Vung Tau is the closest beach city to Ho Chi Minh City — 125 km southeast, 2.5 hours via the CT01 expressway. A peninsula at the mouth of the Saigon River, Vung Tau was a French colonial resort, then an American R&R destination during the Vietnam War, and today is HCMC's weekend escape for families needing sea air. Not glamorous — Vung Tau is working-class beach, seafood shacks, and the iconic Christ of Vung Tau statue on Small Mountain.
Most visitors come Friday evening, stay Saturday night, return Sunday afternoon. The city center and Back Beach (Bai Sau) are walkable; Front Beach (Bai Truoc) has the boardwalk + Christ statue hike. Renting a car from HCMC for Vung Tau is standard — the CT01 expressway is fast and straightforward.
Rocket Car Rentals does not have a Vung Tau branch. Most travelers book a one-way or round-trip rental from HCMC. Self-drive is easy; with-driver is popular for families with multiple kids + lots of luggage for the weekend.
Ready to rent a car in Vung Tau?
Professional drivers or self-drive · Insurance included · Free cancellation
Top attractions in Vung Tau
Christ of Vung Tau (Tuong Chua) — 32m statue on Small Mountain. 45-minute climb with 800+ steps. Iconic view from top.
Back Beach (Bai Sau) — main swimming beach, 8 km of sand. Vietnamese-family crowd.
Front Beach (Bai Truoc) — boardwalk, restaurants, lighthouse. Less swimming, more evening stroll.
Binh Chau Hot Springs — 50 km east, mineral hot springs + spa.
Seafood markets on Ha Long Street — cook-it-yourself seafood culture.
Driving in Vung Tau — what to know
Vung Tau area:
- CT01 expressway — limit 120 km/h but camera-enforced. Tolls included in fixed fare.
- Sunday afternoon return to HCMC is congestion hell — leave before noon or after 7 PM.
- Parking — free at most hotels; paid at beach fronts (~30K VND).
- Christ statue parking at Bai Dau — 10K VND/car. Hike is 45 min up.
- Oil-industry traffic — Vung Tau is an oil services town; expect heavy trucks near port.
Popular routes from Vung Tau
Key Vung Tau routes:
- HCMC → Vung Tau (125 km, ~2.5h via CT01). USD 62 one-way, USD 110 round-trip weekend.
- Vung Tau → Long Hai / Ho Tram beaches (30-50 km). Quieter than Vung Tau city beach.
- Vung Tau → Binh Chau Hot Springs (50 km east). Day trip.
Best time to visit
Vung Tau is drier than Mui Ne:
- Nov-Apr: dry, warm (24-31°C). Best beach weather.
- May-Oct: rainy but short afternoon storms. Still swimmable.
Weekends are busiest — expect traffic + higher hotel prices. Weekdays are peaceful.
Pricing in Vung Tau
Vung Tau pricing (from HCMC):
- Sedan — USD 45/day self-drive, USD 75/day with driver
- SUV — USD 65/day self-drive, USD 95/day with driver
- 7-seater — USD 75/day self-drive, USD 115/day with driver
Weekend round-trip (Fri-Sun, 7-seater with driver): USD 180 all-inclusive including driver stay.