Vietnam is rapidly gaining popularity as a tourist region. It is summer here all year round, there are many attractions, various beaches, and besides, low prices and friendly locals. All this makes the rest in this region so interesting. The country offers more and more points for recreation. And if Nha Trang, Danang or Phan Thiet are already well known to Russian tourists, Vung Tau is still little mastered by our travelers. The Moscow-Vietnam flight brings hundreds of vacationers to the country every day who want to see new places. Let's talk about what the Vung Tau region is, what are its features, advantages and disadvantages.
Geographic location
Vietnam occupies the east coast of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia. In its southern part is the province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, whose area is almost 2 thousand square kilometers. The province is located inflat part of the country, there are a large number of rivers and tributaries that divide the territory of the region into sections of different sizes.
Climate and weather
South of Vietnam is located in the tropical climate zone. This means that the region has two main seasons: dry and wet. The first lasts from May to November, the second - from December to April. At the same time, the weather is quite suitable for recreation all year round. The difference is that during humid times it rains more often. However, they have nothing to do with tropical downpours, most often it rains at night, and during the day there is quite high humidity, occasionally a little rain falls within 10-15 minutes. Therefore, what locals distinguish as the change of seasons usually remains subtle differences for tourists.
The average annual temperature in Vung Tau (Vietnam) is 26 degrees Celsius. During the dry period, the temperature is slightly lower than during the wet period, and during the day it averages 25 degrees Celsius. During the rainy day, the air warms up to an average of 28 degrees. At the same time, for example, Vietnam in August in terms of weather is quite comparable to the resorts of the Mediterranean, the temperature is +28, light night rains, only the humidity is higher than in Spain or the Crimea. The beauty of the weather in Vung Tau is that the fluctuation between the seasons is only about 3 degrees, so you can relax here all year round. Although traditionally the "high" season falls on the period from December to April. The most unfavorable months to travel are September and October, when there is a high danger of typhoons.
History of settlement
Today Vung Tau is a fairly large city in the province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, with about 300 thousand people living here. And the history of this settlement began in the 14th century, then there was a local community of fishermen. Three small villages lived peacefully, periodically receiving passing ships. The ruler of the lands was considered a representative of the Nguyen dynasty. The Portuguese, who were often here, gave their name to these lands - Cape Saint-Jacques - and taught the locals how to use the Latin alphabet, this greatly facilitated communication between different peoples.
The peaceful coexistence of peoples came to an end when the French occupied this territory. They kept the Portuguese name for this region. In 1859, the local population rose to war with the French invaders. But the idea failed. The French included Vung Tau in the unified district of Baria and included it in an administrative unit with Saigon. According to the 1901 census, about 5 thousand people lived here, of which 2 thousand were immigrants from the Northern Provinces. Fishing remained the main occupation for the locals. For the French nobility and aristocracy, Vung Tau was a favorite vacation spot, so the President of France built a luxurious palace here, in which he received guests. In the 30s of the 20th century, the region, along with all of Vietnam, entered the struggle for independence from French colonization.
During World War II, this region was formally under the rule of the Japanese who occupied the country, but in reality the Japanese did not reach this land. During the war between Vietnam and the United States, the region was capturedAmericans who have placed their military base here. In 1959, the government of North Vietnam decided to unify the country. Years of confrontation began, during which the population of Vietnam suffered greatly. And today the country's lands are feeling the consequences of the use of chemical weapons by the Americans. In 1976, the reunification of the South and the North took place, and the country gained independence. In 1991, the region finally secured the name of Ba Ria-Vung Tau with the capital in the city of Vung Tau.
Administrative divisions and districts
The region is divided into 6 counties and includes two cities of provincial subordination - the capital of Vung Tau and the large city of Baria. Vung Tau is not formally divided into districts, but the local population identifies several: the center, the industrial part, the beach area. There are also several expat settlements in the city. In particular, there is an interesting village of Vietsovpetro (Vung Tau), where Russian workers of local shipyards have been living for many years. They created a Russian-speaking diaspora with their own shops, a library and an Orthodox church. Therefore, in Vung Tau you can often hear Russian speech.
Language and religion
The official language of Vung Tau (Vietnam) is Vietnamese. Although since the time of colonization, part of the population speaks French. For example, the appeals "madame" and "monsieur", French greetings and farewells, words of gratitude have been preserved everywhere. Also part of the population since the American occupation speaks English. Numerous connections with the USSR have led to the fact that quite a few Vietnamese can sayat least a few words in Russian.
Religious issues are difficult for Vietnam. Only 18% of the population identify themselves with some official confessions, most often it is Buddhism. 80% of the country's inhabitants profess a system of folk beliefs built on ancient rituals and pagan ideas. At the same time, the Vietnamese often perform their rituals in Buddhist temples, which explains such a large number of these structures in the country.
