Weekend in Vung Tau: Ferry, Banh Khot, and Back by Sunday Night

Vung Tau sits 125 km southeast of Saigon, close enough for a weekend but far enough that you actually decompress. Skip the bus. Take the ferry.

Friday Evening — Board the Ferry, Arrive Hungry

Greenlines DP runs a high-speed catamaran from Bach Dang Wharf (near Saigon's District 1 waterfront) to Vung Tau (붕따우 / 头顿 / ブンタウ)'s Can Tho Wharf. Departures run through the day; aim for the 17:00 or 18:00 sailing to get there by dark. Tickets run around 250,000–320,000 VND each way — book online or at the pier a day ahead, especially on Friday evenings when half of Saigon has the same idea.

The crossing takes about two hours. Bring a light jacket; the air-con below deck is aggressive, and the open stern is windy but the better option for watching the Saigon (사이공 / 西贡 / サイゴン) River widen into open water.

Once you dock, grab a xe om or Grab to your accommodation. Most hotels cluster along Thuy Van (Bai Sau side) or near the town center. Budget guesthouses start around 300,000 VND; mid-range beachfront rooms run 700,000–1,200,000 VND on weekends.

For dinner Friday, head to the night market stretch on Hoang Hoa Tham Street. "Banh mi" carts, grilled squid, and "hu tieu" stalls run until midnight. Prices are beach-town honest — a full bowl of hu tieu Nam Vang rarely breaks 50,000 VND.

Saturday — Bai Sau, the Water, and Banh Khot for Lunch

Bai Sau (Back Beach) is Vung Tau's main swimming beach — a long, gently curved strip about 8 km end to end. Arrive before 09:00 if you want a patch of sand that isn't already claimed by a plastic deck chair rental operation (around 30,000–50,000 VND for a chair and umbrella, usually negotiable if you buy drinks from them).

The water is warm year-round and the waves are mild. It's not the clearest ocean you'll find in Vietnam — Vung Tau has industrial port traffic and the runoff shows — but it's perfectly fine for a swim and a float. Manage expectations accordingly.

For lunch, walk or Grab to Quang Trung Street, which is ground zero for "banh khot" in Vung Tau. These are small, crispy rice-flour cups — fried in cast-iron pans, filled with shrimp, and eaten wrapped in mustard leaf with fresh herbs and nuoc cham. Local spots like Banh Khot Co Ba Vung Tau (46 Quang Trung) have been serving them for decades. A full plate runs 70,000–90,000 VND. Order one portion to start; it comes fast and you'll want a second.

Spend the afternoon how you like — another swim, a nap, or a wander through the market on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, where vendors sell dried seafood (muc mot nang, tom kho) that makes good gifts or snacks.

For Saturday evening, the seafood restaurants along Tran Phu Street (the road that wraps around Small Mountain toward the lighthouse) are reliable. Pick by the ice box out front — look at what's fresh, agree on a price per kilogram before it goes to the kitchen. Grilled scallops with scallion oil (so diep nuong mo hanh) and steamed crab are the orders worth pointing at.

Photo by Flint Huynh on Pexels

Sunday — Christ Statue, Ho May, and the Ferry Home

Morning: Christ of Vung Tau

Get up early. The Christ of Vung Tau — a 32-meter statue on Nho Mountain — is best before the tour groups arrive and before the heat sets in. The trailhead is on Ha Long Street. It's a genuine climb: roughly 800 steps, steep in sections, no shade for long stretches. Wear shoes you can actually walk in. Entry is free. The view from the outstretched arms (you can climb inside the statue up to shoulder level) takes in both beaches and the South China Sea.

Down by 09:30 if you move at a reasonable pace.

Late Morning: Ho May Cable Car

Ho May Park sits on Lon Mountain (Big Mountain), on the opposite side of town from Nho Mountain. The cable car (ca tram) runs from the base up to the park — the ride itself, over forested slope with sea views, is the point. Park entry plus cable car costs around 200,000–250,000 VND. The park has the usual Vietnamese theme-park additions (rides, a small zoo) which you can skip; just ride up, walk around, ride back down.

If you skipped the climb at Christ Statue, there's also a hiking trail up Lon Mountain — but Sunday morning logistics usually make the cable car the smarter call.

Afternoon: Head Back

Check ferry times before you leave your hotel. Greenlines runs multiple return sailings on Sunday afternoon; the 14:00 and 16:00 departures fill up fast. Get to Can Tho Wharf at least 30 minutes early.

On the water by mid-afternoon, you're back at Bach Dang before dark — enough time to eat properly in Saigon before Monday arrives.

Photo by Theodore Nguyen on Pexels

Practical Notes

Weekend ferries book out, especially around public holidays — reserve both legs at least two days ahead. Vung Tau's beach strip gets crowded on Saturday afternoons; if you want a quieter swim, try Bai Dau (Front Beach) on the northwestern side, which is smaller but usually less packed. Sunscreen is sold everywhere in town but costs double what you'd pay at a Saigon pharmacy, so bring your own.