A favourite destination for the Saigonese since the 1800’s, this 11km stretch of white sand and the surrounding city are one of Vietnam’s most popular domestic tourist destinations. Beach enthusiasts normally flock to Vung Tau on the weekends.

Similar to Mui Ne, the city of Vung Tau actually has two beaches: one on the windward side of Cap St. Jacques and the other nestled in a cove on the leeward side and directly opposite the centre of town. Fronted by a small park which stretches along the foreshore, the “Front Beach” is one of the few places in Vietnam where you can watch the sun set over water.

Thuy Van beach, on the seaward side of the promontory, is not Vietnam’s prettiest beach either (no palm-fringed sands here). However, what it lacks in beauty it makes up for in size and space. At 11km long and varying between 25 and 50 metres wide, depending on the tide, there are always enough beaches to go around. There is always a spot, even at the height of a summer weekend when it seems half of HCMC has hit the beach!

Surprisingly non-commercial, you don't have to pay for access to any part of the beach, although the usual vendors, touts and peddlers are ever present. They are much less aggressive on the weekends than they are in mid-week, the price one pays to have such a long stretch of sand largely to oneself.

October to April is the hot, dry period in the south and the best for beach weather.