Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province

Ba Ria - Vung Tau: A vibrant and authentic coastal province

When talking about the southeastern coastal province of Vietnam that I, mr.hotsia, had the opportunity to visit and was very impressed with, I must sayBa Ria - Vung TauThis province is the gateway to Vietnam's East Sea and holds great economic importance in the region. It is located about 170 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City by road, with convenient air and sea connections. However, the travel method I, mr.hotsia, prefer and highly recommend is the speedboat from Ho Chi Minh to Vung Tau, which takes less than two hours. The scenery along the way is beautiful and refreshing compared to the 4-6 hours of traffic jams by car.

Travel routes: Bus and speedboat

From my personal experience, I traveled by bus from Ho Chi Minh to Ba Ria city first, a small town about 20 kilometers from Vung Tau. For this trip, I chose the well-known Vietnamese bus companyPhuong Trangwhich has frequent departures and affordable prices at about 190 Thai Baht. However, you should allow extra time and patience due to heavy traffic. If you want a faster and different experience, I recommend trying the speedboat from Ho Chi Minh to Vung Tau, which takes about 1.5 hours and costs around 300 Thai Baht. It is very worthwhile and popular among both Vietnamese and foreign tourists.

Atmosphere and accommodation in Ba Ria

Ba Ria city seems to be a transit stop for tourists before heading to Vung Tau because there are many accommodation options, including small hotels and budget guesthouses, especially near the bus station area with over 20-30 hotels. Most accommodations cater to Vietnamese visitors, but if you want to experience the local atmosphere, there are night and morning markets I have visited where you can find interesting local foods such asBa Ria Fried Chicken Riceor what Vietnamese call “Ga Ro Ti,” a unique style of fried chicken. There is also boiled corn with sugar and coconut shell ice cream, which are famous local treats.

Vung Tau: A beach city with a simple lifestyle

From Ba Ria, I, mr.hotsia, continued to Vung Tau, the provincial capital known for its beautiful beaches, especially Bai Sau Beach or Back Beach, a long curved beach that is very beautiful. The eastern coast has many beachfront hotels and resorts. The sea water is clear and suitable for swimming early in the morning. Many Vietnamese tourists visit, with some foreign tourists as well but not many.

Vung Tau has two low mountains called Big Mountain and Small Mountain, which I like very much because you can climb up to enjoy panoramic views of the city and sea. There is also a coastal road considered one of the most beautiful in Vietnam, perfect for cycling or leisurely walks.

Accommodation and food in Vung Tau

Regarding accommodation in Vung Tau, I, mr.hotsia, recommend staying in the area between the two mountains for convenience and proximity to the sea. I stayed at Nha Nghi Cat Phuong hotel, which is affordable and close to a Vietnamese Banh Khot snack shop I mentioned in this article.Vietnamese Banh Khota snack you must try if you visit here.

If you love seafood, Vung Tau offers several seafood buffets, especially at Petro House hotel, where I had a very impressive meal. The prices are reasonable, and the food is fresh, including shrimp, shellfish, crab, fish, and tender roasted duck served unlimited. Read more in the articleSeafood Buffet.

Markets and lifestyle in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province

If you want to experience authentic local life and culture, I recommend visiting the morning or night markets in Ba Ria city. Here you can find fresh food and ingredients and see traditional cooking, such as pork leg noodle soup with a rich broth and fried chicken rice so delicious I had to return several times.

In Vung Tau, besides beaches and accommodation, there is a bus station connecting to various cities in Vietnam, making it convenient for tourists traveling to other destinations. Read more aboutVung Tau bus stationin my article.

Summary of impressions by mr.hotsia

Ba Ria - Vung Tau province perfectly blends vibrant coastal city life with traditional Vietnamese culture. The diverse travel options allow visitors to have unique experiences, and the local food is so delicious it must be shared. For anyone wanting to escape the hustle of big cities and looking for a seaside destination not far from Ho Chi Minh City, I, mr.hotsia, recommend visiting Ba Ria - Vung Tau once. You will discover that Vietnam's sea has more charm than you think.