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 you will tendered to the shore.
Printable map to take along.
Sightseeing
Vung Tau is a resort town in the province of Dong Nai 125 km from Saigon. The town is a long strip approximately 14 km long and 6 km wide. Where the southern tip of town meets the ocean stand two famous mountains Nui Lon (Truong Ky) and Nui Nho (Tao Phung) or Large mountain and Small mountain.
Situated 125 kilometers southeast of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vung Tau is a beautiful peninsula, famous for the historical remnants of the Champa kingdom that ruled in the 15th century. Explore its beautiful beaches especially the Bai Sau Beach (also known as Thuy Van), the largest beach of Vung Tau that stretches 7 kilometers along the eastern coast. Take a stroll along the beachfront or simply recline on a deck chair and soak up some sun. You could also sample authentic Vietnamese cuisine at one of the many local restaurants and cafes that line the beach. As you drive through the city, you'll come across several Buddhist pagodas and…
Getting around
International driving licenses are not accepted in Vietnam. Therefore, there are no car rental companies such as Hertz and Avis etc.
There is hydrofoil service to HCM City which is the best way to travel up and back. Takes about 1 1/2 hours each way and there is a service about every 1/2 hour. Cost is about $10 USD each way per person
Nearby places
Most cruise passengers opt for a tour to Saigon ( Ho Chi Min City), sometimes by Hydrofoil.
Money
The national currency is the dong (d?ng, VND), U.S. dollars are widely accepted, the standard exchange rate for small quantities being 16000 dong to US$1.
ATMs are getting more and more common and can be found in most bigger cities and every tourist destination.
You can bargain on practically anything in Vietnam.
Staying connected
The people of Vietnam speak Vietnamese as a native language, English is becoming more popular as a second language. English study is obligatory in most schools.
Internet access is available in all but the most remote towns.
Opening Hours and
Shopping hours: Daily 0800/0830-2100/2200.
By far the largest holiday of the year is Tet, also known as Vietnamese New Year, which takes place between late January and March following the unisolar Chinese calendar. During the three days of Tet shops close up and everybody heads home to their family, making this a somewhat difficult time to travel in Vietnam.
Visum information