30 December 2025|Vung Tau Vietnam
A Day in Vung Tau, Vietnam – First Impressions from a Growing Coastal Gem
Our first day in Vung Tau didn’t exactly start as planned. The rain greeted us the moment we arrived, so our guide whisked us off to the local shopping mall earlier than expected. It turned out to be a fun little diversion. The mall was modern, and so cheap! I couldn’t resist picking up a beautiful traditional painted hat. Although working out paying in the hundreds of thousands of VND took a moment!
Thankfully, the clouds began to lift, so we made our way to the famous Christ Statue, the towering landmark you can spot from all around Vung Tau. With the rain gone, the climb began…811 steps of steady effort. But what a reward at the top! A stunning view stretched out before us, including the little island. Absolutely worth every step.
From there, we headed down to see the seaside itself. Vung Tau feels like a destination on the cusp of becoming something big. Here, new hotels rising up, an aquarium already open, and even cable cars floating above the town. The only strange part? Looking out to sea and seeing… shipping containers. Not your typical beach view!
Lunch was at a local seafood restaurant.The food was incredible, such a massive menu choice too. I will say, watching people choose which live fish they wanted cooked was a tiny bit unsettling for me, but the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere felt authentically coastal.
Next stop: the White Palace Villa, a graceful colonial-era mansion with gorgeous architecture. It was grand and fascinating to explore, although just beside it a large tower block is being built, reminder again of how quickly Vung Tau is transforming.
We rounded the day off with a trip to the white lighthouse, where we enjoyed an amazing panoramic view of the entire resort area below, the coastline, the little island, and the Christ Statue all in one sweeping scene. Afterwards, we visited a lovely peaceful statue of Mary, and thankfully there were no steps this time!
My First-Day Impression of This Region of Vietnam
Vung Tau feels very different from many of the coastal areas of Thailand, less polished, less tourist-packed, and still very much in its development phase. In many ways, that’s what makes it so fascinating. You get a real glimpse into the everyday lives of the local people, the pace, the routines, the simplicity.
As tourism grows here, it will surely bring money and new opportunities to the area, which can only help the community. But a small part of me wonders how much of this gentle, genuine way of life will remain once the crowds arrive.
For now, though, Vung Tau is a place in transition. It is beautiful, intriguing, and full of charm. And what a memorable introduction to Vietnam it’s been.
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