Vung Tau is the economic centre of Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu, a province in southeastern Vietnam. The city centre, located on the southern tip of the peninsula, has been long known as a tourist haven for businesspeople from Ho Chi Minh City.
Geography and climate
Vung Tau sits on a peninsula separated from the mainland by a river. Much of the city is flat and easy to commute by bicycles/motorcycles or on foot.
The city features long coastlines and a savanna climate pattern with two seasons:
- Dry season (Nov-Apr): consistently hot and dry, though cooler during the year-end months and the Tết Holiday (Jan-Mar). Ideal for hiking
- Rainy season (May-Oct): lots of rain, usually in the afternoon. Gets very hot and humid during daytime. Ideal for seaside frolics.
Vung Tau has two main beaches for tourists. The first, Front Beach, is a compact beach with calm waters located in a small bay in the southern tip of the peninsula. The second, Back Beach, has long stretches of sand and relatively violent – but safe for swimming – waters, located on the city’s eastern side. The city is scattered with several smaller beaches, though they are dangerous for swimming and drowning is frequent.
