Vung Tau, Vietnam (Vũng Tàu) — the complete 2026 guide

Everything for the trip in one place: how to get there, where to stay, the beaches, the sights, the seafood and up-to-date 2026 prices in VND with rough USD conversions.

Information current as of July 2026. Rough rate used: ~25,000 VND = $1.

Vung Tau on the map — where it is and why go

Vũng Tàu has around 350,000 residents on Vietnam's southern coast, in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu province. The town sits on a peninsula: the South China Sea wraps it on three sides, while the fourth faces the silt-heavy waters of the Mekong Delta. Hence its signature quirk — the sea is warm all year (26–30°C), but the water off the city beaches runs murky.

It's 125 km to Tan Son Nhat airport along the QL51 highway, and about ninety minutes by boat from central Ho Chi Minh City. That closeness to the mega-city has turned Vung Tau into the region's "weekend beach": on Fridays the buses and ferries fill up, and by Monday the town falls quiet again.

But it's not only a beach. Vung Tau is Vietnam's oil capital, home to the offshore rigs you can see on the horizon and the port cranes that work the coast. In the week it's hard hats and platforms; on the weekend it's Saigon families on the sand and the smell of grilled prawns along the promenade.

💬 "In 2024 Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu province welcomed more than 16 million tourists, up 13% year on year. In the first half of 2025 it had already logged 10.6 million visits, up 29% on the same period" — Travel And Tour World, travelandtourworld.com, 2025

Useful numbers

If you're dreaming of postcard turquoise, go to Phu Quoc instead. Vung Tau is for people who want a living Vietnamese town with history, seafood cheap enough to buy straight off the boat, and the option of being back in Ho Chi Minh City in ninety minutes.

A little history

The French reached the peninsula in the mid-19th century. Cap Saint-Jacques — as they called Vung Tau — became the summer retreat of the Governor-General of Indochina. From that era come the White Palace, the 1862 lighthouse and a street plan that still has a faint Riviera feel.

The 20th century brought war and a shift from resort to oil hub. Today the town does both jobs at once: platforms and port cranes on weekdays, and Saigon day-trippers on the beach with the scent of frying prawns on the weekend.

Getting to Vung Tau

Four options from Ho Chi Minh City, from a $4 bus to an air-conditioned taxi. There's no airport of its own, only an offshore helipad for the oil crews — so arriving from abroad always means routing through HCMC first.

Bus from Ho Chi Minh City

The workhorse option. FUTA (Phương Trang), Hoa Mai and Kumho Samco run from Miền Đông bus station every 15–20 minutes from 04:00 to 19:30. A ticket is 90,000–150,000 VND (~$3.60–6) in an air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi. You arrive at Vung Tau bus station near Back Beach. Hoa Mai also runs door-to-door minivans you can book on the 12Go app in English.

Speedboat (ferry)

The most atmospheric way. Greenlines DP and Phu Quoc Express leave from the Bạch Đằng pier (10B Tôn Đức Thắng, District 1, opposite the Majestic Hotel) straight to Front Beach. First sailing 06:00, last 16:00, ticket 200,000–350,000 VND (~$8–14). Ninety minutes with a view of the Saigon River and the port cranes.

Sailings are cancelled in rough weather, so check the Greenlines schedule online. There's air-conditioning, a toilet and a small café on board. Arrive thirty minutes early — boarding is strictly on time.

💬 "The ferry is easily the best way. Board at the pier by the Majestic, ninety minutes with a coffee, and you're at Front Beach. The return runs the same route, but with the sun setting over the river" — traveller reviews, TripAdvisor, 2025

Taxi and Grab

Easiest with family or heavy bags. A Grab from HCMC is 1,200,000–1,500,000 VND (~$48–60), door to door. Split four ways it works out around $12–15 a head — about the same as the boat.

By motorbike

The QL51 highway is 95 km of flat tarmac, two to three hours with a coffee stop. If you already ride confidently in Vietnam, it's a good run. With a suitcase, less so.

From abroad

There are no direct flights — the town has no civilian airport. The usual route is: fly into Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City, then take any of the options above to Vung Tau. From most of Europe, the Gulf hubs (Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi) or East Asian carriers (Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong) offer the easiest one-stop connections.

From Tan Son Nhat to Miền Đông bus station is a 20-minute taxi (around 150,000 VND / ~$6). To the Bạch Đằng pier it's 30–40 minutes (200,000–250,000 VND / ~$8–10).

