Vietnam Vung Tau-Ho Chi Minh 5 Days 4 Nights: Exploring the Taiwanese Businessmen's Resort Paradise and the Bustling City

This time, taking advantage of the Vietnamese holiday, I brought my girlfriend to see the environment where I work in Vietnam, while also touring Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau, a popular resort spot for Taiwanese businesspeople. The itinerary for this trip is as follows: Itinerary Overview Day 1: Depart from Taoyuan Airport, head to Vung Tau and check into the hotel Day 2: Visit the Christ of Vung Tau statue in the morning, take a stroll on the beach in the evening Day 3: Enjoy the hotel facilities, take a boat back to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon Day 4: A day tour around Ho Chi Minh City, visit the highest bar in Ho Chi Minh City at night Day 5: Visit an Instagram-worthy café in Ho Chi Minh City, then head home Day 1: Unexpected Flight Trouble and Luxury Accommodation in Vung Tau An Unexpected Visa Issue On the morning of April 27th, full of anticipation, we met up at Taoyuan Airport, ready to check in as usual, when the counter staff asked us: "Excuse me, where is Ms. Pan's visa?" We had originally thought we could get a visa on arrival, but the counter staff informed us that a Vietnam visa on arrival needs to be applied for online in advance!We applied for the visa immediately at the provided website, but since it was a holiday, even applying for expedited processing couldn't get it right away, so we had to fly to Vietnam on separate flights and buy extra plane tickets. We checked into the Imperial Hotel Vung Tau at 11:30 that night, finally waiting for my girlfriend who arrived 12 hours after me, and together we took the taxi we had arranged in advance to head to The IMPERIAL Hotel in Vung Tau. We arrived in Vung Tau at 1:30 in the morning, and all our fatigue was instantly swept away by the hotel's gorgeous decor.This hotel is not only impressive on the outside, but the rooms are also luxurious. After taking a bunch of photos, I quickly freshened up and rested, getting ready for tomorrow's itinerary.

Day 2: Jesus Mountain Challenge and Coastal Stroll Climbing Jesus Mountain in Vung Tau. After breakfast, we head to one of Vung Tau's landmarks — Jesus Mountain (Tượng Chúa Kitô Vua). Climbing 800 steps sounds intimidating, but it's actually not that hard, since the steps aren't steep and there are shaded spots along the way to rest. Once at the top, you can go inside the statue, and finally stand on Jesus' outstretched arms to look out over the entire city of Vung Tau — the view is absolutely magnificent.

There's an elderly gentleman near the Jesus statue who helps take photos, 25,000 VND per photo — it's really worth it to capture a memory there.

⚠ There is a dress code for entering the interior of the Jesus statue — sleeveless tops are not allowed, and pants must go past the knee. Leisure time by the coast: After coming down the mountain, we arrived at a photo spot by the coast, and bought sugarcane juice from a nearby shop for my girlfriend to try Vietnam's affordable delicacies, and also took a short rest in a hammock nearby.

Seafood restaurant scam — We headed to Vung Tau's famous Ganh Hao Seafood Restaurant, but the taxi driver told us it closed at 3pm. So we followed the driver's recommendation and went to another seafood place instead, only to find the prices were clearly unreasonable (for example, crab was 700,000 VND per kg, much more expensive than the 450,000 VND per kg charged elsewhere).

This bad experience taught us a lesson: ✅ Don't blindly trust restaurants recommended by taxi drivers ✅ Use Google reviews, but be sure to carefully confirm the restaurant's actual location. Fortunately, in the evening we had authentic and affordable seafood with friends at a local seafood restaurant (Hải Sản Cô Thy 2), which made up a little for the day's mistake.

Evening Beach Walk. After enjoying a hearty meal, we decided to take a walk along Vung Tau's beach, feeling the night sea breeze and the tranquil atmosphere.

Day 3: Leisure Time at the Hotel and Boat Return to Ho Chi Minh City This morning is set aside for a relaxed swim at the hotel — after all, you'd be laughed at for coming all the way to Vung Tau without getting in the water! The hotel pool and the beach are both very easy to access, so you can enjoy some water fun anytime you like.

We took the business class to return to Ho Chi Minh City. We had originally planned to take a regular ferry back to Ho Chi Minh City, but it turned out to be fully booked, so we had no choice but to buy business class tickets. We never expected that the business class seating would actually be in the captain's cabin! This boat trip experience let us observe the captain operating the ship up close, and it was also more comfortable than we had imagined.

After arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, check into the historic five-star Majestic Hotel, the very first five-star hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, boasting a rich classical European style.

Dinner: Hong Kong-Style Restaurant Experience In the evening, we headed to a Hong Kong-style restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City for dinner. The restaurant's decor was retro and elegant, and every dish—from the roast duck to the shrimp dumplings—was truly authentic, making us feel as if we had been transported to a tea house in Hong Kong.

Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City Sightseeing and Rooftop Bars at Night Daytime city itinerary: Opera House Ho Chi Minh City Hall (People's Committee Building) Central Post Office Notre-Dame Cathedral (Red Church) Around Ben Thanh Market (MAISON MAROU, PHO 2000)

Nighttime Rooftop Bar: EON51 — at 11pm, took my girlfriend to Ho Chi Minh City's tallest bar, EON51, located on the 52nd floor with a panoramic view of the whole city. The drinks are pricier, but it's worth it to bring this trip to a beautiful close. Day 5: Instagrammable Cafés and a Nerve-Wracking Trip Home Today we planned a relaxed brunch and café check-in, choosing Café Terrance — but after we arrived, we realized we'd gone to the wrong place! Since we were already there, we made the best of it and still took some photos to remember it by.

A thrilling flight ticket issue: since my girlfriend didn't show up for her outbound flight, Vietnam Airlines automatically canceled her return flight. Luckily we had time to handle it, and we managed to buy a budget airline ticket and made it back to Taiwan smoothly. 🚨 Friendly reminder: If you're going to No Show on a flight segment, please apply in advance to waive that segment, in order to keep your return flight ticket. Summary This 5-day 4-night trip to Vietnam was full of surprises and challenges — from visa issues to restaurant letdowns, and then the flight No Show. Every part of the journey was a lesson learned. 💡 Travel Tips Check visa requirements in advance to avoid being unable to enter the country at the last minute. Be sure to check reviews for restaurants recommended by taxi drivers. A flight No Show could affect your return journey, so please handle it in advance. Explore More Vietnam Travel Destinations Vietnam boasts rich natural landscapes and cultural heritage — whether you want to explore the stunning mountains and rivers of North Vietnam, the historic ancient towns of Central Vietnam, or the laid-back coastline of South Vietnam, you'll find the perfect travel experience for you! 🇻🇳 North Vietnam Travel Guide 📍Hanoi: Ancient City of a Thousand Years | 📍Ha Long Bay: World Heritage Wonder | 📍Tam Coc (Ninh Binh): The "Halong Bay on Land" | 📍Sapa: Stunning Sea of Clouds and Terraced Fields 🇻🇳 Central Vietnam Travel Highlights 📍Da Nang: Seaside Resort Paradise | 📍Hoi An: Ancient Lantern Town | 📍Hue: Imperial Citadel Ruins 🇻🇳 Southern Vietnam Highlights 📍Nha Trang: Beach and Island Paradise | 📍Da Lat: Romantic French-style Mountain Town | 📍Ho Chi Minh City: A Blend of Modernity and History | 📍Vung Tau: Coastal Resort Getaway