Vung Tau sights - what to see

An overview of the sights of Vung Tau and what to visit for sure

Sights in Vung Tau at first glance seem to be quite a lot and they are diverse. There are especially many Buddhist and Catholic temples here, there are several museums worth visiting, park areas for walking and recreation, an amusement park with attractions and a cable car to it. If you look at the map or explore the entire list of attractions, it seems that a week will not be enough to see all the interesting places in Vung Tau.

But in fact, in fact, it turns out that after visiting the first few temples, everything already seems monotonous and not so interesting. At best, two days will be enough to inspect the main places in the city. You can visit the city's attractions yourself by taxi or rented motorbike or bicycle, and if you have a lot of time, you can take a walk. For those who like to walk along the trails, there are two well-known mountains: Bolshaya Gora or Nuylon (Nui Lon) and Malaya Gora or Nuino (Nui Nho). On both there are iconic sights and viewing points: a lighthouse, a statue of Jesus, the remains of a French fort, several Buddhist temples.

There is nothing much to see in the immediate vicinity of Vung Tau. It is possible, except to go to the salt fields (but this is not such an easy attraction, if it can be called that at all, read more about it below). Another 80 kilometers to the east along the coast there is an area with several hot mineral springs Binh Chau, Dana, etc., but it is really far away, almost 2 hours on the way.

Unfortunately, we did not see a wide variety of excursions from Vung Tau. There are literally single travel agencies on the streets where they communicate tolerably in English and offer only a few excursion programs: to Ho Chi Minh City, the Cu Chi tunnels, Con Dao Island, the Mekong Delta. Moreover, all this is very expensive and in the form of individual excursions. Nevertheless, it is fair to say that Vung Tau is not yet oriented towards foreign travelers, mostly local tourists rest here.

Also see excursions to Vung Tau with reviews on these trusted sites:

• 📷 Excursions to Vung Tau on Trip.com
• 📷 Excursions in Ho Chi Minh City on Tripster.ru
• 📷 Excursions in Ho Chi Minh City on Sputnik8.com

We visited almost all the sights of Vung Tau (with rare exceptions), and here are our TOP interesting places that are worth a visit:

• Statue of Jesus Christ
• Honba Island and Temple
• Lighthouse Vung Tau Hai-Dang
• White Villa Blanche or BạCh Dinh
• House of Pure nirvana (Niet Ban Tinh Xa, Temple of Nirvana)
• Ba Ria–Vung Tau Provincial Museum
• The Museum of Arms or the Robert Taylor Museum in Vung Tau
• Buddha Temple Thich Ka or Buddha Altar
• Chon Khong Zen Monastery
• Linh Son Co Tu Pagoda

And now we present a selection of all the sights of Vung Tau with indication of opening hours, cost, where they are on the map and how to get there:

Statue of Jesus Christ (Jesus Christ Statue)

This is the main attraction of the city of Vung Tau and the tallest statue of Christ in Vietnam. Its height is 32 meters, which is only 6 meters less than the statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The statue was erected by the Catholic minority on the small peak of Mount Nuino (Nui Nho or Tao Fung) in 1974. The statue of Jesus looks towards the South China Sea. It is made of white marble and mounted on a concrete pedestal 10 meters high, the facade of which is decorated with bas-reliefs. The arms of Jesus are spread out to the sides, and the span between them is 18.4 meters. Read more about the statue of Jesus Christ here...

Honba Island and Temple (Hon Ba Island)

Honba is a small island with a temple of the same name off the coast of Vung Tau, located just 200 meters from the shore. It can be reached on foot at low tide, and a boat will be required at high tide. This is one of the most popular places in Vung Tau, along with the statue of Christ, and we recommend visiting his place, because both the island itself and the views from it are simply amazing, especially in clear weather. There is a functioning temple on the island. It was built in 1881, and in 1971 it was restored. Dedicated to the goddess of Water and Peace. This is a spiritual place where people come to pray for peace, health and good luck, and also bring gifts. There are always a lot of believers here. Read more about the island and the temple of Hong Ba here...