From other parts of Vietnam

• Nha Trang → Vung Tau: sleeper bus, 8–10 hours, from 300,000 VND (~$12)
• Phan Thiet / Mui Ne → Vung Tau: bus, 3.5–4 hours, from 150,000 VND (~$6)
• Da Lat → Vung Tau: bus via HCMC, ~8 hours, from 250,000 VND (~$10)

There are no direct buses from the north (Hanoi, Da Nang) — it's easier to fly into HCMC.

Neighbourhoods — where to stay in Vung Tau

The town is tiny: from Front Beach to the far end of Back Beach is about five kilometres. Here are the main areas for visitors and expats.

Back Beach (Bãi Sau) is the main tourist strip. Along Thùy Vân it's wall-to-wall hotels, restaurants and cafés, and behind them eight kilometres of sand, board rental and evening markets. It gets loud on weekends, when thousands of Saigon day-trippers hit the beach.

Front Beach (Bãi Trước) is the town centre, with a promenade and park. Don't swim here — dirty water and boats — but the sunsets are among the best in Vietnam. The Quang Trung waterfront (palms, benches, playgrounds) is made for a stroll.

Ward 5 is the area tourists skip, and shouldn't. Housing and food are cheaper than by the beach, and Back Beach is ten minutes away by motorbike. Ideal if you're watching the budget.

Long Hải is a village 30 km east. The beach is noticeably cleaner than the city's, and a small house rents from $150/month. It's quiet, near-empty of tourists, and English signage is rare.

Hotels and stays in Vung Tau — from hostels to 5★

Roughly 650 places to stay: a $6 hostel bunk at one end, the five-star Imperial with its private beach at the other. The general rule — prices run two to three times lower than in Nha Trang or on Phu Quoc.

Top hotels (4–5★)

Budget stays

How to choose a hotel in Vung Tau

Two factors matter: area and day of the week. Back Beach has the restaurants, the beach and the buzz, but you'll be deafened on a weekend. Front Beach is quiet and pretty, but there's nowhere to swim. Pricing rule of thumb: a room runs 20–30% cheaper on weekdays than Friday–Sunday.

• Sea view — realistically only at the Imperial, Malibu and a couple of boutique hotels
• Breakfast — often included at budget places, but keep expectations low: rice, eggs, fruit
• Pool — handy in the rainy season, when the sea has waves and the pool is calm
• Near the night market — want evenings out, take the central part of Back Beach

Booking.com and Agoda both work fine in Vung Tau, and most international cards are accepted at hotels. For long stays, see below.

Long-term rentals

Staying a month or more? An apartment is three to five times cheaper than a hotel.

Search Facebook (the "Vung Tau Rent" and "Cho thuê phòng Vung Tau" groups), FazWaz.vn, or through local agents. The deposit is usually one to two months.

💬 "First month we stayed in a Back Beach hotel at $25 a night, then found a one-bed with air-con and a washing machine for $320 a month. Quiet area, five minutes from the beach by motorbike" — expat reviews, 2025

Vung Tau beaches — the honest version

Straight up: the water at Vung Tau is murky. The Mekong Delta, one of the planet's biggest river systems, sits right next door and pours tonnes of silt into the sea. If you're flying in for turquoise, you'll be let down. But if you want warm water (26–30°C), long sandy beaches and few crowds, Vung Tau delivers.

Bãi Sau — Back Beach

Eight kilometres of sand from Núi Nhỏ hill down to the south of town. The main beach: sun loungers (20,000 VND / ~$0.80), showers, cafés across the road, board rental. The waves are gentle and the depth builds slowly — good for kids.

Half-empty on weekdays, packed on weekends. Come before 09:00 or after 16:00.

Bãi Trước — Front Beach

A pretty promenade, a park, a view of the port. Don't get in the water — boats, litter, grime. But the evening sunset from here is one of the best in Vietnam. Genuinely.

Bãi Dứa — Pineapple Beach

A small cove between two rocky headlands. The southern end is the best swim inside the city limits: the water is clearly cleaner than at Back Beach, the entry gentle, the trees give shade. Locals rate this the best beach in town — and they're right.

Long Hải and Hồ Cốc — the clean beaches out of town

Want properly clear water? Grab a motorbike and head to Long Hải (30 km) or Hồ Cốc (40 km).

