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Vung Tau is a coastal city at the tip of a peninsula in southeast Vietnam, famous for its beaches, its two mountains and the giant Christ of Vung Tau. Its top sights are the Christ statue and lighthouse on Nui Nho, the White Villa and Thich Ca Phat Dai on Nui Lon, Back Beach, Front Beach and Hon Ba Island.
European trading ships called here from the 16th century, and the French named it Cap Saint-Jacques and built the town centre along Front Beach. Since the early 1980s it has been the base of Vietnam's offshore oil industry. In July 2025 the former city became part of Ho Chi Minh City.
The former city had about 527,000 people in 2019. It is known for fresh seafood and the Nghinh Ong whale festival, held each year at the Thang Tam communal house. Vung Tau is linked with central Ho Chi Minh City by Route 51 and by hydrofoil to Bach Dang pier.
The Christ of Vung Tau is a statue of Jesus on the summit of Nui Nho, the Small Mountain, in Vung Tau, Vietnam, begun in 1974 by the city's Catholic community. It is 32 metres tall, its outstretched arms span 18.4 metres, and it is among the tallest statues of Christ in Asia.
Thich Ca Phat Dai is a large Buddhist complex on the northern slope of Nui Lon, the Big Mountain, in Vung Tau, Vietnam, known for its seated statue of the Buddha. Its grounds cover 28 hectares, with several pagodas, a stupa holding relics and gardens of statues telling the life of the Buddha.
Niet Ban Tinh Xa is a Buddhist temple on the slope of Nui Nho above Bai Dua beach in Vung Tau, Vietnam, built from 1969 to 1974 and facing the sea. Called the Reclining Buddha Pagoda, it holds a 12-metre reclining Buddha, and the 21-metre tower in front is built in 42 tiers.
The Lang Ong Nam Hai Whale Temple, beside the Thang Tam communal house in Vung Tau, Vietnam, was founded in 1824 and keeps the 18-metre skeleton of a whale that died on Back Beach in 1831, worshipped as the saviour of fishermen. The Nghinh Ong whale festival is held there every year.
Back Beach, Bai Sau or Thuy Van Beach, is the main swimming beach of Vung Tau, Vietnam, running about 8 km on the east side of the city from the foot of Nui Nho to Cua Lap. Its temperature stays stable all year, its waves are moderate and its water clear, and Thuy Van Road follows it.
Front Beach, Bai Truoc or Tam Duong Beach, is the curving city beach of Vung Tau, Vietnam, lying between Nui Lon and Nui Nho in the heart of the city. Once called Coconut Bay, it is where the French laid out the town centre, and Quang Trung Street follows it past hotels and cafes.
Hon Ba Island is a small rocky islet off Back Beach in Vung Tau, Vietnam, about 220 metres from the foot of Nui Nho and Nghinh Phong Cape. At low tide a natural stone path about 200 metres long appears and links it with O Quan beach, so visitors can walk out to the island and its shrine.
Nghinh Phong Cape, the Cape of Greeting Wind, is the rocky tip of the peninsula at Vung Tau, Vietnam, called Cap Saint-Jacques by the French and now the southernmost point of mainland Ho Chi Minh City. It lies opposite Nui Nho, and O Quan beach beside it faces Hon Ba Island.
Vung Tau Lighthouse stands on the summit of Nui Nho in Vung Tau, Vietnam, first built by the French in 1862 and rebuilt in 1913 at 170 metres above the sea. Seen as a symbol of the city, its white round tower is 18 metres tall, with a balcony looking over the city and the coast.
The White Villa, Bach Dinh or Villa Blanche, is a European-style mansion on the slope of Nui Lon in Vung Tau, Vietnam, built from 1898 to 1902 for the Governors-General of Indochina. Named after Paul Doumer's wife Blanche, it held the deposed emperor Thanh Thai from 1907 to 1916.
Nui Nho, the Small Mountain or Tao Phung, is a 170-metre hill on the sea at Vung Tau, Vietnam, covering 120 hectares opposite Nghinh Phong Cape. Its higher peak carries the Vung Tau Lighthouse and its lower peak the Christ statue, and a coastal road with cafes runs along its foot.
Nui Lon, the Big Mountain or Tuong Ky, is a 245-metre mountain in Vung Tau, Vietnam, home to the White Villa and the Thich Ca Phat Dai pagoda. Ho May, a large freshwater lake in old forest, lies on it with a cable car from the foot, and Tran Phu road circles it past beaches.
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