Vung Tau, two hours from Ho Chi Minh City. My own go-to way of enjoying it like a local

Xin chào! We're a Japanese husband, Papa-san, and his Vietnamese wife, Mama-san, living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam! On this blog, we share information about moving to and living in Vietnam, as well as travel information from all over the country. If you come across an article that catches your interest, please try following us first ♪ We touched on it once in an article last year, but this time we'd like to talk about "Vung Tau," a port town not far from Ho Chi Minh City. We're introducing the place our family always makes sure to visit every single time we go to Vung Tau. If you're staying in Ho Chi Minh City and honestly finding it boring with nothing to do, please consider planning a day trip or an overnight trip to Vung Tau. "Introducing Vung Tau, a place that our Ho Chi Minh City immigrant family visits about five times a year" Xin chào! We are Yuki and Ngoc, a Japanese husband and Vietnamese wife raising a family after immigrating to Vietnam. Something I've been thinking about since I started writing articles recently is that "migration & living information" and "travel diary of Vietnamese tourist spots" are…ameblo.jp

The two easiest ways for travelers to get to Vung Tau

There are two ways for Japanese travelers in Vietnam to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau: "take a taxi, or take a long-distance bus." It would be nice if you could catch a Grab, but for long distances even Grab drivers don't want to go, so it's quite difficult to catch one. By taxi, you can get there for under 5,000 yen. If you want to save even more, take the train to the last stop, Suoi Tien. This station connects directly to the bus terminal, so you can catch a bus to Vung Tau right here. Once you arrive in Vung Tau, first enjoy seafood at a restaurant by the sea

Vung Tau is more of a port town than a resort, so even though it's by the sea, as you can see, there are many rocky coastal landscapes. If you'd like to dine at a restaurant with a view of a sandy beach, we recommend using a restaurant at a 5-star hotel. Don't forget to buy souvenirs too!

This is a steamed-bread-like bread called "Banh Bong Lan Trung Muoi." You can actually find it at local bakeries in Ho Chi Minh City too, but for some reason it has become a famous specialty of Vung Tau trips. Here's all you need to know about Vung Tau cuisine

This is a snack called "Bánh Khọt." It's a simple dish made by cooking rice-flour batter into small half-moon cakes, topped with ingredients like shrimp, squid, or cheese. This too is said to be a specialty of Vũng Tàu. Also, as you walk around the town of Vũng Tàu, you'll find hotpot eateries serving something called "Cá Đuối hotpot," which is also a local specialty, but I wouldn't really recommend it for Japanese visitors. It's a hotpot made with fish, but the fish has a slimy texture like a loach, plus it's full of bones, so honestly it's not for me (;∀;) You can climb up to the Christ statue together with your kids!

You can actually climb this statue of Christ, which can be seen from anywhere in Vung Tau city — it's become a tourist spot! Inside the statue is a hollow spiral staircase, and when you climb all the way to the top, you can poke your head out from one of the shoulders of its outstretched arms.

This is the picture. Well, it's a pretty surreal landscape. That said, climbing all the way up here is quite tough, so it might be better for kids to try it once they're around upper elementary school age. My husband and I climbed up huffing and puffing, and I gave up as soon as the statue came into view (;∀;) My husband took the photo for me. Coffee break at Vung Tau Seaside Cafe

Recently, more and more stylish cafes have been popping up along the coast of Vung Tau. Many locals visit too, so it gets crowded on weekends, but it's relatively quiet on weekdays. You might expect coffee at this kind of cafe to be expensive, but the prices here are local prices. You can enjoy drinks, even beer, for around 200 yen ♪ If you can stay overnight in Vung Tau, be sure to add this to your plans! The one I introduced this time ① Eat seafood by the sea ② Try Vung Tau's famous snacks and banh khot ③ Climb up to the Christ statue ④ Take a coffee break at a seaside café By the time you've done all four of these, the sun will already have set, so day-trippers will need to start getting ready to head back to Ho Chi Minh City. But if you're someone who can say "I can stay one night!", then ⑤ Enjoy hotel life to the fullest ⑥ Try Russian food Please add this. Why Russian food, you ask? Vung Tau originally developed thanks to oil money, and Russia was the very first company to invest in oil exploration there, so even today many Russians live locally. Because of this, there are Russian restaurants run by them scattered here and there, so you can enjoy authentic Russian cuisine.      Summary: Getting tired of Ho Chi Minh City? Vung Tau is the perfect change of pace! This time I introduced my own way of spending time in Vung Tau. You might be thinking, "Wait, what about swimming in the sea?" but the sea in Vung Tau isn't all that clean, so swimming isn't really a must-try m(__)m Personally, I always look forward to the seafood restaurants and Russian cuisine.If I get the chance, I'd love to introduce you to more great shops in detail!