Long Hải is three kilometres of sand, minimal infrastructure, and noticeably cleaner water. On the way, detour to the Bình Châu hot springs (60 km, entry 70,000 VND / ~$2.80) — 82°C mineral water you can boil an egg in.

Hồ Cốc is one of the best wild beaches in southern Vietnam. White sand, clear water, and on a weekday four kilometres of coast to yourself and the crabs. It's 40–60 minutes from Vung Tau by motorbike.

💬 "Vung Tau is refreshingly un-touristy — clean beaches, not too crowded, and the local food, especially the seafood at the beachfront places, is superb. Order it straight from the tank" — traveller review, TripAdvisor, 2025

Tides

At Vung Tau the tides genuinely affect swimming — this isn't a formality. At low tide the water pulls back tens of metres, baring muddy flats; the range runs to 3–4 metres. The best time to swim is the hour either side of high tide.

Surfing and water sports

In the rainy season (May–October) Back Beach gets waves — enough for beginner surfers. Board rental is from 100,000 VND/hour (~$4). There are kayaks and SUP boards (from 150,000 VND/hour), and dive centres run trips out to Con Dao.

• Sun lounger on Back Beach: 20,000–30,000 VND (~$0.80–1.20), umbrella included
• Shower and toilet: at the cafés, free with a drink order
• Lifeguards: on Back Beach 06:00–18:00, swim zone marked with buoys
• Jellyfish: occasional in May–June, no serious incidents reported

What to see in Vung Tau

• Christ the King statue (Núi Nhỏ): 32 m, 800 steps, free — 07:30–11:30, 13:30–17:00
• Vung Tau Lighthouse (Hải Đăng Vũng Tàu): Oldest in Vietnam (1862) — Free, open until 22:00
• White Palace (Bạch Dinh) (4 Trần Phú): 1898 colonial residence — 15,000 VND (~$0.60)
• Hồ Mây Park (Núi Lớn + cable car): Water park, zoo, rides — 300,000–400,000 VND
• Thích Ca Phật Đài (608 Trần Phú): Buddhist complex, Buddha statue — Free, 06:00–18:00
• Niết Bàn Tịnh Xá (Nirvana temple): 12 m reclining Buddha — Free, 06:00–18:00
• Front Beach (Bãi Trước): Promenade, sunsets — Swimming not advised
• Back Beach (Bãi Sau, 8 km): Main city beach — Sun lounger 20,000 VND (~$0.80)
• Pineapple Beach (Bãi Dứa): Best swimming in town — Cleaner water, gentle entry
• Vung Tau Market (Chợ Vũng Tàu): Seafood, fruit, souvenirs — Bargaining expected

The Christ statue, the country's oldest lighthouse, a 19th-century French palace, a cable car up the mountain — enough for two full days. And most of it is free.

Christ the King statue

32 metres tall, an 18-metre arm span. The largest statue of Jesus in Asia stands on top of Núi Nhỏ (Small Mountain) and is visible from anywhere on the coast. A shaded path of 800 steps leads to the base; inside, another 133 steps climb to viewing platforms at shoulder height, with the whole town, Back Beach and the open sea spread out below.

Built in 1974, two years before Vietnam's reunification. It's often compared to Christ the Redeemer in Rio, but the Vung Tau figure is two metres taller — 32 against 30 (excluding the pedestal).

Vung Tau Lighthouse

1862 — the oldest working lighthouse in Vietnam and one of the oldest in Southeast Asia. It stands atop Small Mountain, right by the Christ statue. From the platform you get a full 360°: town, port, sea, mountains. It stays open until 22:00, so you can time it for sunset.

White Palace (Bạch Dinh)

The Governor-General's summer residence, built in 1898 on a hill overlooking Front Beach. Elegant colonial architecture, ceramics, a tropical garden with century-old trees. Entry is 15,000 VND (~$0.60). One of the most photogenic spots in town.

Hồ Mây Park and cable car

A park on Núi Lớn (Big Mountain). The only way up is the cable car, and one ride in the cabin is worth it on its own — town and coast laid out below. At the top: a water park, a mini zoo, rides, a lake and restaurants.

Ticket: 300,000–400,000 VND (~$12–16) for adults, 50% for children. The best half-day out in town for families.

