The beaches of Vung Tau: which one to actually swim on

Six beaches sit inside the city, but only one is worth getting in the water for — Bãi Sau (Back Beach), 8 km of sand on the east coast. The rest are for walking, chasing sunsets and taking photos. Swimming, not so much: the port is close, oil platforms stand a couple of kilometres offshore, and murky Mekong tributaries feed the bay.

From Ho Chi Minh City this is the easiest coast to reach: a hydrofoil from Bạch Đằng pier runs about 90 minutes. On weekdays the beaches are empty and calm; on weekends they are shoulder to shoulder. For water clarity Vung Tau loses to Phu Quoc, and for service it loses to Nha Trang. But no other Vietnamese beach resort sits this close to Ho Chi Minh City.

Prices verified in March 2026. Rough rate: ~25,000 VND = $1.

Which beach to pick — the comparison

Six beaches in the city plus three outside it — in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu province, 15–30 minutes by taxi. Tap a marker on the map for details.

• Back Beach (Bãi Sau): ~8 km of pale sand | 2 km from centre — Loungers, cafes, watersports | For everyone
• Front Beach (Bãi Trước): Dark volcanic sand | City centre — Promenade, park, restaurants | Sunsets, strolls
• Bai Dua (Bãi Dứa / Pineapple Beach): Rocks + pools | 1.5 km from centre — No facilities | Photographers, couples
• Bai Dau (Bãi Dâu / Mulberry Beach): Sandy, calm | 3 km — Minimal facilities | Quiet, temples
• Nghinh Phong (Nghinh Phong Cape): Rocks, little sand | 1.5 km — No facilities | Solitude, photos
• Long Hai (Long Hải): Wide, clean | 15–20 min by taxi — Camping, cafes | Cleaner water

In short: to swim — Back Beach or out of town, for sunsets — Front Beach, for photos — Bai Dua, for quiet and clean water — Long Hai or Ho Coc.

Back Beach (Bai Sau) — the main beach

The only beach in Vung Tau people actually come to swim on. Eight kilometres of pale sand, a gentle bottom, loungers, cafes and pools right on the shore. The shallows run out for tens of metres — a child can splash around knee-deep fifty metres from the sand.

The beach stretches south to north along the east coast of the peninsula. Its official name is Thùy Vân, but everyone calls it Back Beach. It is the city's most popular beach, and on weekends there is barely room to move.

Facilities and prices

The southern end (near the mountain) is the loudest. Cafes, street kitchens, slides, trampolines, jet-ski and kayak rental. Plastic tables sit right on the sand: you take a seat and order phở or grilled seafood with the waves in view.

The northern end is calmer. Spread a towel and there is nobody within five metres. There are loungers too, just fewer. This is where people come to swim without the crowd.

Imperial Beach Club opens at 7:00, the restaurant at 10:00. The day pass covers a shower, pool and towels. The front row of loungers is gone by 9 a.m.

Who it suits

• With kids: shallow water, a gentle entry, slides and trampolines at the southern end. The sand is firm, so a stroller won't sink
• Want comfort: loungers, cafes and pools within a few steps
• On a budget: spread a towel on the sand, grab a coconut for a dollar and forget the lounger
• Winter surfing: from December to February the waves pick up, drawing kite- and windsurfers. Gear rental from 300,000 VND (~$12) a session

The downsides — no sugar-coating

Litter. On weekends tens of thousands of Vietnamese pour in from Ho Chi Minh City. What they leave on the sand: bags, cups, wrappers. Cleaners can't keep up. On weekdays it is clean.

Vendors. Sellers of fruit, corn and sunscreen come by every 10 minutes. A polite no works, but by the fifth round it wears thin.

Winter waves. December–February is dry and sunny, but the surf on Back Beach rises. Great for surfers. Awkward with a child — the waves knock you off your feet even in the shallows.

Petty theft. Don't leave your phone or wallet on the towel. Use a locker (the beach clubs have them) or ask someone in your group to keep an eye out.

💬 "Great beach, nice waves, good breezes, friendly locals" — Tripadvisor, 2025

Front Beach — for sunsets, not swimming

Front Beach Bãi Trước (also Tầm Dương) is the first thing you see if you arrive by ferry. It looks great. But keep out of the water.

