How To Travel To Vung Tau
Get In - By bus
Hwy 51 (Quc l 51), which leads from Biên Hoa City, connects Vũng Tàu to the mainland. The shortest route from Ho Chi Minh City is via the HCMC – Long Thành – Du Giây Highway, then exit at Long Thành and merge onto Highway 51.
From Tan Son Nhat (Tân Son Nhat) International Airport (SGN IATA), you can take a bus to Vung Tau. All of the buses are stationed near the domestic terminal. Look for the words “JetStar” or “Vietnam Airlines” painted on the bus.
The quickest method to go to Vũng Tàu by bus is to take a high-speed coach from HCMC’s Mien Dong Coach Station (Bến Xe Miền Đông). Buses with 16 seats and air conditioning run every 15 minutes. Duration: 2 hours, with a break halfway through. Take Bus 19 from Ben Thanh Market Bus Station to Mien Dong Coach Station, which will drop you off beside the Mien Dong Coach Station door.
Coach/bus travel from District 1 in HCMC to Vũng Tàu center typically takes nearly 2 hours.
- Hoa Mai Tourist Buses, Phó Đức Chính St, District 1, HCMC, +84 90 920 0200. 04:00-17:00. Operated every hour. Seats are reserved by telephone only. If you are in Vung Tau, free pick-up. 85,000 dong.
- Mai Linh Express, 292 Đinh Bộ Lĩnh, Bình Thạnh District, HCMC (Miền Đông Coach Station). Reliable inter-provincial bus service in Vietnam, especially southern Vietnam. Operates every 30 min. The journey from the bus depot in Ho Chi Minh City to the bus depot in Vung Tao takes approximately 2¼ hr during the day. A bottle of water is provided to every passenger. Using the toilet at the bus depot at HCMC costs 1,000 dong. 85,000 dong.
- Rạng Đông Bus Company, 292 Đinh Bộ Lĩ, Bình Thạnh District, HCMC (Miền Đông Coach Station), +84 85 111 111. 04:30-19:45. To/from HCMC. Departs when bus is full, which is approximately every 20 min. Rạng Đông also serves Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku, and Kontum. 80,000 dong.
- Thiên Phú, 292 Đinh Bộ Lĩnh, Bình Thạnh District, HCMC (Miền Đông Coach Station). The same as Rạng Đông, but with larger buses. Departure every 15 min.
Get In - By car
The best route from HCMC is identical to the coach/bus indicated before. To get to Vng Tàu, use the HCMC – Long Thành – Du Giây Highway, exit at Long Thành, and continue straight on Highway 51. Depending on drivers and/or traffic, it takes about 2 hours to get from District 1 in HCMC to Vng Tàu. The roads generally grow busier on holidays or weekends.
Drivers must remember to obey speed limits because traffic officers may stop them at any time to verify their speed and issue a fine. The HCMC – Long Thành – Dau Giây Highway has a speed limit of 120 km/h. Drivers on Highway 51 can attain speeds of up to 90 km/h outside of congested areas. It is limited to 60 km/h in some congested places, as indicated by large blue information signs on the roadside. Other signs define various other specific limits seldom.
On the journey from HCMC to Vng Tàu, there are three toll booths. One is on the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giây Highway, while the other two are on Highway 51. The fare for a car with up to 9 seats is 40,000 dong at the first booth. At the second and third booths, you pay 20,000 dong for the first one you approach and give receipt to the rest; there is no further charge.
Get In - By motorbike/bicycle
As motorbikes/bicycles are forbidden from HCMC – Long Thành – Dầu Giây Highway, the best way for drivers/riders is using Cát Lái ferry. The ferry fares are:
• Motorbike (1 driver included): 3000 dong.
• Bicycles (1 rider included): 1000 dong.
• Pedestrian or extra people on motorbike: 1000 dong.
After crossing the river, take the main route via Nhn Trch area, then join Highway 51, turn right, and continue straight.
The road surface is suitable for driving/riding. Simply stay in your designated lane and keep an eye out for pedestrians, especially at busy junctions where people cross the road irregularly at times. Aside from the HCMC – Long Thành – Du Giây Highway, there are numerous coffee shops, restaurants, and petrol stations where drivers/riders can rest. Before you settle, make sure you know the price.
Get In - By car-sharing
ShareCar, a ride-sharing service, provides free pick-up in Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau. A seat costs 220,000 dong one-way and must be reserved two days in advance via their website or by calling +841692715716. You can hire a chauffeur automobile with less notice for 700,000 dong one-way or 1,300,000 dong two-way.
Get In - By hydrofoil
“Tàu cánh ngầm” aka “Hydrofoil fast ferry” in Vietnam is a quick way to get to and from Vũng Tàu. Taking the Hydrofoil across the Saigon River to the sea is a great opportunity to observe the commercial maritime zones. Vng Tàu peninsula appears after 1 hour and 15 minutes, with its two mountains (conveniently named “Big Mountain” and “Little Mountain”) along the waterfront. Rather than riding the bus, this is a more pleasant method to get to Vung Tau. It is little more pricey, costing 200,000 dong per person. Booking at least one day in advance is strongly advised, especially on weekends.
Scam alert: They may refuse to sell you a return ticket in Saigon, advising you to get it as soon as possible in Vung Tau. When you arrive, the lady at the desk will pretend that all of the tickets have been sold, and you will be contacted by local males eager to sell the tickets for a 100% surcharge, with the help of the ticket counter personnel. Make sure you buy your return ticket in Saigon or tolerate being treated like an ATM.
- Petro Express, Hàm Nghi Road, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. 250,000 dong.
- Greenlines, Hàm Nghi Road, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. 250,000 dong.
- Vina Express, Hàm Nghi Road, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. 200,000 dong.
Adult USD10, child USD5 (age 6-11, under 1.4 m), duration: 75 minutes. Departs at Bach Dang Pier in Saigon, District 1. Not far from the Majestic Hotel (100 m). Lands in Cầu Đá Port, Ben Cau Da, Ha Long St, Vung Tau
