lighthouse on the higher peak, where the old French cannons stand next to the platform. If you have time, look in on the pagodas at the summit, Niết Bàn Tịnh Xá and Thích Ca Phật Đài.
Afternoon: Come down to the centre and visit Bạch Dinh (Villa Blanche) on the slopes of Big Mountain for the colonial architecture and the antiques, then walk to Đình Thần Thắng Tam to see the Tam Quan Gate and the sanctum, with the Whale Tomb on the right and Ngũ Hành Temple on the left. Finish the afternoon at Bãi Sau (Back Beach) for a swim in the shallow water, or at Bãi Dứa or Bãi Dâu if you prefer somewhere smaller.
Evening: Head to Bãi Trước (Front Beach) and Front Beach Park for the sunset, which is when the area is at its most popular. If it is a Saturday, take a taxi from Front Beach to Lam Son Greyhound Racing Stadium for the evening races instead.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to pay to use the beaches in Vung Tau?
All beaches are free. At Bãi Sau you pay separately for extras such as a locker, beach umbrella, chaise longue, deck chair and umbrella, or a fresh water shower.
How do I get up Small Mountain to the statue and the lighthouse?
A pathway makes the hike up pleasant, and the walk to the Statue of Christ the King takes about 30 minutes. The entrance to the lighthouse route is on Phan Chu Trinh Street, about 1 km from the beach. Inside the statue, a spiral staircase of 129 steps leads from the foot to the neck.
Which sights are best combined in one outing?
The Statue of Christ the King, the Vũng Tàu Lighthouse and the pagodas at the summit are all on Small Mountain. Bạch Dinh sits on the slopes of Big Mountain along Tran Phu Street, and the Big Mount trail starts on Tran Hung Dao Street. Đình Thần Thắng Tam is reached from Front Beach via Truong Cong Dinh Street to Tran Hung Dao Park, then Hoang Hoa Tham Street.
What is there to do in the evening?
Front Beach and Front Beach Park draw crowds for the sunset. On Saturdays, Lam Son Greyhound Racing Stadium runs races in the evening, with gates opening earlier and both a track-side area and a VIP section.
Decide which mountain you want to climb first, check whether your visit falls on a Saturday, and start mapping your day around the sunset at Front Beach.