Lighthouse Vung Tau Hai-Dang (Lighthouse Hai Dang)

This is one of the oldest lighthouses in Southeast Asia and one of the must-see attractions in Vung Tau. It is located about 1 km northwest in a straight line from the statue of Jesus on the top of Mount Nuino (Nui Nho or Tao Fung). It was built by the French in 1862, and in 1913 it was rebuilt, retaining its original appearance, and moved to its current location. It is impossible to get to the upper platform of the lighthouse now, access is prohibited. Nevertheless, the lighthouse itself and the observation deck near it are a favorite place for photo shoots, especially on weekends there are a lot of visitors here. Learn more about the lighthouse here...

French Fortress (Vung Tau Fortress)

One of the largest defense complexes in Asia. It occupies a vast territory spread over the peaks of the mountains Nuino (Small Mountain) and Nuilon (Big Mountain). Unfortunately, now there is little left of the fortress and it is not even officially an attraction and is known only to the most inquisitive tourists, but if you like little-tourist places and "abandoned", then we definitely advise you to see it. The fortress consists of three positions, each of which was equipped with its own defensive fortifications and artillery pieces. All facilities were built in such a way as to provide maximum visibility of the coast and the sea area. The most visited are the two zones on Mount Nuino, as they are located on the way to the main attractions of Vung Tau – the statue of Jesus Christ and the lighthouse. Read more about Vung Tau Fortress here...

White Villa Blanche or BạCh Dinh (Villa Blanche or White Villa)

One of the architectural and historical sights of the city. This is a beautiful mansion located on a hill with picturesque views of the surrounding area. The place is really unique and noteworthy. Tourist groups from Ho Chi Minh City can often be found here. Surrounded by a well-kept park with shady trees, where you can walk and enjoy your vacation. The snow-white facade of the building gave him the name "White Villa" among the locals. The architecture is made in the classic French style of the XIX century and includes three floors, including a basement. The second floor balcony offers a magnificent view of the sea and the beach. Inside Villa Blanche there is an exhibition of antiques: a collection of porcelain, statues, portraits of Greek antiquity, furniture and interior items, pottery, cannons and other valuable exhibits. Read more about Villa Blanche here...

House of Pure nirvana (Niet Ban Tinh Xa, Temple of Nirvana)

One of the largest and most beautiful temples of the city of Vung Tau, which is definitely worth a visit. It is also known as the temple of the "Reclining Buddha". It was built from 1969 to 1974 on donations from local residents. It occupies a vast area of about 10,000 sq.m. and is located on a hill overlooking the sea and beaches. Architecturally, it is a multi-tiered structure consisting of several rooms and open pavilions. Read more about the House of Pure Nirvana here...

Ho May Park Amusement Park and cable car

The only amusement park in the city of Vung Tau, a place of recreation with attractions and activities. On a large territory there is a lake and an artificial waterfall, simple attractions for adults and children, a water park, a zoo, a zipline, a cinema and several other entertainments that are visited for free and included in the price of a cable car ticket to the park. At certain hours you can see a show with artists, animals and a musical fountain. There is also a pagoda with a statue of Buddha Maitreya in the park. Learn more about the amusement park and cable car here...

Ba Ria–Vung Tau Provincial Museum (Ba Ria-Vung Tau Museum)

This is the only historical museum in the city of Vung Tau. Despite its provincial status, the museum is modern, large, interesting and multifaceted. We recommend visiting it to anyone who is at least a little interested in the history and culture of Vietnam. We have visited almost all Vietnam museums throughout the country, and we can say that this one is one of the best provincial and one of the largest. It is relatively new, opened in 2020. The exposition is located on four floors of the building and includes thousands of unique artifacts covering the period from ancient times to the present. The architecture of the museum resembles a snow-white ship cutting through the waves, which symbolizes the connection of the province with the sea. Read more about the Vung Tau Museum here...

