Capital city: Vung Tau
Area (sq km): 1,975
Population: 839,000
Average temp: 27°C
Ethnic data: Viet/Kinh, Hoa, Khmer, Tay.
Districts/wards: Ba Ria, Chau Duc, Con Dao, Long Dat,
Tan Thanh, Xuyen Moc.

 Vung Tau Map

Description:
Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province is located northeast of Mekong Delta in southern ViêtNam. It is a popular, albeit overrated, resort approximately 120 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City/SaiGon.

There are beaches, such as Back, Front and Dau Beaches, located in the southern part of Vung Tau. Vung Tau beaches are not clean and are littered with used drug paraphernalia which can pass on AIDS/HIV and hepatitis C. Wear shoes.

Con Dao Island (4), approximately 90 kilometres southeast of Vung Tau City, was a famous French and American detention centre/prison, has a dense forest with various animal species.

The area ocean has various valuable marine species.

Economy:
Oil and marine resources.

Natural beauty sights:
Binh Chau Thermal Springs (1), Con Dao Island, Vung Tau (?).

Historic sights:
An Son Temple (5), Niet Ban Tinh Xa (3), Thich Ca Phat Dai (2).

Festivals:
Dinh Co Festival, Thang Genies Festival.

Transport:
Vung Tau is 125 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City/SaiGon. It has air, road and water services.

Air
There are airports at Vung Tau (VTG) and Con Dao Islands (VVCS) although there are no scheduled flights to either at this time. They are used primarily for military and oil drilling purposes. Charters can be arranged - see below.

Road
Vung Tau Bus Station is located at 52 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, about 1.5 kilometres northeast of downtown Vung Tau. There are both long distance and local services - Ho Chi Minh City/SaiGon 128 kilometre trip is USD$4.00, 2 hours) to SaiGon Hotel (Dong Du between Dong Khoi Street and Ha Bai Trung Street) in District 1.

Local bus services include Baria, Bien Hoa, Long Hai, Long Khanh, My Tho and Tay Ninh.

Water
There is a flying-fish hydrofoil service between Ho Chi Minh City/SaiGon and Vung Tau (USD$10, 1.25 hours) up to 4 times daily (seasonal) from the docks on SaiGon River at Ham Nghi - you can't miss the dock waiting room. (Tel: +84-(0)-8-821-5609). Purchasing your RETURN ticket in advance is recommended.

Con Dao Islands
180 kilometres off shore are the islands of the Con Dao Archipelago comprising 14 islands of various sizes. The best time to visit Con Dao is from March through June, when the sea is at its calmest.

The largest, Con Son Island looks like a bear rising from the sea to east of the most southern point of ViêtNam, has a surface area of approximately 20 square kilometres and is partially forested and the coastline is ringed with small bays, beaches and even some coral reefs, including Dam Trau Hang Duong and Phi Yen where visitors can relax and enjoy the warm temperature

Over the centuries it has been variously occupied by the British East India Company, the French colonialists, the South ViêtNamese 'Puppet' Government and the Americans.

Con Son had a well-earned reputation for mistreatment and torture throughout its history beginning with the French. Following the French defeat in Dien Bien Phu and its fleeing of Indochina, the South ViêtNamese Government used its facilities for the same purposes including students, in fact more than 22,000 prisoners who dedicated their lives to national independence were incarcerated on these isolated islands.

There is a Revolutionary Museum that depicts the deprivations that prisoners suffered. A ditch, that was filled with cattle urine, and used to 'dip' Communists in (completely), can be viewed.

There is a hotel, Phi Yen Hotel, investors from HMC built the Phi Yen Sea Resort to accommodate visitors (Tel: +84-(0)-64-830-168), that rents twin air-con rooms for USD$18, with a sea view USD$25.

Transportation
Con Son has air transportation links - arranged from either Ho Chi Minh City/SaiGon or Vung Tau. Water transportation is arranged in Vung Tau.

Air
Vasco (ViêtNam Air Service Company) (Helijets)
114 Bach Dang Road
Ho Chi Minh City/SaiGon
Tel: +84-(0)-8-842-2790
Ton Son Nhut/Con Dao
3 times weekly. 27 Quang Trung Boulevard
Vung Tau
Tel: +84-(0)-64-856-100
Vung Tau/Con Dao Island on Saturdays

Water
The ViêtNamese Navy operates a ship between Vung Tau and Con Son Island with the 180 kilometre trip taking 12 hours. Foreigners need to get advance permission to travel.

Contact:
Oil Service Company & Tourism
2 Le Loi Street
Vung Tau (Tel: +84-(0)-64-852-012) (FAX: +84-(0)-64-852-834)