Sights of Vung Tau (Vietnam) - what to see

Places to see in Vung Tau are enough and they are diverse. There are both Buddhist and Catholic temples. There are park areas for walking and relaxing, as well as an amusement park with attractions and a cable car to it. To see all the sights in one day is possible, but due to their remoteness from each other, it will have to be done at a gallop. At best, it is worth allocating one and a half to two days to inspect the main places. Getting from one place to another is best by taxi or rented motorbike or bicycle, if there is a lot of time – you can walk. Moreover, the latter option is recommended for those who like to wander through the mountains. There are two well-known mountains: the big mountain or nuylon (Nui Lon) and the small mountain or Nuino (Nui Nho). On both are iconic attractions, which can be reached by combining a walk through the mountains with a direct visit to these places.

Statue Of Jesus

The main attraction of Vung Tau is the statue of Jesus Christ with a height of 32 meters, which is 6 meters lower than the statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). It is considered the tallest statue of Jesus in Asia. It was established by the Catholic minority on Mount Nuino (Nui Nho) at an altitude of 760 m above sea level in 1974. The statue of Jesus looks towards the South China Sea.

To get to the statue itself, you will first have to overcome the difficult uphill climb (about 900 steps), symbolizing the Vietnamese ladder to God. Therefore, it is best to visit this place in the morning, and it is worth taking care of water supplies and protection from the sun. Along the way, you can catch your breath in specially designated recreation areas with benches and viewing platforms. According to some unspecified sources, you can get to the mountain on a motorcycle, but on a not very good dirt road.

The statue of Jesus is made of white marble and is installed on a concrete pedestal 10 m high, in front it is decorated with bas-reliefs. The arms of Jesus are spread out to the sides, the length of the span of which is 18.4 m.

You can climb to the top of the spiral staircase, consisting of 133 steps. To visit the statue, you must be dressed in closed clothing. In the area of the shoulders of Jesus there are viewing platforms (no more than 6 people are allowed at the same time). The view from above is amazing and undoubtedly worth it.

Honba island (Hon ba)

From the statue of Jesus, a small island of Honba is clearly visible. It is located near the shore, so it is quite possible to walk to it at low tide or get by boat. On the uppermost part of the island, 4 m above the water level, there is an active temple, called the Temple of the woman. The temple was built in 1881.

Lighthouse Hai Dang

About 1 km northwest of the statue of Jesus is the Hai Dang Lighthouse. It is located on a hill, at an altitude of 170 m from sea level. The lighthouse itself is white and shaped like a cylinder. Its base is about 3 m, height-18 m. The lighthouse illuminates the adjacent territory at a distance of 65 m. Inside the lighthouse there is a spiral staircase that leads to the upper platform, which offers stunning views of the surrounding area and the city.

From the Lighthouse, a tunnel leads to a nearby building. It consists of 2 floors and, like the lighthouse, was built by the French. Near the lighthouse there are large tanks for storing water. On the site near the lighthouse are 4 old French guns, about 10 m long each, which were used to protect against attacks from the sea.

The original Hai Dang lighthouse was built in 1907, then in 1911 (after a fire) it was rebuilt and moved to the place where it stands today.

Villa Blanche or Bạch Dinh (Villa Blanche or White Villa)

Located on the west coast of Vung Tau on the top of Mount Nui Lon, 27 m above sea level. The villa is surrounded by a well-kept Park and shady trees, where you can walk and relax if you wish. For its appearance – a white building, the locals were nicknamed The White Villa. The architecture of the building is made in the French style of the XIX century and consists of 3 floors (including the basement). From the balcony of the second floor-a great view of the sea and the beach.

In the premises of the villa there is an exhibition of antiques (collection of porcelain, statues and portraits of Greek antiquity, etc.), pottery, cannons and other valuable exhibits from sunken ships near the island of Kondao (Con Dao) and found during archaeological excavations in the province of Baria-Vung Tau. Actually, this exhibition attracts many tourists here.