The crescent-shaped beach is wedged between the Tao Phùng and Tượng Kỳ hills. Facing it is the fishing port, dozens of boats at anchor. The water is murky and in places smells of diesel. The sand is dark and volcanic — a rarity for Vietnam, but you still won't want to swim.

The sunsets here are the best in town. The sun drops straight into the sea, with not a single tower block on the horizon. Along the shore runs a park with paths, benches and small restaurants. Dark sand against an orange sky looks like Iceland, only with palm trees.

In the evening the promenade comes alive. After 5 p.m. it fills with families, joggers and couples. Vietnamese play badminton on the sand and kids fly kites. Cafes push their tables right down to the water.

What to do here:

• An evening stroll along the promenade and park
• Dinner at a cafe facing the sunset (roughly 100,000–200,000 VND / ~$4–8 for two)
• A morning run — the park paths run for 2 km
• A photo shoot against the dark sand and hills

Swim? No. Back Beach is 2 km away, 10 minutes by Grab.

💬 "A decent beach here on the bay. Pretty to look at and worth a visit" — Tripadvisor, May 2025

At a strong low tide about a hundred metres of muddy seabed is exposed. The sight is, to put it mildly, not beach-like. Check the tide tables before you head out.

Bai Dua — Pineapple Beach, for photographers

Bãi Dứa hides between the Front and Back beaches, at the foot of the Small Mountain, next to Nghinh Phong cape. It is named after the wild pineapple that once grew on the rocks by the water. The pineapples are long gone; the name stayed.

A beach in the usual sense this is not. Boulders the size of a car are scattered along the shore, and between them sit small coves of clear water. At low tide the rocks are exposed and it turns into a kind of stone garden: shapes carved by the waves over thousands of years, silhouettes against the sea and sky.

The light is good most of the day. In the morning it is soft and golden, falling across the wet rocks — photographers show up at dawn. In the evening the palette shifts to pinks and oranges, reflected in the pools between the boulders.

You can dip in, but carefully: only in the pools, only when the sea is calm. The bottom is rocky and the entry uneven. There are no loungers, showers or cafes. The nearest shop is a 10-minute walk. But there is almost no one around either.

When to come: December–April, strictly at low tide.

Who it suits: photographers, couples, anyone after a non-touristy spot. Not with kids: rocks, currents, no lifeguards.

Bai Dau — the quiet beach below Big Mountain

Bãi Dâu (Mulberry Beach) sits on the western side of Big Mountain. Tour groups don't make it out here, and that is the whole appeal. A sandy shore, calm water and a horizon with not a single tower block. The sunsets are laid out right in front of you: sea, sky and an orange band on the horizon.

The beach is small, 300–400 metres. The sand is lighter than Front Beach but darker than Back Beach. The entry is gentle and the depth builds slowly. You can swim. The water is roughly like the city's — not perfect, but fine.

On the surrounding hills stand three religious landmarks worth a look:

• Quan Âm Nam Hải Pagoda — a Buddhist temple overlooking the sea. The white statue of the goddess of mercy is visible from afar
• Đức Mẹ Bãi Dâu Church — a 19th-century Catholic church on a hilltop. Colonial architecture, quiet, cool under the trees
• Hưng Thạnh Tự Temple — a small Taoist temple

Between swims you can climb the steps to the pagoda, stand in the quiet and head back to the water.

There are almost no facilities: a couple of cafes nearby, and that is it. Bring water and a snack. Toilets are only in the cafes around the corner.

Who it suits: anyone who values quiet over loungers. Morning walks, a book by the water, meditation. Not for an active beach day — there is simply nothing to do.

Nghinh Phong — a tiny beach for loners

Right next to Pineapple Beach, by the cape of the same name. Small, rocky, no facilities at all. Even in peak season it is empty. Want to be alone with the sea, with no one offering you corn? This is your spot.

Nghinh Phong cape means "wind-welcoming." The rocks drop into the sea, the wind never lets up and spray shatters on the stones. It is beautiful. You can dip in the pools when the sea is calm, but the bottom is rocky and there are no lifeguards.

A place for contemplation, not swimming. Stop by for half an hour on the way from Bai Dua to Back Beach.

Beaches out of town — Long Hai, Ho Coc and Ho Tram

The city beaches are a trade-off: close, but so-so water. If sea clarity is your top priority, head out of town. Three options in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu province.