The Museum of Arms or the Robert Taylor Museum in Vung Tau

A unique private museum, which has no analogues in Vietnam. It will be especially interesting for those who are interested in military history from antiquity to the present. Created by private collector Robert Taylor, who has amassed a collection of more than 4,000 exhibits around the world. Weapons of different eras are presented here: from bayonets and blades to machine guns. Also in the museum you can see the costumes and military uniforms of the warriors of Ancient Greece and Rome, crusaders, samurai, as well as the armies of Germany, France, Great Britain, China and Russia. Samples of Soviet weapons and uniforms deserve special attention, but unfortunately there are very few of them here. Read more about the Vung Tau Weapons Museum here...

Buddha Temple Thich Ka or Buddha Altar (Thich Ca Phat Dai Pagoda)

It is the largest Buddhist complex in Vung Tau and one of the largest in Vietnam. On an area of about 5 hectares there are several temples, Buddhist statues, stupas and a bodhi tree. It is definitely worth a visit during your vacation in Vung Tau. The main temple was built in 1963, and a huge complex gradually formed around it. Located on a slope, it is conditionally divided into three levels: from 3 meters above sea level to 29 meters. Climbing does not require much effort, as the stairs are shallow. As you climb, you can see sculptures recreating some of the life stages of the Buddha from birth to death. Read more about the temple of Buddha Tich Ka here...

Ba Sung Chinh Pagoda

This is one of the famous city pagodas, the religious center of the Chinese community. It is especially popular among Chinese tourists, but the rest here may be interesting. The temple stands out for its brightness and colorfulness from the entrance gate to the stairs. There are a lot of lanterns and colorful decorative elements in the design, which creates a typical atmosphere of a Chinese temple. Of course, there is also a Chinese scope – there is even an elevator here. It is also interesting because it is located on a hillside at an altitude of 50 meters above sea level, and from the top floor there is a good view of Vung Tau, especially wonderful in good weather. Read more about the Ba Sung Chin Pagoda here...

Chon Khong Zen Monastery

One of the most famous Buddhist complexes in Vung Tau, and, in our opinion, one of the most spectacular and worth visiting. It is located on a mountainside at an altitude of 80 meters above sea level, and is famous for a huge golden Buddha statue, which is perfectly visible from almost anywhere in the city center. From the monastery, and especially from the platform with the Buddha statue, there is a stunning view of the city – perhaps even the best panorama in the area! So if you are in Vung Tau, be sure to check here. Read more about Chon Khong Zen Monastery here...

Temple of the Mother Buddha or Kaodai Temple (Cao Dai Temple of Vung Tau)

This is a little-known, but very interesting temple with unique architecture and a slightly unconventional religion. If you haven't visited other Kadoai temples yet, it's worth a look here. It is made in the traditional style of the Kaodai religion: it is decorated with two high bell towers, which you can climb to explore the surroundings. The roof with curves resembles Chinese temples. There is a statue of Buddha Maitreya on the roof between the towers. Read more about the temple of the Buddha-Mother Kaodai here ...

Temple of the whale Dinh Thang Tam (Dinh Thang Tam)

This is one of the shrines especially revered by the locals in the city center. Outwardly, it is completely unremarkable and not as elegant and beautiful as many other colorful Buddhist temples in Vietnam. However, if you have free time, you can visit it while walking around the center of Vung Tau, because it is also a historical place. In addition, every year from August 16 to 18 (according to the lunar calendar), a festival of worship of the sea and the whale is held there in the Thang Temple. These days, a colorful procession is taking place along the streets of the city, in which anyone can take part. Read more about the temple of the whale Dinh Tang There here ...

Tran Hung Dao Temple

This is one of the revered temples of the city of Vung Tau, but little known among tourists. It is dedicated to the famous Vietnamese commander Chan Hung Dao, who lived in the XIII century and became famous for a brilliant military operation during the Mongol invasion of modern Vietnam, after which the Mongols were forced to retreat and leave the country. We will not advise you to come here on purpose, you can only come in if you find yourself nearby or if its subject matter is of interest. However, if you are going to rest in Vung Tau in August, then you should come here on August 20 (according to the lunar calendar). At this time, the memorial day of the commander is held in the temple, thousands of people flock here to burn incense and honor the memory of their ancestors. Read more about Tran Hung Dao Temple here...

