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Vung Tau South Vietnam coast

January 21, 2015 by David Herd

Put this on your bucket list

Vung Tau South Vietnam

Vung Tau South Vietnam

Vung Tau South Vietnam coast is a 90 minute fast ferry ride from Saigon. One surprise certainly was the statue of Christ similar to Rio on a smaller scale. Wayne Morris, my friend from Sydney climbing the 811 stairs to reach the top. It was very hot and I had to rest 5 times on the way up. 馃檪

A tough climb

Vung Tau South Vietnam

This climb reminded me of El Castillo at Chitzen Itza, that one was more frightening but this one was far tougher. Lucky for me they have quite a few rest stations which I was happy to take advantage of. 馃檪

Vung Tau South Vietnam

Vung Tau South Vietnam

A you can see there is access to the very top of the statue, however it is closed between 11 and 1 pm.

Happy dragon

Vung Tau South Vietnam

Halfway down the mountain this happy dragon appears.

 

Vung Tau South Vietnam ferry terminal

Vung Tau South Vietnam

Only 90 minutes from Saigon in a fast ferry that costs just $10 usd.

Vung Tau fisherman

Vung Tau South Vietnam

Vietnam of course specialise in seafood due the the incredibly long coastline.

Downtown Vung Tau

Vung Tau South Vietnam

During 14th and 15th centuries, the cape that would become V农ng T脿u was a swamp which European trading ships visited regularly. The ships’ activities inspired the name V农ng T脿u, which means “anchorage”. The French Indochinese government named it Cap Saint-Jacques (“Cap Xanh Gi岷痗”, in Vietnamese). The cliff of V农ng T脿u is now called M农i Nghinh Phong (literally meaning “Cape of breeze welcome“) or (“Cape of greeting the wind“).

Enjoying the evening breeze

Vung Tau South Vietnam

late afternoon and late into the evening people gather along the seaside to chat and enjoy the ocean breeze.

Escaping from the sun.

Vung Tau South Vietnam

Most Asian ladies are very careful to stay out of the sun.

 No clever remarks please

Vung Tau South Vietnam

I realise some of my friends will not be able to resist the comparison between myself and the whale. 馃檪

 

Green Hotel $40 pn

Vung Tau South Vietnam

Good location and great value if you book through this AGODA link.

 

View from Green Hotel

Vung Tau South Vietnam

Although this was a very good location if you like the beach, however next time I visit I’ll probably stay in the town.

Opposite Green Hotel

Vung Tau South Vietnam

The long sandy beach was ideal for my regular morning walk.

 Five Star Imperial Hotel

Vung Tau South Vietnam

My friend was staying 800 meters from The Green Hotel at the five star Imperial Hotel. There is of course no comparison in the facilities, however there is a huge price difference. If you book through AGODA you will get a competitive rate of $230 to $300 aud, but that is a lot more than $40 for the Green hotel.

Imperial Hotel

Vung Tau South Vietnam

An excellent upmarket hotel with a pool and bar right on the beach.

Very unfriendly place

Vung Tau South Vietnam

This beer bar is part of the Imperial hotel, sadly the staff are quite rude and unfriendly. I wanted to have a drink while waiting for my friend to arrive, it was early and only about 4 customers in the whole place.

I wanted to sit near the window to keep an eye out for my friend, however they insisted I sit at the bar because I was alone. Because of their poor attitude I rang my friend and we had drinks elsewhere.

Lucy’s Sports Bar

Vung Tau South Vietnam

This friendly bar is totally the opposite from Vuvuzela, great food and very friendly staff. It’s run by an Aussie called KJ who certainly makes you feel welcome.

Lucy’s Sports Bar

Vung Tau South Vietnam

Here are the friendly girls at Lucy’s, nice food and a good atmosphere.

Scallop salad at Lucy’s sports bar

Vung Tau South Vietnam

The extensive menu offers some great choices, I had a terrific seafood chowder and a great cheeseburger.

Aussie hamburger at Lucy’s

Vung Tau South Vietnam

A bar run by an Aussie is always going to serve a great hamburger.

 Sunset at Vung Tau South Vietnam

Vung Tau South Vietnam

This is the view from Lucy’s bar overlooking the bay.

Hollywood night club

Vung Tau South Vietnam

There is a reasonable selection of late night venues, many of them seem to focus on Karaoke.

