Ba Ria City (Ba Ria) Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Ba Ria City (Ba Ria) Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province

When talking about coastal provinces not far from Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau is one of the destinations I, mr.hotsia, would like to recommend. This province is located in southern Vietnam and is considered an important gateway to the southeastern region of the country. Being a province with a prominent economic and social role, transportation is convenient with road, air, and sea connections to Ho Chi Minh City and nearby provinces.

Interestingly, Ba Ria City has been the provincial capital since May 2, 2012. Although Vung Tau is a large city and a center for sea tourism, Ba Ria is the provincial capital instead. I think this uniqueness gives Ba Ria its own charm. It is not crowded with foreign tourists like Vung Tau, even though they are only 20 kilometers apart.

Transportation and Accommodation in Ba Ria

I traveled from Ho Chi Minh City to Ba Ria by private car, which took about 3 hours. The route was comfortable, passing through fields and small towns that gave me a real sense of Vietnamese life. When I arrived in Ba Ria in the evening, I looked for hotels near the night market and bus station, which offered more options than I expected. Most hotels were affordable, around 400-500 baht per night, with air conditioning and hot water. The Thanh Van Hotel where I stayed was decent and not far from both the night and morning markets, making it easy to stroll around.Ba Ria Morning MarketLocated nearby, it’s very easy to wake up early and take a walk to find food.

Night Market and Local Food

What impressed me most about Ba Ria was the atmosphere of the night market. The market here isn’t as large as other tourist markets but is full of lively locals trading energetically. The highlight of Ba Ria’s night market that I highly recommend is “Gim Ka Roti,” or fried chicken rice. The regular stall I visited had an amazing style of frying chicken — the cook moved rhythmically, jumping and tossing the chicken in the pan with great passion. The result was crispy fried chicken with rich, well-marinated flavor, served with fragrant yellow rice or plain rice, both equally delicious.Ba Ria Fried Chicken RiceA must-try dish when visiting here.

Besides fried chicken rice, the market also has a famous coconut ice cream stall at night. The ice cream is smooth, fragrant with real coconut aroma, and very refreshing, perfect for the hot southern Vietnam weather. There are also other local dishes such as pork knuckle noodle soup with tender stewed pork knuckles that almost melt in your mouth — a dish I felt was essential to try when visiting Ba Ria.

Lifestyle and City Atmosphere

Ba Ria is not focused on luxury tourism but feels like a good neighbor to travelers like me, mr.hotsia. I enjoyed eating local food, walking through markets, and connecting with small communities that have preserved their traditional way of life well. Here you will see rows of shops, people shopping at a relaxed pace, and street food vendors selecting fresh ingredients from the sea and local fruit gardens.

Ba Ria is also a great resting point before continuing to Vung Tau, a coastal city famous for its beaches and water activities. I took a bus from Ba Ria to Vung Tau, only 20 kilometers away. The trip was convenient and inexpensive, suitable for tourists who want to experience both a small town atmosphere and beautiful seaside in one trip.Read more about Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province

Additional Recommendations for Tourists

If you want to fully experience the sea atmosphere in Vung Tau, I, mr.hotsia, recommend staying one night in Ba Ria first to taste local food and experience community life. Then continue to Vung Tau to swim and enjoy fresh seafood, such as the seafood buffet at Petro House Hotel, which I have tried.Vung Tau Seafood BuffetVery worthwhile for those who love hearty eating like me.

For travel between Ba Ria and Vung Tau, there are regular bus and van services. If you want to continue to other cities in Vietnam, you can check the bus schedules at Vung Tau bus station.Vung Tau Bus Station InformationHere you can find buses to Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Da Lat, and many other cities.

Summary of Ba Ria Experience with mr.hotsia

Ba Ria may not have outstanding tourist attractions or many adventurous activities, but for me, it is a place that feels warm, like truly experiencing the lifestyle of southern Vietnamese people. You get to eat delicious local food that is rare in big cities and relax in a simple atmosphere before visiting the famous beaches of Vung Tau. I, mr.hotsia, recommend anyone who has the chance to visit southern Vietnam to stay a night in this city. You will discover another side of Vietnam that many overlook.