Things to Do in Vũng Tàu — Beaches, the Christ Statue & Whale Temple (2026)

Planning a Vũng Tàu trip? Here is what is worth your time — Back Beach, the Christ statue, a whale temple, seafood, and how to get there from Saigon.

Vũng Tàu is where Ho Chi Minh City goes to breathe. Two hours by road from the centre, on a peninsula where the river finally meets the sea, it has three beaches, two small mountains and a seafood scene that locals treat as the main event.

One map note before you plan anything. Since the June 2025 administrative changes, Vũng Tàu is no longer a separate city — it is a ward of Ho Chi Minh City, about 95 km southeast of downtown and home to roughly 117,000 people. The ward covers the old historic downtown along with Front Beach, Strawberry Beach (Bãi Dâu), Pineapple Beach (Bãi Dứa), part of Back Beach, and both of the hills locals call Núi Lớn and Núi Nhỏ.

Here is what is actually worth your time, what it costs, and how to get there without losing half a day to traffic.

At a Glance

Question	Short answer
How long do you need?	One day works as a taster; two days feels far less rushed.
What is the draw?	Beaches, seafood, hilltop viewpoints, a whale temple and a working fishing harbour.
How far from Ho Chi Minh City?	About 95 km — roughly two hours by bus, hydrofoil or private car.
Best rhythm	Beaches and the statue climb early; the promenade and seafood in the evening.
Do you need cash?	Yes for beach-rental stalls, markets and small eateries.

1. Start Early on Back Beach (Bãi Sau)

The official Vietnam Tourism guide describes Back Beach as a three-kilometre strip of sand, and it is the one Saigonese mean when they say they are going to Vũng Tàu. High-end hotels, restaurants and beach clubs line the strip behind it, and local vendors rent umbrellas right on the sand.

The waves here stay fairly flat and safe, which is why families with small children end up on this stretch rather than the city side. Arrive before 8am and you get calm water and shade; by mid-morning the sand is hot enough to push you into the water or a restaurant.

2. Climb to the Christ the King Statue

The statue on Núi Nhỏ is the one you have seen in every Vũng Tàu photo. It stands 32 metres tall on a 4-metre platform, so the monument tops out at 36 metres, with two outstretched arms spanning 18.3 metres. Construction started in 1974 and finished on 2 December 1994, and there is a 133-step staircase inside the statue itself.

The climb is the real workout. You will cover about 800 steps up the headland to reach the statue’s feet, plus another 100 to the shoulders. Entry is free, and the standard dress code for religious sites applies — shoulders and knees covered. Start before 9am if you can; the stairways are concrete and there is very little shade along the way.

3. Walk the Front Beach Promenade at Dusk

Front Beach looks back at the city and the bay, which makes it better for a walk than a swim. Come late afternoon, when the promenade fills with joggers, families and vendors and the harbour lights come on across the water.

If you arrive by hydrofoil from Saigon, this is where you land: the boat runs from Bến Nhà Rồng Port in District 1 and docks at Front Beach after roughly two hours on the river.

4. See the Whale Temple at Thắng Tam

This is the stop that most day-trippers skip, and it is the most interesting hour in town. At 77A Hoàng Hoa Thám, a few minutes from Front Beach, the Thắng Tam complex holds three shrines in one courtyard: the Thắng Tam communal house, Lăng Ông Nam Hải — the whale temple — and Miếu Bà Ngũ Hành.

The history is unusually specific. Emperor Gia Long posted three naval units here to hold the coast against pirates. In 1822, Minh Mạng discharged those soldiers and rewarded them with the land they had guarded, and they founded the villages of Thắng Nhất, Thắng Nhì and Thắng Tam. The communal house was started in 1820 in bamboo and thatch, tiled in 1835 and rebuilt solid in 1965.

The whale temple itself dates from 1824. Inside the main hall is the skeleton of a whale 18 metres long; village records say the animal died at Back Beach in 1831. Three royal patents issued under the Thiệu Trị and Tự Đức reigns still recognise it as a protective spirit that helped fishermen at sea.

Whale worship is a coastal Vietnamese tradition, and this complex is one of the most complete examples left — it is listed as a national-level historical and cultural relic, and it is still an active place of worship. If your dates line up with the Nghinh Ông festival, held on the 16th to 18th of the eighth lunar month, the courtyard fills with fishermen, offerings and boat processions. Otherwise go in the morning, dress for a working temple rather than a museum, and keep your voice down.

5. Hop Across to Hòn Bà at Low Tide

At the end of Back Beach a miniature island sits just offshore, and it only opens up at low tide. Cross the rocks and pebbles to the far side, walk the beach for shells, or climb to the shrines at Miếu Bà, dedicated to the patroness of sailors and fishermen. Check the tide table before you commit to it.

6. Watch the Catch Come in at Bến Đình

A short ride from the city, Bến Đình is populated almost entirely by fishermen and their families. Multi-coloured boats moor by the beach, the catch is hauled in before sunrise and sorted on the sand, and in summer locals spread fish out on nets to dry in the sun. You can walk among the boats and buy seafood to cook later, which is a better souvenir than anything on a shelf.

