Making the most of Vung Tau
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Most ships are moored or anchored here, and you will be tendered ashore.
A printable map to take with you.
Sightseeing
In Dong Nai province, 125 km from Saigon, Vung Tau is a resort town forming a long strip approximately 14 km long and 6 km wide. Two famous mountains stand where its southern tip meets the ocean: Nui Lon (Truong Ky) and Nui Nho (Tao Phung), the Large mountain and Small mountain respectively.
Vung Tau is a beautiful peninsula 125 kilometers southeast of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), known for remnants of the Champa kingdom that ruled in the 15th century. Its beautiful beaches include Bai Sau Beach, also called Thuy Van, Vung Tau's largest beach, which extends 7 kilometers along the eastern coast. Walk the beachfront or relax in a deck chair in the sun, then try authentic Vietnamese cuisine at one of the local restaurants and cafes lining the beach. Driving through the city, you will encounter several Buddhist pagodas and…
Getting around
Vietnam does not accept international driving licenses, so there are no car rental companies such as Hertz and Avis etc.
For travel to and from HCM City, the hydrofoil is the best option. The journey takes about 1 1/2 hours each way, with services about every 1/2 hour, and costs about $10 USD per person each way.
Nearby places
Most cruise passengers choose a tour to Saigon (Ho Chi Min City), sometimes travelling by Hydrofoil.
Money
Vietnam's national currency is the dong (d?ng, VND), although U.S. dollars are widely accepted. For small quantities, the standard exchange rate is 16000 dong to US$1.
ATMs are increasingly common, available in most bigger cities and every tourist destination.
Practically anything in Vietnam can be bargained for.
Staying connected
Vietnamese is Vietnam's native language. English is becoming a more popular second language, and its study is obligatory in most schools.
Every town except the most remote has access to the Internet.
Opening Hours and
Daily shopping hours: 0800/0830-2100/2200.
Tet, or Vietnamese New Year, is by far the year's largest holiday and falls between late January and March according to the unisolar Chinese calendar. For Tet's three days, shops close and everyone goes home to family, making it a somewhat difficult period for travel in Vietnam.
Information about Visum.