The villa was built in the period from 1898-1902. as a summer residence of the Governor-General of Indochina of French origin-Paul Doumer, then became his refuge. The villa is named after his daughter Blanche. Later, other members of the Vietnamese political elite rested here. In 1909-1910, The Last Emperor of the Vietnamese feudal dynasty was even kept under house arrest here. After 1975 it is used as a museum.

French cannon field

Further down the road from the villa behind Millberry (Mulberry) Beach is the French cannon field. There are 6 massive cannons from the time of French colonial rule, fortified with a protective moat.

Quan Am Pagoda (Guanyin)

The pagoda itself was built in 1976, but it is famous, first of all, for the 18-meter statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara installed in front of the pagoda building. The deity appears in the form of a woman, protecting from all sorts of troubles, helping childless couples, and also as the patroness of the female half of the House. The pagoda hosts annual festivals and is very popular among tourists.

House of pure nirvana (niet Ban Tinh Xa, Temple of Nirvana)

Also known as the Temple of the "Reclining Buddha". This is one of the most beautiful and largest temples in Vung Tau, which is definitely worth a visit.

The temple was built from 1969 to 1974 on donations from local residents. It occupies a large area, about 10,000 sq. m., and is located on a hill with a beautiful view of the sea and beaches. According to the structure, it has a multi-tiered structure and consists of several rooms and open pavilions.

It is noteworthy, first of all, the 12-meter statue of the Reclining Buddha, located on the first floor. The statue is made of mahogany and is set on a 2.5 m pedestal. Buddha's feet are decorated with carvings and hieroglyphs. On the second floor there is a boat in The Shape of a snake 12 m long, filled with water with fish. Even higher on the belfry is a huge 3-ton bell, 2.8 m high, 3.8 m in diameter. Under it, you can put a note with a wish or donation and hit the bell to make the wish come true. In addition to the listed on the territory of the temple there are still a lot of interesting things-these are various statues of Buddha, Avalokiteshvara, other mythological characters, as well as mosaic paintings.

Buddha Altar (Thich Ca Phat Dai)

It is a complex of temples and Buddhist statues. It occupies a large area of about 5 hectares. Built in 1963.

The complex is divided into 3 levels, starting from 3 m above sea level and reaching 29 M, but the Ascent is not difficult, because the stairs are gentle. As one ascends, one can trace some recreated life stages of the Buddha in sculptures from birth to death. The road from statue to statue passes through a well-groomed park past flower beds and shady trees, which will certainly have a calming effect on visitors. Very popular among tourists and locals.

Statue Of The Virgin Mary (Duc Me Bai Dau)

On the western slope of Mount Nuylon, at an altitude of 60 m above sea level, there is a statue of the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus on her outstretched arm. This place is very popular among Catholic Vietnamese. The statue was built in 1992 from white marble, its height is 25 M, weight-about 500 tons. At the foot of the statue is a Catholic Church, built in 1969 and restored in 1994. In appearance, it is unusual and resembles a ship with a sail (length 49 m, width 38 m, height of the bell tower 27.5 m). The temple is a landmark object, it annually hosts conferences of bishops of Vietnam. The park around the temple is very beautiful and suitable for walking and relaxing.

From the statue of Mary up the hill, called Golgotha by the locals, a very steep path leads to another cross. Along this trail there are several more statues depicting the passion of Christ. You will have to climb high, but there is an opportunity to relax on benches specially installed for rest.

Thang Tam Pagoda (Thang Tam Temple)

This complex is dedicated to the memory of three men who built three villages and, thus, laid the foundation for the city of Vung Tau. Built in 1820 during the reign of the Ming Mang dynasty. The complex is interesting not only for the central sanctuary, but also for the entrance gate, the reception hall, the commune building, the stage.

Amusement park and cable car

On the city of Nuylon there is a large amusement park. There is a lake and an artificial waterfall, several attractions for adults and children and a large statue of Buddha, a modest zoo. In the park itself, you can walk on foot and on excursion locomotives or horses. There is also a restaurant and a hotel where you can stay overnight and walk around the park at night under the lights.

You can go up to the park by cable car, and enjoy the excellent scenery around.