Pagodas and temples

Thích Ca Phật Đài is a Buddhist complex on a hillside, with a large white Buddha statue. Tidy gardens, a view of the town, a sense of complete calm. Free.

Niết Bàn Tịnh Xá (the Nirvana temple) holds a 12-metre reclining Buddha. It's cool and quiet inside, and it's on the way to the Christ statue — combine the two.

Con Dao Island — a trip from Vung Tau

A boat runs from Vung Tau port to Con Dao, one of southern Vietnam's most untouched archipelagos. Phu Quoc Express, 3–4 hours, from 720,000 VND (~$29). Budget at least 2–3 nights: a day trip isn't possible.

A two-day itinerary

Day 1: Morning — the Christ statue (800 steps, 1.5–2 h), and on the way down the Nirvana temple and Thích Ca Phật Đài pagoda. Lunch — bánh khọt near the central market. Afternoon — the White Palace (40 min) and the lighthouse (for sunset).

Day 2: Morning — the cable car up to Hồ Mây (3–4 h for the whole park). Lunch — seafood on the promenade. Afternoon — Bãi Dứa (Pineapple Beach) for a swim. Evening — a walk along Front Beach for the sunset.

Vung Tau weather by month — when to go

Two seasons: dry (November–April) and wet (May–October). The air stays 30–34°C year-round — the difference is the rain. The sea is 26–30°C, so swimming is comfortable in any month.

Best time to visit: November to March. Almost no rain, bearable heat, calm sea.

When not to: July to September. Rain every day, angry surf on Back Beach, some attractions closed. That said, the rain is tropical — a heavy hour, then sun again.

Dry season (November–March) is the golden window. Clear skies, low humidity, calm sea. December and January are peak: hotels 20–30% dearer, but the weather is flawless.

Shoulder months (April, October–November) are the compromise: decent weather, prices not yet biting. Budget travellers, this way.

Wet season (May–September) means rain every day, but it's predictable: 30–60 minutes of downpour, then sun. In return, room rates drop 30–40%.

The sea off Vung Tau stays warm year-round: 26°C in January, 30°C in May. You won't need a wetsuit any month.

Food in Vung Tau — what to eat and where

A town on a peninsula, with fishermen heading out every morning — the catch is on restaurant tables by lunch. A seafood meal for two averages 300,000–500,000 VND (~$12–20). The same dishes in Nha Trang cost twice as much.

What to try

Bánh khọt is the dish worth a trip on its own. Crisp outside, soft inside, with a whole prawn in each. Nowhere in Vietnam does them better. For more on the local pancake, see our guide to banh xeo — its bigger cousin — and banh cuon.

Where to eat

Hải sản bờ kè (the seafood embankment) is dozens of cafés along the shore. Point at a tank of live prawns, crab or fish and it's on your plate fifteen minutes later. Bill for two: 200,000–400,000 VND (~$8–16).

Gành Hào is one of the best seafood restaurants in town, 4.5 out of 5 on TripAdvisor. Address: 3 Trần Phú. Expect 400,000–700,000 VND (~$16–28) for two.

Coffee culture

A classic cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee with condensed milk) is 20,000–35,000 VND (~$0.80–1.40). Chains: Highlands Coffee, The Coffee House. But you're better off hunting down the little quán cà phê in the side streets — stronger, cheaper and with the real vibe.

The oil town — Vietsovpetro and Vung Tau's other side

Vung Tau isn't only a beach town — it's Vietnam's oil capital, and that history is written into it. The story starts in 1981, when Vietnam and the Soviet Union set up Vietsovpetro, a joint oil venture that still runs today.

In 1986 the first commercial oil came up from the Bạch Hổ (White Tiger) field. Over four decades it has produced more than 250 million tonnes — around 60% of the country's total output.

A company town within the town

The Vietsovpetro residential compound covers 108,000 square metres: apartment blocks, a school, a kindergarten, a shopping centre, a sports complex, even its own power station. At its peak it housed hundreds of foreign oil families, and it gave Vung Tau a small but visible international community that most Vietnamese beach towns don't have.

The numbers are smaller now — some contracts have ended, some workers have gone home — but the community is still there, and it's part of why Vung Tau feels a touch more cosmopolitan than its size suggests.

