Introducing Vung Tau, a place a family who relocated to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam visits about 5 times a year

Xin chào! We're Yuki, a Japanese husband, and Ngoc, his Vietnamese wife — a couple who relocated to Vietnam as a family. Since I started writing articles recently, I've been wondering which people want more: "information about relocating and daily life" or "travel reports about tourist spots in Vietnam." I couldn't really settle on an answer, so for now I think I'll write articles alternating between the two m(__)m   This time, we'd like to introduce Vung Tau, a tourist destination that we, having relocated to Ho Chi Minh City, probably visit around five times a year.

Vung Tau is a 2-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City. You can also get there easily by Grab or taxi (if you catch a cruising street taxi, negotiate the fare rather than using the meter—the price can differ enormously). Looking around online, Vung Tau is often described as something like "Vietnam's Atami," and I do get the impression that, while it's meant to be a beach resort, it feels a bit more rustic/countryside than that. Places you should visit when you come to Vung Tau

Recently, stylish cafes like the one you see here have been increasing in Vung Tau.

So many young people here! There's a café restaurant called "In the sea," which apparently turns into a bar at night. You can spot a few tourists here and there, but over 90% of the customers are Vietnamese. It really does seem like Vung Tau is still mainly a tourist spot for locals. Seaside seafood restaurants are also a sure bet!

Having lunch at a seaside seafood restaurant like the one you see here is a classic part of any trip to Vung Tau. Just be careful — if you order large shrimp or crab, it can end up being quite expensive even in Vietnam. But this kind of atmosphere really feels like Southeast Asia, doesn't it? I've already lived in Vietnam for over a decade, and I still never get tired of enjoying this tropical vibe ♪ The reason you should stay at a 5-star hotel when you visit Vung Tau!!

To be honest, my family doesn't have that much money (lol). But Vietnam is well known for having cheap hotel rates.

By the way, this hotel is a relatively high-end 5-star hotel for the area, but the rate was 13,000 yen per night. And that's not per person—it's per room, so this price covers 2 adults, 1 child, and 1 baby! Of course, it also comes with a breakfast buffet~! Vung Tau is a tourist destination popular with Vietnamese people, so honestly, the quality, including the hotel's service, isn't all that high.For that reason, if you lower the hotel level, you'll end up with a somewhat disappointing stay, so for Japanese travelers, I'd recommend at least a 5-star hotel, or 4-star at the very minimum! Are there any sightseeing spots in Vung Tau?

Vung Tau has the following tourist attractions. Tan Thanh Temple (Whale Temple): There is a preserved whale skeleton. Christ the King Statue: You can climb to the top. Our Lady Statue: You can visit the church. Lighthouse: The view is great. Cable car: The hilltop has been turned into a park. Honestly, none of them were interesting at all! And climbing up to the Christ statue was super tiring (lol) By the way, if you join a day tour, the schedule often goes: arrive locally → lunch at a seaside restaurant → Tan Tam Temple → the Christ Statue → return to Ho Chi Minh City. Honestly, I can't really recommend that plan. Personally, when it comes to seaside cafes and restaurants, I prefer to check Google Maps and tourist sites myself and decide where to go on my own — and that's also what I'd recommend for sightseeing in Vung Tau.    I was a little surprised by the beach in Vung Tau

Look at this... it's incredibly shallow for a long way out. I was born in southern Boso and raised in Kanagawa, so I've always lived in towns close to the sea, but even so, I've never seen anything like this... By the way, the tide goes out even further once night falls (lol) Why do I go to Vung Tau as many as five times a year? Well, it's because...

As I mentioned at the beginning, Vung Tau is just 2 hours from Ho Chi Minh City, it has the sea, fresh seafood, and cheap hotels, so for our family it's a destination we can visit for a one-night stay over the weekend. Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's largest commercial city, but unlike Japan, there aren't really entertainment facilities or entertainment spots, so about the only place to go on weekends is a shopping center.   If it's Vung Tau, even going with the family, we can manage it for about 30,000 yen including accommodation, so it's within budget as a reward for work. Because of that, we go there fairly often (by the way, Dalat, which I introduced last time, we go to about once a year). Actually, Ho Chi Minh City isn't really a tourist destination geared toward children, and if you're not interested in shopping for miscellaneous goods or spas, you might end up with time on your hands.   When that happens, please try visiting the Vung Tau spot introduced this time. Even just joining a tour and having a meal at a seaside restaurant will make you feel like "Wow, I've really come to the tropics!" ♪ Well then, see you soon! ♪