Vung Tau is Saigon's pressure-release valve — two hours by ferry, a long beach, and one of the south's best street-food scenes. Here's how to do it in 48 hours.
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Vung Tau is often written off as a chaotic weekend playground for Saigon locals, but weekday visits reveal a surprisingly slow, salt-aired romance. This five-day itinerary avoids the tour buses and focuses on quiet coastal roads, hidden viewpoints, and the best local tables for couples looking to unwind.
Day 1 — Coastal Roads and Crispy Bites
Arrive in Vung Tau (붕따우 / 头顿 / ブンタウ) in the early afternoon. If you are coming from Saigon, skip the highway traffic and take the high-speed ferry down the Saigon River, arriving right at the Front Beach port. Check into a boutique hotel along the rocky cliffs of Tran Phu street, where the rooms face west for the sunset.
Spend your first afternoon walking along Ha Long street, a winding coastal road shaded by tropical trees. As the sun begins to dip, find a seat at one of the rocky embankments to watch the fishing boats head out for the night.
For dinner, head to a local institution to try "banh khot" (savory, crispy mini-pancakes topped with shrimp or squid and green onion oil). Wrap them in large mustard leaves with fresh herbs and dip them in sweet-and-sour fish sauce. A plate at a reputable spot like Banh Khot Co Ba Vung Tau costs around 70,000 VND.
Off-script suggestion: Skip the crowded public parks at Front Beach after dark. Instead, walk north along the coastal path past the old cable car station, where the waves crash against the dark rocks under dim streetlights.
Day 2 — High Viewpoints and Colonial Charm
Start your morning early with a climb up Small Mountain to the Vung Tau Lighthouse. Built by the French in the late 19th century, this white tower offers a panoramic view of the entire crescent-shaped peninsula.
On the way down, stop at a hillside cafe for a slow "ca phe sua da" (iced coffee with condensed milk). The cafes along this road feature terraced seating that looks directly out over the ocean.
In the afternoon, visit Bach Dinh (Villa Blanche), a grand colonial mansion nestled on the slopes of Big Mountain. Once a summer retreat for French governors and Vietnamese royalty, the villa is surrounded by frangipani trees and houses a collection of centuries-old Chinese porcelain salvaged from local shipwrecks.
Off-script suggestion: Instead of taking the paved road up to the lighthouse, search for the narrow, winding residential alleyway stairs starting near Phan Chu Trinh street. It is a steep climb, but you will walk past quiet backyard gardens and local homes untouched by tourism.
Photo by Bid on Pexels
Day 3 — Tidal Crossings and Seafood Feasts
Check the local tide charts in the morning. If the water is low, make your way to Cape Nghinh Phong to visit Hon Ba (Woman's Island). During low tide, a rocky stone path emerges from the sea, allowing you to walk across the ocean floor to a small, lonely temple on the islet. It is a dramatic, wind-swept walk that feels miles away from the city.
For lunch, skip the tourist-trap restaurants and head to the northern end of the peninsula. Order fresh grilled squid, steamed clams with lemongrass, and "goi cuon" (fresh summer rolls) at a simple seaside shack where you can dine with your feet practically in the sand.
Spend the afternoon relaxing at one of the quieter beach clubs along the rocky stretch of Tran Phu street, away from the muddy sands of the main public beaches.
Off-script suggestion: Rent a vintage scooter and drive up the winding road of Big Mountain (Nui Lon) toward the radar station. The road is lined with pine trees, the air is noticeably cooler, and you will likely have the sweeping views of the northern bay entirely to yourselves.
Day 4 — Sunrise and the Windy Cape
Set your alarm for 5:15 AM and head to Bai Sau (Back Beach). While Front Beach is for sunsets, Back Beach is the place for sunrise. Watch the local fishermen pull in their shore nets as the sun rises over the East Sea.
After a lazy morning, spend the afternoon exploring the quiet residential streets of Ward 1. This neighborhood is filled with old villas, small pagodas, and quiet cafes hidden behind high stone walls.
In the evening, book a table at a cliffside restaurant on Tran Phu street. Enjoy a long, slow dinner of baked garlic crab and tamarind prawns while listening to the tide crash against the rocks below.
Off-script suggestion: Visit the bustling Ben Da fishing port at the northern tip of the city around 6:00 AM. It is gritty, loud, and smells intensely of salt and fish, but watching the wooden trawlers unload mountains of colorful seafood is an authentic slice of coastal life.
Photo by Bid on Pexels
Day 5 — Slow Mornings and the Road Back
Spend your final morning sleeping in and enjoying breakfast on your balcony. Before leaving Vung Tau, make a stop at a local bakery to buy "banh bong lan trung muoi" (mini sponge cakes filled with salted egg yolk and meat floss) at Goc Cot Dien on Nguyen Truong To street. These warm, sweet-and-savory bites are the classic souvenir of the city.
Board the afternoon limousine bus or ferry back to Saigon (사이공 / 西贡 / サイゴン), watching the coastal hills fade into the delta flatlands.
Off-script suggestion: On your way out of the city, ask your driver to make a brief detour to the quiet salt fields of Long Dien, where you can watch workers harvest white mounds of salt under the midday sun.
Practical notes
To experience the romantic side of Vung Tau, avoid traveling on weekends (Friday to Sunday) when hotel prices double and crowds from Saigon pack the beaches. Renting a automatic scooter for around 150,000 VND per day is the easiest way to explore the scenic coastal loop at your own pace.