Working from Vung Tau

Oil is the main employer, on contracts through the operators and their subcontractors: engineers, drillers, geologists, logistics staff, with housing and flights usually covered. For everyone else, the draw is remote work — the internet is solid (4G across town, café Wi-Fi at 20–50 Mbps) and the cost of living is among the lowest in Vietnam.

Consulates and paperwork

There are no foreign consulates in Vung Tau. The nearest cluster is in Ho Chi Minh City (125 km, 1.5–2.5 h), where the US, UK, Australia and most EU countries have a consulate general. Keep a scan of your passport and visa on your phone in case you need it.

Shopping and markets in Vung Tau

Vung Tau is no shopping capital — this isn't Nha Trang. But you'll find everything you need, from the freshest fruit to perfectly decent clothes.

Chợ Vũng Tàu is the heart of town. Downstairs: meat, fish, seafood (the catch is freshest in the morning). Upstairs: clothes, shoes, bags. Starting prices are just that — haggle, knock off 30–50%.

What to take home from Vung Tau: dried seafood (squid, prawns), fish sauce nước mắm (the local one is rated among Vietnam's best), coffee, cashews, pearl jewellery.

Fruit at the market: mango from 30,000 VND/kg (~$1.20), durian from 80,000 VND/kg (~$3.20), mangosteen from 40,000 VND/kg (~$1.60), rambutan from 25,000 VND/kg (~$1). The same fruit in a supermarket costs 50–80% more.

Getting around Vung Tau

Edge to edge, the town is 7–8 km. Your options:

Motorbike is king of the road. Rental: 150,000–200,000 VND/day (~$6–8), or from $50–100 a month. Bring an International Driving Permit — without one your travel insurance may not cover an accident.

Grab works, but there are fewer cars than in HCMC. A ride across town: 20,000–50,000 VND (~$0.80–2). GrabBike is cheaper still, and the app is in English.

Taxi — Mai Linh (green) and Vinasun (white). Flagfall ~12,000 VND, then 15,000–17,000 VND/km. Centre to Back Beach is about 40,000–60,000 VND (~$1.60–2.40).

Bicycle is perfect for the promenade and Back Beach. Rental: 50,000–100,000 VND/day (~$2–4). The town is flat and there are bike lanes.

Petrol is around 22,000–25,000 VND/litre (~$0.90–1). A full scooter tank (4–5 l) is 100,000–125,000 VND (~$4–5) and lasts 150–200 km.

SIM and internet

Connectivity is a non-issue — solid 4G on all three carriers.

A physical SIM is sold in any phone shop — bring your passport, set up in five minutes. Full details in our Vietnam SIM & eSIM guide.

eSIM — if your phone supports it, buy one before you fly via Airalo, Holafly or a similar provider, from $5–10 for 30 days, so you land connected.

Wi-Fi is in most hotels and cafés, usually 20–50 Mbps — fine for video calls. WhatsApp, Zalo and Google all work without a VPN.

For a wired long-term line: Viettel, VNPT or FPT, 200,000–350,000 VND/month (~$8–14) for 50–100 Mbps.

Health and safety

By Vietnamese standards Vung Tau is a calm place. Violent crime is close to nil, but petty theft happens — don't leave your phone on a café table or hang your bag off a chair back.

Healthcare

There are two hospitals: Bệnh viện Bà Rịa (provincial) and Bệnh viện Lê Lợi (city). The level is basic. Anything serious — head to HCMC, where FV Hospital and Raffles Medical work to international standards and have English-speaking staff.

Pharmacies (nhà thuốc) are on every corner. Antibiotics, painkillers and antihistamines are sold without a prescription. Paracetamol or ibuprofen is 20,000–40,000 VND (~$0.80–1.60) a pack.

Safety

• Traffic: chaotic, as everywhere in Vietnam. Not confident on a motorbike? Take a Grab
• Tap water: don't drink it. Bottled only (7,000–10,000 VND / ~$0.30–0.40 per 0.5 l)
• Sun: UV index 10–12 (extreme) year-round. You'll burn in 20 minutes. SPF 50+ is a must
• Mosquitoes: active in the evening, repellent from 30,000 VND (~$1.20). Dengue occurs here
• Currents: Back Beach can have rip currents, especially in the rainy season. Swim inside the buoyed zone

Visas and documents

E-visa (most nationalities): Vietnam issues a 90-day e-visa to citizens of virtually every country, single or multiple entry, applied for online at evisa.gov.vn. It costs $25 for single and $50 for multiple entry, and is usually approved in about three working days.