Time
The Vung Tau region, like the whole country, belongs to the UTC+7 time zone. This belt includes, for example, Krasnoyarsk, Cambodia, Indonesia, part of Mongolia. The time difference between Moscow and Vietnam is +4 hours. So, if it is 12 noon in Vung Tau, then it is still 8 am in Moscow.
How to get there
There are several ways to get to southern Vietnam. Vung Tau Airport serves only small aircraft of local airlines. So the fastest way is to fly to the city. Although there are simpler and more economical options. The most popular option for Russian tourists is a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, then by bus or taxi to Vung Tau. Buses can be both superior comfort and the most ordinary, regular ones. Travel time will be 2.5-3 hours. Travel agencies organize special flights for tourists directly from the airport and from the center of Ho Chi Minh City. For lovers of comfort, there are always taxis near the airport that will take you to Vung Tau in 1.5 hours and a large amount of money. It is also possible to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau by water, on the "Rocket". Travel time will beonly 1 hour 15 minutes.
What to see
Besides the beaches, Vung Tau (Vietnam) provides great educational opportunities for the curious tourist. The first thing worth seeing is the statue of Christ, several temples and pagodas, Villa Blanche, the French cannon field, the statue of the Virgin Mary on Mount Nuylon. Also of interest is the Con Dao Museum, which tells about the history of the "prison" island and the building of the Trai Phu Hai prison. In your free time, you can get to the Hai Dang Lighthouse, built back in 1907. You will have to climb uphill to the lighthouse, but the site offers a magnificent view of the city and the bay. The small island of Honba, on which the Vung Tau Convent is located, deserves a separate walk.
Sights of the country will be of interest to both lovers of architecture and history, and lovers of flora and fauna. The last thing to look at is natural attractions: hot springs, hills near the city, an ecotourism park on Big Mountain and, of course, beaches.
Statue of Christ
In 1974, the main attraction of the province appeared - "Christ" (Vung Tau). The statue of Jesus is only 6 meters smaller than the famous counterpart in Rio de Janeiro. It was installed by the Catholic community, choosing the top of Mount Nuino for the statue. Christ looks at the South China Sea, and is visible from afar. Climbing up to the statue will require some courage, because you will have to overcome about 900 steps. There are special platforms for relaxing while climbing the stairs, but it is better to take water with you. It is customary to ascend in the morning asgreetings to God. The statue is carved from white marble and stands on a 10-meter plinth, decorated with bas-reliefs. The length of the arms of Jesus is almost 20 meters. Inside the figure there is a staircase (133 steps), which you can climb to shoulder level and see an impressive panorama. Visiting the statue is equivalent to entering a temple, so clothing must be worn to cover knees and shoulders.
Villa Blanche
In 1898, they began to build a villa for the French governor of Indochina, Paul Doumer. This is how Villa Blanche (White) appeared, which Vung Tau (Vietnam) is rightly proud of today. This governor did not manage to live in the villa, but his successors spent many years here. The building was built in the luxurious style of the 18th century and looks like a small palace. At the beginning of the 20th century, the last emperor of the Vietnamese ruling dynasty was kept under house arrest here. Today there is a museum with a good collection of antiques and things from the times of colonization.
Temples of Vung Tau
Buddhist temples look very elegant and impressive, they always have a lot of interesting things. Therefore, while relaxing in Vung Tau, it is worth taking a walk through the most remarkable places. First of all, this is the Temple of the Reclining Buddha or the House of Pure Nirvana. It was built in the 70s of the 20th century and is remarkable for the fact that inside it is a 12-meter statue of a reclining Buddha. It is placed on a mahogany pedestal 2.5 meters high. On the feet of the statue are carved lines from sacred texts. On the second floor of the temple there is an amazing boat in the shape of a snake, it is filled with water, and people swim in it.fish. And the third floor is given to a huge bell, under which you can put a note with a wish. The Vietnamese believe that these wishes will come true.
Temple complex Buddha Altar is also very interesting. As you climb to the top of the complex, you can view Buddhist sculptures depicting scenes from the life of a saint. The beautiful Guanyin Pagoda is also worth seeing. In front of her stands an 18-meter figure of a saint who helps in the birth of children. Thang Tam Pagoda is dedicated to the founders of the first three villages that later became the city of Vung Tau.
