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1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Oh, time really flies and it’s already my fourth day in Ho Chi Minh City! No going for guided tour today and will be exploring on our own – We will be going to Vung Tau, which is a popular destination with beautiful beaches.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast, we took a cab from Elios Hotel to Bach Dang Passenger Quay (Ton Duc Thang Str., Dist. 1). The journey took a while due to the morning traffic and cost us VND 30,000. Initially, I have planned to take a bus to Vung Tau from Mien Dong Coach Station (Bến Xe Miền Đông) as it’s cheaper at VND 40,000 but at a longer duration (2 hours). Lucky thing is that I consulted the staff at Sasa Cafe the night before and they told me that Mien Dong Coach Station is quite far away and we need to take a cab (or bus #26 from Ben Thanh station) first. Then I decided that we should opt for the quick and easy way to Vung Tau via Hydrofoil fast ferry (Tàu cánh ngầm). Above photo is Bach Dang Passenger Quay.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

There are 3 Hydrofoil operators in Bach Dang Passenger Quay and the hydrofoils depart for Vung Tau almost hourly. Above photo shows Greenlines and Petro Express.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Vina Express on the other side of the Bach Dang Passenger Quay. All three operators charge the same fare at VND180,000 per person. Although it’s a little more expensive but it’s much faster (1 hour 15 min) and comfortable than bus.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Waiting area at Bach Dang Passenger Quay.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Our tickets from Greenlines. We decided to go for Greenlines due to the timing as they are the next hydrofoil schedule to leave and we only require to stick around less than 30mins.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Just around 15mins of wait and the hydrofoil arrived. Seats are allocated so there is no need to rush! 🙂

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

As our tickets was bought rather last minute, we got seats that face the rest of the passengers. Haha!

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

It was a rather pleasant ride and we reached Vung Tau in around 1 hour 15 min. Vung Tau is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province and is the first tourist city in Vietnam. With beauty beach and fresh air, Vung Tau is a very popular destination for weekends.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

First thing after alighting the hydrofoil is to go get return tickets back to Ho Chi Minh City. You may choose to stay in Vung Tau but we decided to stick to just a day trip. Better get return tickets earlier, otherwise you will get stuck in Vung Tau if all the tickets are sold out. Hehe!

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Went for Vina Express for our return trip back to Saigon. Fares are the same at VND180,000 per person.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Seems like a house to me… and it’s very nice! Sea view for all the rooms!

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Long and lonely road. A vast difference from the traffic at Ho Chi Minh City.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Passing by a Chinese temple.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Passing by another Chinese temple. 🙂

Vietnamese temple dedicated to Tran Hung Dao, the Vietnamese military hero. (Thanks to Walter for the correction!)

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

If you are spending more time here in Vung Tau, you may want to visit “Statue of Jesus Christ with outstretched arms” which is on top of small mountain.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Stopping at Coffee Ocap for a breather and to hide from the extremely hot weather! It’s burning our skin!

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

1 Soursop Shake and 1 Saigon at a total of VND 33,000. Ice-cold tea is provided free-of-charge and WIFI is available too!

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

After the rest, we continued to walk around. Passing by “The Etta Pub”, which seems like a nice place to chill out.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Buying and selling crabs! Think crabs are a specialty seafood which is very popular in Vung Tau as everyplace have cooked crab on their menu.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Passing by Cafe Chong Chong.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

The hot weather made us stop again but this time more for lunch.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Menu at Bayview. Lots of food selection available!

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Our lunch – 2 sandwich (as above), 1 Saigon beer and 1 Heineken, which totaled to VND 125,000. Gotta have the beer to cool us down in the hot weather! LOL!

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

View from our seats at Bayview. It’s nice to hide away from the sun! Haha!

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

The interior of Bayview. Believed that the owner is an Australian.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Time’s up – gotta board the Vinasun Express hydrofoil back to Ho Chi Minh City.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

This time round, we are given seats at the back of the hydrofoil. Personal opinion is that the Vinasun Express condition is worse off then Greenlines.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

We sat facing 2 LCD TVs but they are not on throughout the journey. In fact, it wasn’t even plug in! Check out the right LCD TV! Haha!

Anyway, beyond the door is actually the engine room so you get free diesel smell here too!

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

After alighting the Hydrofoil, it was raining heavily in Ho Chi Minh City so we waited for a while for the rain to become smalller. Then, we grabbed a cab to Zen Plaza and paid VND 25,000.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Explored Zen Plaza for a while and then took cab to Parkson at VND 30,000.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

La Dolce Vita Café at Continental Hotel Saigon.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Passing by Saigon Opera House.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Walking along Dong Khoi Street.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Lucky Plaza. Well, not the Lucky Plaza in Singapore. 🙂

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

The reason why we are roaming along Dong Khoi Street – French restaurant Augustin (10 Nguyen Thiep).

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

The interior of Augustin. We reached early for dinner (7pm) so we were the only customers. 🙂

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

A bottle of house red. Think it was around VND 250,000.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Grilled Duck Confit. VND 150,000.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Grilled Chicken Breast with Cream Sauce. VND 120,000.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Lime Sorbet with Vodka. VND 110,000.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Night view of Saigon Opera House.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Passing by Hotel Continental Saigon while we are walking toward Ben Thanh Market.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Water fountain where locals as well as tourist hang around.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

A statue of Ho Chi Minh with Ho Chi Minh City Hall in the background.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City Hall. It was renamed after 1975 as Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Passing by Trung Nguyen Coffee. Didn’t really try it as we can also find Trung Nguyen Coffee back home in Singapore (in Liang Court). I remembered always going there to stock up on G7 instant coffee!

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Next to Trung Nguyen Coffee is our destination – Bach Dang Ice Cream. A favourite place of young Saigonese.

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

A recommendation from the staff of Bach Dang Ice Cream – Ice cream in coconut at VND 62,000. Nice!

1 Day in Vung Tau & Ho Chi Minh City

Night market at Ben Thanh. Never really explore around as it’s likely to be a tourist trap! 😛

Leaving you with a video at Ben Thanh Market. Generally, the traffic in Ho Chi Minh City is somehow similar! 🙂