Vung
Tau, an old port and the first Vietnamese area to be visited
by vacationers and people seeking health treatment, is a resort
town in the province of Dong Nai. Vung Tau is located on a 110
square km area, 125 km southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. The town
is a long strip approximately 14 km long and 6 km wide. Where
the southern tip of town meets the ocean stand two famous mountains
Nui Lon (Truong Ky) and Nui Nho (Tao Phung) or Large Mountain
and Small Mountain.
Historically,
Vung Tau used to be part of Bien Hoa. The first settlements
in this area occurred during the reign of King Gia Long. During
this period, there were many Malay bandits in this region. They
often enter the area through Song Be entrance from the ocean.
This created a threat for merchants in the Gia Dinh area.
Vung Tau,
with an average temperature of 28 Celsius, has 20 km of coastline
with famous soft-sand beaches and calm waters. Vung Tau has
five beaches scattered over the peninsula. Bai Truoc, also called
Front Beach, is located on the northern side of Vung Tau and
stands between Nho and Lon Mountains. Restaurants, kiosks, and
hotels are close to the beach. Vong Nguyen, also called O Quan
Beach, is a peaceful cove with good wind. Surfers particularly
enjoy this area.
Bai Dua
or Dua Beach is located approximately 2 km from the center of
the city. People who do not like crowded beaches particularly
enjoy this quiet beach. Bai Sau, also called Back Beach, is
the longest stretch of sand on the peninsula. It is located
approximately 2 km from town on the southeastern side of Vung
Tau. It is exposed to South China Sea wind and surfing there
is excellent. Finally, Bai Dau Beach is located at the foot
of Lon Mountain. It is a small quiet beach, 3 km northwest of
Vung Tau.