Long Hai — a clean alternative 20 minutes away

Long Hải is a village 15–20 minutes by taxi (200,000–300,000 VND / ~$8–12). The water here is noticeably cleaner. The sand is coarse and brownish, but you can see the bottom at waist depth. A wide flat shore — you can pitch a tent right on the sand or paddle a kayak.

Long Hai is often recommended to anyone let down by the city beaches. A few cafes on the shore, a mattress to rent. It doesn't match Back Beach on service — it's more of a village beach.

Ho Coc — a wild beach with turquoise water

Hồ Cóc is 100 km from Ho Chi Minh City, 30–40 minutes by car from Vung Tau. Turquoise water, tropical forest by the shore, almost no tourists. After the city beaches, it is another reality.

There are almost no facilities. A couple of huts with awnings where you can string up a hammock, and a couple of food stalls. No lifeguards. No loungers. But there is clean sea and a quiet you won't find in town.

For water clarity, Ho Coc is the best beach within an hour of Vung Tau. The beaches of Cam Ranh have similar water but noticeably better service.

Ho Tram — comfort and resorts

Hồ Tràm is clean beach plus service. Four- and five-star resorts: pools, restaurants, spas, a guarded beach. The water is better than in the city, though it can cloud up in the rainy season.

It suits families and anyone happy to pay for comfort. A night from 2,000,000 VND (~$80), including a private beach, pool and breakfast. You can't just turn up for the day without a booking — the resorts are closed to outsiders.

Out-of-town beaches compared

When to go — weather and seasons

The season runs December to April, the dry stretch in southern Vietnam. The South China Sea stays at 26–30°C year-round, so any month works on temperature. The rain decides everything.

February is the record-holder: on average one rainy day the entire month. July is the low point, 26 days of rain out of 31. The downpours are usually short — an hour or so after lunch — but heavy. You can wait them out in a Back Beach cafe.

In April it hits 35°C. Without SPF 50 and a hat you'll burn in 20 minutes, even under cloud. There is a reason Vietnamese women swim fully dressed.

In winter, waves of 1.5–2 metres roll into Back Beach. Great for surfers and kiters. Tricky for a calm swim.

From May to October the beach is a morning-only affair. Usually sun before lunch, a downpour after. Plan your swims for the first half of the day.

Tides — what you need to know

Tides in Vung Tau are no minor detail. The water level shifts by 3–4 metres. The beach changes beyond recognition.

How it plays out on each beach

Front Beach. At low tide the beach widens by more than 100 metres. You walk the seabed among shells and small crabs. Curious, but it smells... particular. At high tide the strip of sand narrows to a couple of metres — nowhere to sit.

Bai Dua (Pineapple). At high water it floods almost entirely. The rocks go under and the coves vanish. Come strictly at low tide, or you'll see only waves on the rocks.

Back Beach. At low tide the shallows recede even further: you can wade knee-deep hundreds of metres out. Fun for kids, a long walk to real depth for adults.

Practical tips

• Check tide-forecast.com (search Vung Tau) before you go
• Swimming is best on an incoming tide: deeper water, a cleaner shore
• Photos at Bai Dua — only at low tide
• Don't leave your things at the waterline. The tide creeps up unnoticed

How to get to the Vung Tau beaches

Vung Tau is the closest seaside resort to Ho Chi Minh City. Three ways to get there:

Ferry — the easiest

Three operators: Vina Express, Petro Express and GreenlinesDP. Departures from Bạch Đằng pier in Ho Chi Minh City (10B Tôn Đức Thắng, District 1, on the central riverfront). Arrival is at the pier on the western shore of Vung Tau, opposite the Hai Au hotel.

On weekdays sailings run every two hours from 10:00 to 16:00. On weekends early ones are added at 8:00 and 9:00 — book ahead, they sell out. GreenlinesDP runs at 9:30, 11:30 and 15:30.

Air conditioning, soft seats, a toilet. The ride is moderately bumpy. If you get seasick, take a tablet before boarding.

Bus — the budget option

From Bến xe Miền Tây (the Western Bus Station in Ho Chi Minh City). Cheap but unpredictable: on a Friday evening, jams on the way out of the city can stretch the trip to 4 hours. On weekdays it is 2–2.5 hours. Buses run every 30 minutes from 5:00 to 19:00.

Around Vung Tau

It is 3 km from the pier to Back Beach. Grab Bike: 15,000–20,000 VND (~$0.60–0.80). Grab Car: 30,000–40,000 VND (~$1.20–1.60). A taxi to Long Hai runs 200,000–300,000 VND (~$8–12) one way.