7. Tour Villa Blanche, Then Walk Up Núi Lớn

Head for Big Mountain and give yourself about 30 minutes of uphill walking to the summit, where the whole city and coastline opens up in front of you. On the way, stop at Villa Blanche: a colonial mansion built in the late 1800s as a home for the district’s French governor, now a quiet museum of local artefacts. Go early or late — the road up is completely exposed.

8. Eat Stingray Hot Pot and Bánh Khọt

Seafood is the reason many Saigonese come here at all. Order a steaming hot pot of stingray with baby bamboo shoots, or the local bánh khọt: a mini pancake made of flour and curry powder, topped with fresh squid or shrimp, green onion and shrimp powder, then wrapped in lettuce and herbs and dipped into fish sauce, papaya and chilli.

For the signature version, Bánh Khọt Góc Vũ Sữa at 14 Nguyễn Trường Tộ opens 7am to 2pm on weekdays and until 8pm on Sundays. Anywhere facing Back Beach will handle dinner.

9. Meet the Monkeys at Chùa Khi — and Swim at Long Hải

About 30 km from Back Beach, Chùa Khi (Monkey Temple) is a Buddhist pagoda complex set in rolling hills a few hundred metres from the ocean, home to nearly 200 long-tailed macaques. It is a pilgrimage site for Vietnamese Buddhists rather than a wildlife park, and the 40-minute ride can be done by taxi or private car.

Stop at Long Hải beach for a swim on the way back. Keep your bag zipped at the temple — the monkeys are bold, curious and known to steal whatever is loose.

How to Get to Vũng Tàu from Ho Chi Minh City

Option	Time	Cost	Notes
Bus (FUTA or Hoa Mai)	About 2 hours	Hoa Mai luxury tickets VND150,000 from 83 Nguyễn Thái Bình	Frequent departures; FUTA sells tickets at its Đề Thám office
Hydrofoil from Bến Nhà Rồng, District 1	About 2 hours	VND120,000 to VND250,000	Docks at Front Beach; buy tickets at the port
Private car with driver	About 2 hours	Depends on group size and pick-up point	Door to door, flexible stops, best with luggage or kids

The road is straightforward and short enough for a day trip, but the stops above fill two days comfortably. We drive it often — our Vũng Tàu Beach City Tour covers the Christ statue, the White Palace, the Thắng Tam whale temple, the Monkey Temple and lunch, and it is built for cruise passengers docking at Phú Mỹ as well as hotel guests in the city. Starting from the airport? A Ho Chi Minh City airport transfer can take you straight to the coast instead of into town first. If you want a quieter beach than Vũng Tàu, Côn Đảo is the other direction worth considering.

Before You Go

• Do the statue first. It is the hottest climb of the day, and the stairways hold heat until late afternoon.
• Weekdays beat weekends. This is Saigon’s closest beach, so Friday to Sunday is when the city arrives in force; midweek is noticeably calmer.
• Dress for temples. Shoulders and knees covered at the Christ statue, the Thắng Tam complex and Chùa Khi.
• Carry small notes. Beach-rental stalls, markets and smaller eateries are cash-first.
• Check the tide for Hòn Bà. The island is unreachable at high water.

Common Questions

Is Vũng Tàu worth a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City?

Yes, if you start early. It is about two hours each way, so a private car or an early bus gives you a full afternoon on the sand. With two days you can add Núi Lớn, the Monkey Temple and a proper seafood dinner without rushing.

Is the Christ the King statue free to visit?

Entry is free. The only costs are getting there and any water you buy at the bottom — and the effort of roughly 800 steps up, plus another 100 to the shoulders.

What is Vũng Tàu known for?

Seafood first — stingray hot pot and bánh khọt — then the Christ the King statue, the Thắng Tam whale temple, Back Beach and the fishing harbour at Bến Đình.

Do I need a car to get around?

No. The city centre, Front Beach and the whale temple are walkable, and taxis cover the statue, Bến Đình and the Monkey Temple. A private car makes more sense if you want Villa Blanche, Núi Lớn and Long Hải in the same day.

The Short Version

Vũng Tàu is the closest proper beach to Ho Chi Minh City, and since 2025 it is officially part of the city — a ward about 95 km southeast of downtown. One day gets you the Christ statue, Back Beach and a seafood dinner. Two days adds the whale temple at Thắng Tam, Villa Blanche and the walk up Núi Lớn, the monkeys at Chùa Khi, and a swim at Long Hải on the way home.

We run private day trips here and can build the schedule around your group, the weather and the tide. WhatsApp/Zalo: +84 70 6666 520.

Sources Checked

• Vietnam Tourism (official): The essential Vũng Tàu guide
• Wikipedia: Vũng Tàu ward — 2025 administrative reorganisation, area and population
• Wikipedia: Christ of Vũng Tàu — statue dimensions, construction dates, stair count
• Wikipedia (vi): Đình thần Thắng Tam — temple history, whale skeleton, festivals