Linh Son Co Tu Pagoda

This is the oldest temple in Vung Tau, a recognized national relic. It is also called the Temple of the Golden Buddha. This place is especially notable for the fact that it houses an ancient statue of Buddha, which is more than 1600 years old. The pagoda is deeply revered by Buddhists and is one of the most famous sights of Vung Tau. Originally, the Lin Son Ko Tu temple was built on Mount Nuino in 1860, but at the beginning of the 20th century it was demolished by the French to build a lighthouse. In 1919, the pagoda was restored nearby, and later moved to its current location. Read more about the Linh Shon Ko Tu Pagoda here...

Ngoc Huong Monastery

This is a picturesque multi-level temple complex located on the slope of Nuino Mountain (Nui Nho). It is located on the road to Vung tau Lighthouse, so it is simply impossible to pass by without noticing it. Although this place is not on the must-visit list, it can become an interesting point on the way to the lighthouse observation deck. The entrance to the monastery is decorated with bright images of lotuses and Buddhas, which frame the gate on both sides. The special charm of this place is given by the blooming poinsettia trees, painted in shades from bright orange to rich red. Read more about Ngoc Huong Monastery here...

Tu Quang Pagoda (Tu Quang Temple, Chua Tu Quang)

Tu Quang (Tu Quang Temple, Chua Tu Quang) is a beautiful Buddhist temple, which, to be honest, does not stand out in any special way among the other Buddhist pagodas and temples of Vung Tau. Its only advantage is that it is located along Hạ Long (Halong) Street, which stretches along the coast of Vung Tau, so you can visit it if you walk here, but you shouldn't go or go to it on purpose.

Tu Quang Pagoda was founded in 1960. It is built in typical traditional Vietnamese architecture with a red tiled roof, wooden columns and carved elements. In front of the temple stands an elegant statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. There is a garden and a pond with lotuses. Here special attention is paid to the care of lonely elderly people, a shelter works.

Ngoc Beach Tinh Sa Temple (Tinh Xa Ngoc Bich)

The temple of Ngoc Beach Tinh Sa (Tinh Xa Ngoc Bich) is a secluded monastery located near the coast, which remains little known among tourists. Built in 1958. The territory of the monastery is spacious and well-groomed, decorated with many statues of Buddha, the sacred Bodhi tree and a beautiful blooming park. To get to the temple, you need to climb the stairs. The upper platform offers a picturesque view of the sea.

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda (Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Chua Vinh Nghiem) is one of the ordinary and unremarkable pagodas of Vung Tau, information about which cannot be found in guidebooks. We also advise you to visit and we will not, but if you pass by, you can stop by on the way. It was built in 1966 on a hillside. The complex includes several structures: entrance gate, main temple, bell tower, towers and living quarters for monks. The architecture of the pagoda is typical of Vietnamese temples: curved roofs, gates with three entrances and traditional decorative elements.

Monument to War Heroes and Church of Martyrs

The War Heroes Monument or Martyrs Memorial is dedicated to the heroes of the Vietnam War (1955-1975) who fell for the freedom and independence of the country. It is set on a hill and surrounded by a beautiful well-kept park. In the evenings, the territory is illuminated and you can meet local residents: some are walking with children, others are playing sports. Opposite the Monument, as an addition to it, is the Temple of the Martyrs of the city of Vung Tau. At the entrance to the temple, visitors are greeted not by a Buddha statue, but by a bust of Ho Chi Minh, and in the back of the hall there is a wall engraved with the names of the heroes who died for this land. Read more about the monument to War Heroes and the temple here...