Visa-free entry: some nationalities get a short stay without a visa — UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and several other European citizens get up to 45 days; ASEAN nationals get 30. Passport-holders from those countries can arrive with nothing but a passport valid for six more months. Everyone else applies for the e-visa above.

Visa run: the easiest route is the Moc Bai border crossing to Cambodia (~3 hours from HCMC). Day tours run from $50 with transfers.

Registration: your accommodation must register your stay with local police within 24 hours. Hotels do this automatically; if you rent an apartment, ask the landlord to register you.

Cost of living in Vung Tau

Numbeo puts the average cost of living here at about $493 a month excluding rent — in the cheapest 6% of cities worldwide.

Compared with other cities

How to save in Vung Tau

• Eat away from the beach — the lanes by the market are 30–40% cheaper
• Buy fruit only at Chợ Vũng Tàu: the supermarket doubles the price
• A monthly motorbike ($50–100) beats a daily Grab habit — the saving adds up
• Cook at home 2–3 times a week — groceries cost next to nothing
• Beer from a shop is 15,000 VND (~$0.60); in a bar it's 40,000–60,000 VND (~$1.60–2.40)

💬 "On $800–1,100 a month you live in a nice apartment with a sea view, eat out every day and still have room for a massage" — International Living, 2025

Vung Tau pros and cons — is it worth it?

Let's be straight: Vung Tau isn't for everyone. Here's the picture without the gloss.

Pros

• Close to HCMC — ninety minutes by boat, perfect for a weekend
• Cheap — one of the most affordable stretches of coast in the country
• Un-touristy — few foreigners, real Vietnam
• Seafood — as fresh and cheap as it gets, and the bánh khọt is the best in Vietnam
• Sights — the Christ statue, the 1862 lighthouse, a French palace

Cons

• Murky water — the Mekong Delta and turquoise sea don't mix
• No airport — only via HCMC
• Industrial scenery — the port and oil platforms on the horizon
• Little nightlife — if you want bars till dawn, this isn't it
• Weekend chaos — thousands of Saigon day-trippers on the beach

Who Vung Tau is for

Vung Tau vs other resorts

Bottom line: for a classic beach holiday there's Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. But if you live in Ho Chi Minh City, work remotely, or want the cheapest stretch of coast around, Vung Tau is hard to beat.

On the fence? Come over for the weekend from Ho Chi Minh City on the boat. Ninety minutes and about $10 — and you'll know if it's your kind of town.

FAQ — common questions about Vung Tau

Where is Vung Tau?

Southern Vietnam, 125 km from Ho Chi Minh City, on a peninsula in the South China Sea. It's in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu province, with about 350,000 residents. From HCMC it's a bus (2 h), a boat (1.5 h) or a taxi. Time zone UTC+7.

What is the fastest way from Ho Chi Minh City?

The Greenlines or Phu Quoc Express speedboat: 1.5 hours from the Bạch Đằng pier in District 1 to Front Beach. A ticket is 200,000–350,000 VND (~$8–14). The bus is cheaper (~$4–6) but takes 2–2.5 hours.

Can you swim in the sea at Vung Tau?

It's the South China Sea. The water is warm year-round (26–30°C) but murky, because the Mekong Delta is next door. Swimming is comfortable at Back Beach and Pineapple Beach. For clear water, ride to Hồ Cốc, 40 km out.

When is the best time to visit Vung Tau?

November to March: dry, 31–33°C, minimal rain. February is ideal. Skip July to September, the peak of the rains, with rough surf.

Is Vung Tau worth a day trip from HCMC?

Yes, but a weekend is better. The speedboat makes a day trip doable, though you'll spend three hours on the water round trip. Two days let you fit the Christ statue, the lighthouse, a beach and a seafood dinner without rushing.

How much does it cost to live in Vung Tau?

Modest: about $700–900 a month covers rent, café meals, transport and a SIM. Comfortable living starts around $1,000–1,300. Numbeo ranks the town in the cheapest 6% on the planet.

Does Vung Tau have an airport?

No, only an offshore helipad for the oil industry. The nearest international airport is Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City (125 km, 1.5–2.5 hours).

Updated July 2026. All prices are in VND with rough USD conversions at ~25,000 VND = $1.