Where to live
Almost all hotels in Vung Tau are concentrated either in the area of the beach line or in the city center. Since the settlement has a very compact layout, in general, there is no difference where to settle. But if you are planning mainly a beach holiday, then it is better to choose a hotel closer to the sea. The city has a large selection of accommodation options, in addition to the usual hotels and hostels, you can rent apartments or stay in a guest house. Accommodation prices here are quite moderate, cheap rooms start from $10. Since the city is very popular as a holiday destination for Ho Chi Minh residents, prices usually go up a little by the weekend.
Where to eat
It is impossible to stay hungry in Vung Tau. Here they eat always and everywhere: on the beaches, streets, cafes, shops, temples. The street food here is delicious, inexpensive and safe. Evening time in Vietnam is the meal time. As the sun goes down, locals take to the streets to eat, vendors pop up all over the citydifferent food, cafes are filled with families who gather to have dinner together. For those who are still afraid to eat on the street, there are many cafes and restaurants not only of Vietnamese, but also of Italian, American, Korean, Japanese and even Russian cuisines. You can quickly and inexpensively eat at the food court in the mall. But still, the most authentic and delicious food will be in local markets and street cafes, where a large number of locals gather. Since Vietnamese cuisine is very spicy, you can ask the chef to put less pepper.
On the beach - the most expensive food. Therefore, it is better to leave there to have lunch. Vung Tau is famous for its seafood. Various types of fish are excellently cooked here, and they also make delicious sushi and rolls. They can be bought individually from stalls on the street.
Things to do
Tourists in Vung Tau spend most of their time on the beach. But besides that, there is something to do here. There is a large amusement park on Mount Nuilon, which can be reached by cable car. There are rides in the park, there is a lake and an artificial waterfall. Children will be interested in visiting the zoo. For outdoor enthusiasts, there is a yacht club, a golf course, a skate station, and diving schools. Men love to spend time fishing, which is simply extraordinary here. For ladies, shopping in Vung Tau is attractive, they should go to the Lam Son area. Here on three streets you can buy souvenirs, products of local artisans, as well as clothes, shoes, bags. Size range of clothes and shoessmall, large men here is unlikely to fit something. The assortment is mainly summer, but you can choose good jackets and suitcases.
Vung Tau is also a great place to improve your he alth, there are several good massage parlors, hot springs help with rheumatism and arthritis.
Beach vacation
The main attraction of the region is the beaches of Vung Tau. The largest beach, Bai Sao (Back Beach), belongs to the municipality. It is located close to the hotels, and therefore it is always quite crowded. Entrance here is paid, you will also have to pay for a sunbed and other services.
Bai Chyok (Front Beach) is also in the center, and it's too noisy during the day, but in the evenings you can walk and watch the sunset here.
Pineapple Beach is located between Front and Back, on the very edge of the cape. It got its name in honor of the pineapples that once grew here. Today it is rather sparsely populated, but noisy due to the proximity of the highway.
Long Hai Beach is 15 minutes away from the city. It is the cleanest in Vung Tau, there are spectacular boulders near the coast, on which tourists arrange romantic photo shoots. When visiting Vietnam in August or November, you can choose beaches on the edge of the cape, and in September and October it is better to opt for those that are closer to the center of the mainland.
Safety
Vietnam is in the middle positions in the world in terms of crime. But in Vung Tau, the life of tourists is not in danger. What can not be said about their property. The risk of being deceived in the market is very high, just like beingrobbed during an evening walk along deserted beaches. Most often, wallets and cell phones are stolen here. Evening time in Vietnam and Vung Tau is fraught with robberies, which most often occur according to the same pattern: a bike passes by tourists, a bike sitting on it pulls out a bag or phone and leaves. Therefore, tourists are advised to follow the rules of elementary caution.
Practical information
Vung Tau is a very compact city, there is no public transport, but almost everywhere can be reached on foot. For long trips, a taxi or a rented bike or bicycle is suitable.
From the tap in Vung Tau water flows, which is not recommended to be consumed raw for safety reasons.
In Vietnam, local money is dong, but in tourist places you can also pay in dollars, although the exchange rate is likely to be unfavorable. You can exchange money in banks (the safest option) or in special exchangers, where the rate will be the most profitable, but you need to be careful not to charge additional fees.
Vung Tau reviews
You can read a lot of stories about trips to Vietnam on travel forums. Vung Tau, reviews of which are less common, is rated differently by tourists. There are travelers very loyal to this place who like the atmosphere and the beaches. And there are those who are disappointed, expected more. Tourists note that life in Vung Tau is calmer than in the more famous resorts of the country. They also say that there is a very good cultural program and many attractions. BUThere is the service of many vacationers is disappointing. You will not find helpful staff here, the Vietnamese always see in a tourist, first of all, an opportunity to earn money. In addition, in the reviews you can read that the Vietnamese have special ideas about cleanliness, and perfect cleaning can not always be carried out in the hotel rooms.