City Park (Front Beach Park)

This is a pleasant place for walking and relaxing near the beach, and, in our opinion, the cleanest walking area in Vung Tau. The park is beautiful, well-maintained with many bizarre sculptures and art objects. Equipped with benches, there is a toilet. The vegetation of the park area creates shade, so it will be comfortable to be here at any time of the day. In the evenings, you can enjoy the sunset, and with the advent of darkness, the park is illuminated. Learn more about Vung Tau City Park here...

City Market (Cho Vung Tau)

There are a lot of local street and indoor markets in Vung Tau, but the Cho Vung Tau city market is one of the largest. It is located in the center and is easily accessible from anywhere in the city. This is a covered market, but there are still many shops and ruins around it with cheap fruits, vegetables and all kinds of food. Here you can buy groceries, various household goods and casual clothes and shoes. But for tourists, of course, fruits and fresh seafood are the most interesting.

Vung Tau Embankment

Another place for leisurely walks while relaxing in Vuntau. Its continuous length is about 1 kilometer along the east coast, but in fact it is just over 3 kilometers. The embankment originates at the slope of Nginh Phong Cape and stretches to the northeast, along the entire Thùy Vân street. Due to its location in the tourist center of the city, where most of the hotels are concentrated, it will not be difficult to get to the embankment and walk along it. For a small resort town, this is the best place for hiking, sports and evening picnics on the beach.

Along the embankment there are comfortable green squares with comfortable benches and palm trees that give shade on a hot day. An additional atmosphere is created by original sculptures and playgrounds for active games. If desired, you can go down from it to the wide city Back beach.

Guan Yin Pagoda (Guan Yin Temple or Chua Quan Am Bo Tat)

The Guan Yin Pagoda (Guan Yin Temple, Pho Da Son Quan Am Bo Tat Pagoda, Pho Da Son Quan Am Bo Tat Tu, Chua Quan Am Bo Tat) is one of the most significant pagodas in Vung Tau. It is notable, first of all, for the 18-meter statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara installed in front of the main building of the Pagoda. The deity appears in the form of a woman, protecting from all kinds of troubles, helping childless couples and the patroness of the female half of the house. It was built in 1976 and belongs to the current of Chinese Buddhism. Festivals are held here every year, it is popular with tourists.

Statue of the Virgin Mary and the Church of the Holy Virgin (Duc Me Bai Dau)

The Statue of the Virgin Mary and the Church of the Holy Mother of God (Duc Me Bai Dau, Our Lady of Bai Dau Shrine, Den Thanh Duc Me) is the largest Catholic church in Vung Tau. Its main feature is the statue of the Virgin Mary, who holds the baby Jesus on her outstretched arm. The statue is located on the slope of Mount Nuylon at an altitude of 60 meters above sea level and is visible from afar. This place is very popular not only among Vietnamese Catholics, but also among tourists from all over the world, and is considered a must-visit.

The statue was created in 1992 from white marble. Its height is 25 meters and its weight reaches about 500 tons. At the foot of the statue is the Catholic Church of the Holy Virgin, built in 1969 and restored in 1994. Its architecture is unusual: the temple resembles a ship with a sail (length – 49 meters, width – 38 meters, height of the bell tower – 27.5 meters). This temple is an important religious site and pilgrimage center. There is a picturesque park around the temple, ideal for walking and relaxing.

From the statue of the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Bai Dau Shrine) to the top of the hill, which the locals call Golgotha, there is a steep path leading to another cross. Statues depicting the passion of Christ are installed along the trail. The climb can be difficult, but along the way you can relax on specially installed benches. From the top of the hill there is a picturesque view of the surroundings, which is worth all the effort.

Salt fields

One of the largest salt production facilities in Vietnam is located 30 km northeast of Vung Tau. Salt mining is a rather laborious process, which is still performed manually by pltcm. You can partially see the work in natural conditions by coming here. However, it should be taken into account that the extraction and collection of salt in time stretches for several months, from about February to July, the rest of the time there is nothing to do here. Learn more about salt fields here...