Vung Tau is a port town on the southern coast, about a two-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City. On weekends it fills with locals escaping the city heat for the sea — a go-to beach for Saigonese. A giant statue of Christ and a lighthouse stand on the hills, and seafood eateries line the shore, so you can pack light sightseeing and a swim into one trip. How you spend your time depends on whether you stay along the town beach or venture a little farther to hole up at a quiet resort.
In this article, we split places to stay around Vung Tau into "the city beach" and "venturing out to Ho Tram." For each area we lay out the options in a quick-reference table, then cover the standout properties one by one. Every place featured was chosen only after checking its rating and operating status one by one on Google Maps (star counts are as of July 2026). We don't include booking links, only links to Google Maps.
How to spend your time in Vung Tau — weekend beaches and light sightseeing
Vung Tau is a town beloved as an easygoing weekend beach getaway from Ho Chi Minh City. The usual plan centers on swimming and fresh seafood, mixed with a bit of light sightseeing: the giant hilltop statue of Christ (you can climb it for the view), the Hai Dang lighthouse, and a temple with a reclining Buddha. It makes a fine day trip, but staying overnight lets you relax on the beach.
If you want to enjoy the sea, strolling around town, and grazing on seafood, staying along the town beach is convenient. If you'd rather get well away from the city bustle and spend your time in peace and quiet, it's also worth going a little farther to hole up at one of the large resorts in Ho Tram.
① Around Back Beach (Bai Sau) — the heart of Vung Tau's coast
The heart of swimming in Vung Tau is Back Beach (Bai Sau), a long stretch of sand. Hotels and seafood eateries line the shore, and the large upscale hotels are clustered here too. It's a well-placed base for a weekend trip from Ho Chi Minh City, letting you combine the beach, a bit of sightseeing, and seafood all in one.
| Hotel | Type | Google Maps rating |
|---|---|---|
| The Imperial Hotel Vung Tau | Luxury (Back Beach front, landmark) | ★4.6 · 8,091 reviews |
| Pullman Vung Tau | Luxury (near Back Beach, high-rise) | ★4.7 · 6,444 reviews |
| Malibu Hotel Vung Tau | Mid to upper range (Back Beach, large-scale) | ★4.5・2,884 reviews |
The Imperial Hotel Vung Tau — a Victorian-style landmark on Back Beach
A large Victorian-style luxury hotel along Back Beach (Thuy Van Street) that evokes a European palace. Its beachfront location and classic interiors have made it a landmark of the town. With over 8,000 reviews at ★4.6, it's a well-known spot for an elegant seaside stay.
Pullman Vung Tau ── a high-rise hotel with great views, within walking distance of Back Beach
A high-rise hotel about a 10-minute walk from Back Beach, where the upper-floor rooms and rooftop look out over the sea and the town. It rates highly on Google Maps too, at ★4.7 with more than 6,000 reviews, and comes with the reassurance of the major Accor group. A sea view and a comfortable hotel stay come together here with ease.
Malibu Hotel Vung Tau — a large, easy-to-use hotel near Back Beach
This large hotel stands close to Back Beach, with a pool and restaurants that make it easy to use for families and groups. Its ratings are steady, too — over ★4.5 with more than 2,800 reviews — and the balance of price and facilities is its real appeal. A dependable pick when you want to stay comfortably near the sea without spending too much.
2. Venture out to Ho Tram ── quiet, large-scale beach resorts
About an hour's drive (roughly 50 km) from central Vung Tau, the quiet beaches of Ho Tram (Hồ Tràm) open up. There are no big towns nearby — just large resorts dotting an untouched shoreline. Hole up at a resort with golf, a spa, and pools, and leave the noise of the city completely behind. It's the kind of place for a proper weekend reset or an anniversary stay.
| Hotel | Type | Google Maps rating |
|---|---|---|
| Melia Ho Tram Beach Resort | Upscale (large-scale, next to a golf course) | ★4.7 · 4,989 reviews |
| Carmelina Beach Resort | Luxury (villa-style resort) | ★4.6, 2,269 reviews |
Melia Ho Tram Beach Resort — a large resort spread along a quiet beach
A large resort facing Ho Tram's quiet beach, with pools, restaurants, and a golf course across its expansive grounds. It's highly rated at ★4.7 with over 4,900 reviews, and it's designed so a whole day can play out within the resort. Away from the city, families and couples can take their time here.
Carmelina Beach Resort — a hideaway-style resort of greenery and villas
A hideaway-style resort along the Ho Tram shoreline, with villas and cottages dotted amid greenery. Its rating is solid at ★4.6 with over 2,200 reviews, and you can relax at the pool or on the beach. On this quiet, uncrowded stretch of coast, you can truly unwind.
Before you settle on a hotel ── tips for a trip to Vung Tau
Keep these three points in mind, including a few that are unique to Vung Tau as an easy getaway from Ho Chi Minh City.
- Weekends get busy, so book early: Vung Tau is the weekend beach for Ho Chi Minh City locals. On weekends and holidays, both the hotels and the roads get crowded. If your trip overlaps with those times, booking your room early is the safe bet.
- Read the star rating together with the number of reviews: Even a 4.9-star rating doesn't mean much if it's based on only a few dozen reviews. Hotels with a high star rating AND a large number of reviews are far less likely to disappoint.
- Choose by whether you want to be out in town or tucked away: Choose by what you want — the city beach if you'd like to combine sightseeing and swimming, or Ho Tram if you'd rather tuck yourself away somewhere quiet. Ho Tram is a way out from the center, so check your transport options in advance.
Note: the star ratings in this article were checked one property at a time on Google Maps as of July 2026. Before booking, follow the links to see the latest details to be sure. For the highlights of Vung Tau as a whole,Vung Tau sightseeing guide, the departure point'sHo Chi Minh City hotel guideas well.
Summary — in Vung Tau, it comes down to the town beach or quiet Ho Tram
Choosing where to stay in Vung Tau largely comes down to two options: the city beach, where you combine sightseeing and swimming, or a Ho Tram resort, where you venture out and settle in quietly. If you want to move around, go for the city beach; if you want to fully reset, choose Ho Tram. For a weekend trip from Ho Chi Minh City, pick whichever fits your goal.
Follow the map pins to find the one place that stays in your travel memories. Thank you for reading to the end.
Vung Tau sightseeing guidecovers this town's highlights, sample itineraries, food, and the best season to visit. Use it alongside your trip planning.
You might also like — Hotel guides for cities across Vietnam
- North：Hanoi ／ Sapa ／ Ha Long Bay
- Central：Da Nang ／ Hoi An ／ Hue ／ Quy Nhon
- South：Ho Chi Minh City ／ Nha Trang ／ Da Lat ／ Phu Quoc ／ Mekong Delta