 Lan Rung

Vung Tau South Vietnam

Good food here and even better beer which they brew themselves.

Shrimp and cauliflower at Lan Rung

Vung Tau South Vietnam

 Lan Rung restaurant, shrimp and cauliflower.

 Fresh spring rolls, my favourite.

Vung Tau South Vietnam

They were delicious, I remember a little Vietnamese restaurant on the Gold Coast  beside the fire station near Monaco St, they had some of the best Summer rolls I have ever eaten.  

Hoang Hoa Tham road Vung Tau South Vietnam

Vung Tau South Vietnam

This road is a short cut from the beach to the town, about 30% lower taxi fare than going around the coast. You can guess which route the taxi drivers prefer. 馃檪

French bakery

Vung Tau South Vietnam

This is a very good French bakery and coffee shop in  Hoang Hoa Tham road, it’s quite large so you can’t miss it. The address is 128 Ho脿ng Hoa Th谩m, Xa Vung Tau, B脿 R峄媋-V农ng T脿u, Vietnam 064. Here is the bakery on Google Earth.


 Fast ferry to Vung Tau

Vung Tau South Vietnam

Only 90 minutes at $10 usd from Saigon to Vung Tau South Vietnam.

15 minutes from HCMC

 

Vung Tau South Vietnam

Every now and then I take a photo I really love, this is one of those.

HCMC to Vung Tau

Vung Tau South Vietnam

It was an interesting trip from HCM to Vung Tau South Vietnam by river.

Even better value is the luxury mini bus

Vung Tau South Vietnam

They run every hour and pick up from your hotel, the road is excellent, 65% express-way.  The trip from Vung Tau to Saigon was only 80 minutes.

Vung Tau South Vietnam

Vung Tau South Vietnam

I’m the only passenger from Vung Tau to Saigon.

Many thanks for visiting my Vung Tau South Vietnam photo blog.

The New World Hotel is in a great location in the centre of the city, for a discounted room rate book through THIS LINK.

 

 

                   

A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

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               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
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 That鈥檚 all folks

1g Duck

 

Here are photos of the War Remnants Museum

 
 

Here is my HCMC post, a great city

 
 

Finally the best view in Saigon from Chill

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam 2015

January 17, 2015 by David Herd

Just an amazing city.

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam in 2015 was quite different to my previous visits in 2003. More cars, not quite so many bikes, lots of high rise buildings & good taxis.

The old & traditional is far more charming

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Later in the day this coffee shop will be packed.

Coffee shop close to Saigon Apartments

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Good coffee here on the corner near Saigon Apartments.

Roland and I at our local coffee shop

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

My friend Roland Bonicci is a Sydney barrister who absolutely loves Vietnam, I’m sure sometime in the future he will probably retire here.

Saigon Apartments

9f7c3e9a-3f8c-420b-9884-b3793557833d

Great value and a good location in District 3. Only $68 per night if you book through this AGODA link. Both bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms and there is an excellent kitchen and large lounge room with a balcony.

Shri, rooftop restaurant

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Set atop the new Centec Tower, Shri Restaurant & Lounge offers unparalleled panoramic views from nearly every table in the restaurant, whether it be in the modern Internationally styled Dining Room,  with its very clean simple lines, on the stunning alfresco Garden Terrace.

Pasta at Shri

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

The pasta was a very reasonable price at only $13 usd.

 

Roast pig at Tram Chim

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

This restaurant is very popular, not so much for the food but for the attractive waitresses who flirt with you while you dine. 馃檪 In fact the waitresses are all worth the visit, they peel your prawns cut the pork and even massage your shoulders while you eat.

Peel the prawns then warm in the coconut

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

They tasted every bit as good as they looked.

Our personal prawn peeler

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Now this is the only way to eat prawns, have somebody peel them for you.

 Tram Chim sexy waitresses

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

 If you want to really enjoy your dining experience this is the restaurant for you. The food is not bad but you don’t go there for the food. They have some of the most attractive “waitresses” in Saigon for a restaurant. Beautiful girls who are friendly and give very good service as well. The food is ok, the beer is cold and the waitresses are hot! Enjoy the place but don’t take your wife. 馃檪

Let’s go upmarket to Maxim’s restaurant

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

It feels like you have stepped back in time to the 1930s. Maxim’s restaurant is like entering a time warp. It actually opened in 1925 and I swear they have changed nothing since then. 馃檪 Food is excellent and reasonably expensive along with the wine. Worth a visit before going upstairs to their very classy upmarket night club.