A rental motorbike costs from 120,000 VND (~$5) a day. Handy if you want to loop all the beaches in one day. First-timers should know Vietnam requires a valid licence with an IDP to ride legally, and helmets are mandatory.

What else to see near the beaches

Vung Tau is more than beaches. Our full Vung Tau guide covers everything: lodging, food, prices, transport. Between swims, drop by a couple of spots — all within walking distance or 10 minutes by motorbike.

Christ the King statue on the Small Mountain. At 32 metres, a cousin of the Rio one, built in 1974. Entry is free, and you climb 847 steps. Sounds brutal; in practice it is about 20 minutes at an easy pace. Inside the figure you can climb up to the outstretched arms for a 360-degree panorama.

The Vung Tau Lighthouse on Big Mountain. Built by the French in 1862 and still working. Entry: 10,000 VND (~$0.40). Nearby are a French military cemetery and colonial villas.

Nghinh Phong cape — a rocky headland between Pineapple and Back beaches. At dawn it is empty: rocks, waves, wind. Bring a camera.

Front Beach park — the green strip along the Front Beach promenade. Tai chi in the morning, families in the evening. A playground, outdoor exercise machines, benches in the shade.

If you have two or three days, it is worth a trip to the Kê Gà lighthouse — the tallest in Southeast Asia, an hour up the coast.

Beach safety — a checklist

• Lifeguards — only on Back Beach, central section, 7:00–17:00. Nobody on the other beaches
• Red flag — swimming banned. Don't ignore it: waves and currents on Back Beach can be serious
• Sun — harsher than it feels. SPF 50, a hat, water. You can burn even under cloud
• Belongings — don't leave them unattended. Petty theft happens. Lockers are at the beach clubs
• Jellyfish — rare, but they appear in the rainy season (June–September). The sting is painful, not dangerous
• Rip currents — can occur on Back Beach in heavy surf. If caught, swim parallel to the shore, not against it

FAQ — common questions about Vung Tau beaches

What sea is Vung Tau on?

The South China Sea (Vietnamese say Biển Đông, the East Sea). The water is warm year-round: 26°C in winter, 30°C in May. In the dry season (December–April) the sea is shallow and calm. From June to September you get waves and currents. The colour depends on the beach: acceptable on Back Beach, murky on Front Beach because of the port.

Can you swim in Vung Tau?

Yes, but not everywhere. Swimming is fine on Back Beach (Bãi Sau) — the east coast, farther from the port and the rigs. On Front Beach and Bai Dua, keep out of the water: murky, rocky, port nearby. For clean water, Long Hai (15 minutes) or Ho Coc (40 minutes).

Which Vung Tau beach is best for families with kids?

Back Beach, no other option in the city. A gentle entry, shallow water for hundreds of metres, slides and trampolines at the southern end. Loungers with an umbrella are 150,000 VND (~$6) for the day. Quiet on weekdays, packed on weekends. With toddlers, come on a weekday or book a resort at Ho Tram.

Are there tides on Vung Tau beaches?

Yes, and they are noticeable — the level shifts by 3–4 metres. Front Beach widens by more than 100 metres at low tide, and Pineapple Beach (Bai Dua) floods completely at high tide. Check tide-forecast.com before heading out — it genuinely affects the day.

When is the best time to visit Vung Tau beaches?

December–April, the dry season. The best month is February: one rainy day, water at 26°C, air at 32°C. October–November are decent too — the rains ease and prices haven't climbed yet. July–September is the worst: rain 25–26 days out of 30.

How much do loungers cost on Back Beach?

Two loungers with an umbrella are 150,000 VND (~$6) for the day. A day pass at Imperial Beach Club: 250,000 VND (~$10) on weekdays, 350,000 VND (~$14) on weekends. That covers a shower, pool and towels. Or just spread a towel on the sand — free.

Is it true they drill for oil near the beaches?

Yes. Vung Tau is Vietnam's oil capital. Drilling platforms stand a few kilometres offshore, visible to the naked eye. On top of that, Mekong tributaries carry silt into the bay. It shows in the water quality of the city beaches. For clean sea, head to the beaches of Phu Quoc or Da Nang.

Prices verified in March 2026. They can change — confirm on the spot before your trip.