Vung Tau Seascape
Vũng Tàu is the port capital of Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Province, on a peninsula in southern Vietnam. Once a French colonial town, it’s now a popular seaside resort that draws tourists from around the world. Because of its close proximity to Ho Chi Minh City, many visitors day-trip and arrive by hydrofoil or bus. Its long, busy stretch of beach has the verdant Small and Big mountains as backdrop.
Sidewalk Dragon
A few hour bus trip from Mui Ne I arrive in the petroleum beach town of Vung Tau. Not having great expectations of a paradise beach town I was presently surprised as I checked into by beach view hotel. After check in I walked along the main beach street and meandered upward on one of the best sidewalks in all of Vietnam. As an older traveler this is a big plus for me. I want to be able to walk, take my time, take in the scenes and stop at a coffee shop along the way. As I neared the top of the hill there is a huge statue of Jesus perched on top of the mountain overlooking the bay and the city. With approximately two hundred steps you can climb to the Christ statue and feel like you are the King of the Universe.
Statue
Vung Tau will definitely not disappoint. Approximately one hour into my walk I started to descend down hill toward a long scenic bay and of course as if a genie appeared there was a great coffee shop perched on the cliff overlooking the bay. If you have never drank Vietnam coffee…it is to die for. With coffee in hand I order a plain baguette with cheese and egg and I was good to go. Total cost one dollar. This is a good time to reflect and give thanks to the travel gods and whoever is running the universe these days.
Seaside Restaurant
After my lunch break I crossed the road and walked back up the scenic sidewalk overlooking the bay and ocean with many green shade trees planted strategically along the walkway. What a great place to take some pictures, no lines no shoving and pushing… just you alone able to capture the seascape for your personal memories and to share a few for fellow travelers on the Zentraveler blog.
Offshore Island
So there you have it! An excellent city with long scenic beaches, French Colonial architecture that has some of the best seafood restaurants in the world, a choice of hotels to fit any budget and many activities for the tourist to chose from including: island hopping, scuba diving, jungle trekking, or just lazing on the beach. I personally liked the wide sidewalks, the small outdoor tables where you could always get a good cup of coffee and to me the feel and vibe of the city was great. Vung Tau has some big plans for future tourism development and if you were looking for a possible retirement heaven Vung Tau just might fit the bill. What are you waiting for Grasshopper a personalized invitation from the King or a swift kick in the pants to move you off center!
Beach Whale
QUOTE: “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” Robert Louis Stevenson
Vung Tau Beach
THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: When you’re headed to Vung Tau, the world feels like your oyster. Whether you’re off on a romantic escape, family holiday, or solo excursion, you won’t want to miss any important local landmarks or the best cuisine in town. There is perhaps no better way to take in the city than by staying at an ideally located Vung Tau accommodation. You can also arrange jungle treks, surfing, off shore diving, a round of golf or just hanging out at the beach.
coffee and tea time
THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Travel memories….like long term batteries their everlasting.
ZENTRAVELER SAYS: When you travel often times the best experiences are not planned and you simply go with the flow. Some travelers are so busy with their electronics and precision time tables they end up looking like possessed robots on steroids and completely miss the point of travel.
From here to Infinity and Beyond is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! …and on and on and on. Follow the Zentraveler Blog often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one blog for the price of free.
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