Now let’s go really upmarket to Maxim’s night club

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

As you can imagine the drinks are rather expensive.

Gorgeous girls at Maxim’s

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Famous as an important part of downtown Saigon since 1925, Maxim鈥檚 Club has been known as THE entertainment venue of business people and social elites since last century.

Gorgeous Russian Singer

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Not only does she sing but plays a mean violin as well.

Maxim’s is magnificent

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Yes, it is upmarket and expensive but a great venue for music and gorgeous girls. One huge negative for me is they smoke in the club.

Maxim’s Club 13-15-17 膼峄搉g Kh峄焛, District 1

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

The Russian girl may be beautiful however this guy can really sing, check him out if you get a chance.

Chill is a great rooftop bar & restaurant

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

A great bar and not as expensive as similar Bangkok Sky Bars.

Chill rooftop bar

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

The bar itself looks stunning from the floor above.

Breathtaking view from Chill

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

The ever changing Saigon skyline is quite breathtaking.

A favourite photo

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Calm waters of the mighty Mekong River.

A great place for a long lazy lunch.  

 Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

A terrific place to sip a cocktail and watch the world go by.

The famous Cho Ben Thanh Market

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Located in the centre of Saigon this is one of the cities best known landmarks.  

Cho Ben Thanh Market

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

To me the market kind of marks the very centre of Saigon. Adjacent the New World Hotel is in a great location in the centre of the city, for a discounted room rate book through THIS LINK.

At Phatty’s watching the Asian cup

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

One of the many excellent Saigon sports bars.

Wayne, David, Roland and Pat at Phatty’s

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Here we are enjoying the atmosphere at one of Saigon’s best sports bars.

Bitexco Financial Tower

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

    A stunning building with a huge heliport and a roof top bar.

ALTO ROOFTOP BAR

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Breathtaking views from Alto Heli Bar on the 52nd floor of the ultra-modern Bitexco Financial Tower is by far the highest spot in Saigon to sip on a cool drink and admire the cityscape.

52nd floor of Bitexico tower

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

    Apologies for the rather poor quality selfie.

Mai, a lovely French girl at Maxim’s

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

A gorgeous French mademoiselle. 

Terrific singer at Maxim’s

  Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

This little girl could really belt out a song.

Saigon HCMC south Vietnam

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Taken from beside the river.

Saigon HCMC south Vietnam, lunch is served

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Lots of street food similar to Thailand.

Summer rolls & coconut only $4

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

      One of my all time favourite dishes.

With Roger at the Buddha Bar

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

We drank 3 bottles of wine for lunch Two hours after I arrived I met Roger for lunch at Jaspers where we proceeded to drink 3 bottles of wine before moving onto several bars where more alcohol was consumed. Roger works for an upmarket wine distributor so he probably feels it’s part of his job. 馃檪

Ciao Bella an excellent Italian restaurant

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

This very quickly became a favourite restaurant.

Roland enjoys a Ciao Bella feast

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

A great seafood salad, Roland is a Sydney barrister and really loves his food.

Best Saigon taxi company

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

Stick with this company or Mai Linh for clean honest low priced taxis.

Don’t under any circumstances use the company below.

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

They, SaigonTourist tried to charge 1,150,000 dong for a trip to the airport that should coast 150,000 to 200,000. After a brief argument I paid 300,000 and stormed off. It was my own fault completely as I broke my own rule of only using Vinasun and sometimes Mai Linh.


Tequila bar

 Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

One of the better bars with attractive ladies and good music.

German beer and Chinese food

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

A very good combination, German beer and Chinese food.

Jaspers restaurant

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

  This lovely lady is Ly, she works at Jasper’s.

Saigon HCMC south Vietnam, street lights to celebrate Tet.

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

This is without a doubt one of South East Asia’s most exciting cities.

Saigon school kids

Saigon HCMC South Vietnam

School-kids always look cute all over the world.

Saigon school kids part 2

 

Saigon traffic is chaotic

Dancing in a beautiful Saigon park

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 That鈥檚 all folks

1g Duck

 

 

Here is the best Sky Bar in Saigon

 

 

War remnants Museum

 

 

Vung Tau only 90 minutes by ferry of mini bus

 

 

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Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos