Vũng Tàu: Beaches, Views and Culture

Vũng Tàu combines coastal scenery with distinctive buildings and viewpoints. A three-kilometre-long sandy beach, a winding path up to the lighthouse and religious architecture on the hillside offer different ways to shape your stay. The beaches also each have their own character: you can choose between gentle waves, calm water with rock formations and a view of the sunset over the sea.

Beaches with distinct characters

Back Beach is a three-kilometre-long sandy beach. Its waves are relatively gentle and safe, making the beach suitable for small children too. For families who want to spend time by the water, this is a practical consideration when choosing destinations in Vũng Tàu. Front Beach, also called Tam Duong Beach, is on the west side of the city and is a good place to watch the sun set over the sea.

Calm water and distinctive rock formations define Dâu Beach. Vũng Tàu therefore offers a range of coastal experiences: a long sandy beach, a west-facing beach with views of the sunset, and a beach whose rocks stand out. If you’re travelling with children, the relatively gentle waves at Back Beach may influence your choice of destination; if you’re mainly looking for distinctive coastal scenery, the rock formations at Dâu Beach are an attraction in their own right.

Paths and views over the sea

The winding path to the Vũng Tàu lighthouse leads to a 360-degree view that is ideal for watching the sunset. The lighthouse was built by the French in 1862 and is considered the oldest lighthouse in Vietnam. This site brings together a historic structure and far-reaching views of the surrounding area. The path is an option for travellers who want to do more than spend their stay at the beach.

Another striking sight is the Christ the King statue on Small Mountain (Tao Phung Mountain). It overlooks the sea and stands at an elevation of 170 metres. The Vũng Tàu Christ statue was built in 1974 and is 32 metres tall. About 800 steps lead to its feet, followed by another 100 steps to its shoulders. You should factor this specific route into your day’s plans. The climb is a different experience from a day at the beach or the winding path to the lighthouse.

Religious architecture and history

Thích Ca Phật Đài is on the northwestern slope of Big Mountain and combines religious architecture with the natural landscape. The complex includes a 19-metre-high Bát-Giác tower and a seated Buddha statue on a lotus flower. The statue is 10.2 metres tall and about 6 metres in diameter. Its scale and the combination of the structure, the Buddha image and the hillside setting give this place a character quite different from the viewpoints and beaches.

White Palace, also known as Bach Dinh, reveals another architectural side of Vũng Tàu. It was built in 1898 as a summer villa in European architectural style. Those interested in architectural history can include it in their travel plans alongside the religious buildings and historic lighthouse. Together, they offer a range of themes to explore, without requiring you to limit your stay to just one type of attraction.

A morning glimpse of the local catch

The seafood market on Tran Phu Street receives fresh catches from fishermen every morning at dawn. This makes the early morning a special time to discover the local connection to the sea. Along with the beaches and viewpoints, fishing is one of the many facets that make Vũng Tàu a distinctive travel destination.

When choosing a vacation rental in Vũng Tàu, consider which experiences you want to shape your stay: time at the beach, views, architectural history or the coast in the early morning. This puts the kind of trip you want at the centre of your plans, rather than cramming every attraction into a single itinerary. If you’d like to continue your search beyond Vũng Tàu, you can also discover Ba Ria.

For the broader travel overview: Ba Rịa-Vung Tau.