Vung Tau is about 125km away from Ho Chi Minh and can be reached within 2-3 hours by any mode of transport.
Vung Tau was developed as a resort town after the Vietnam War through the influx of Russians.
If you’re expecting a beautiful coastal city with pristine beaches, you may be disappointed.
The best way to enjoy Vung Tau is to book a nice hotel or resort and take a break. It would be good for those who want to rest to visit Vung Tau.
How can I get from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau?
Here is a summary of how to get from Ho Chi Minh to Vung Tau
| Transport | Travel Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Intercity Bus | 3 hours | 180,000 VND |
| Travel Agency Bus | 2 hours | 260,000 VND |
| Limousine Van | 200,000 VND | |
| Ferry | 350,000 VND |
Intercity Bus
From Mien Dong or Mien Tay bus terminal in Ho Chi Minh City, you can take a bus every 30 minutes from 05:00 to 20:00.
The fare is the cheapest way to travel, but many people visiting Ho Chi Minh City stay near Bui Vien Street or District 1.
It costs extra to take a taxi or Grab from District 1 to Mien Tay bus terminal.
So it may be cheaper to use a travel agency bus or van that we will introduce below.
- From Bui Vien to Mien Tay bus terminal by Grab: 10km, 25 minutes, 200,000 dong.
It takes longer, it’s harder to get on, and it’s more expensive. So there is no big advantage to taking an intercity bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau.
If you still want to take an intercity bus from Ho Chi Minh to Vung Tau, we recommend using the Futa – Phuong Trang bus.
Book through their official website and exchange your online reservation for a physical ticket at their office on Bui Vien Street in District 1.
They also offer a pickup service from your hotel. A van will pick you up at the scheduled time and take you to the bus station for free.
You must visit the office at least one day in advance to apply.
location of the Western Bus Terminal in Ho Chi Minh City
| Place Name | Ho Chi Minh Western Bus Terminal |
| Place Name | Bến xe Miền Tây |
| Address | 395 Đ. Kinh Dương Vương, An Lạc, Bình Tân, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000 Vietnam |
| Business Hours | 24 hours |
| Closed Days | None |
| Tel | +84 1900 7373 |
Travel Agency Bus
You can easily visit Vung Tau by booking a bus through a travel agency on Bui Vien Street in Ho Chi Minh City.
The price is similar at any travel agency. But the safest choice is to book with Sinh Tourist.
Sinh Tourist is one of the most famous travel agencies in Vietnam. Their main office is on Bui Vien Street, so it’s easy to visit.
You cannot book online now. You have to visit in person to book. They do not have many buses each day.
Still, we recommend taking a travel agency bus because you will travel with other foreigners.
| Place Name | The sinhtourist (Sinh Cafe) |
| Address | 248 Đề Thám, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam |
| Business Hours | 6:30 – 22:30 |
| Closed Days | None |
| Telephone | (08) 3838 9597 |
| Website | https://thesinhtourist.vn/ |
Limousine vans
Limousine vans are a popular way to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau.
In Vietnam, many people use vans that can carry up to 9 passengers for short trips.
The price is similar to travel agencies or city buses, but limousine vans are more comfortable for fewer people.
There are many choices between Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau. They run 24 hours a day and you can pick the time you want.
Each bus company has places to get on and off. You can get on and off at these places.
If you want to get on or off at a different place, you can ask the driver. But you need to speak Vietnamese and call them on the phone. You may need help from your hotel.
Many Vietnamese people also use limousine vans. When you take a van, you may hope the Vietnamese person sitting next to you is just a normal person.
Common problems when taking a van:
- People talk loudly on the phone for a long time.
- They buy things that smell bad at markets (rest stops) along the way.
- They eat a lot in the van. But the van does not have good air flow.
Luckily, Vung Tau is close so you can put up with all of this.
How to book a limousine van:
Ferry
You can visit Vung Tau by taking a ferry from Bach Dang Pier in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
It runs four times a day, costs 350,000 VND, and takes 2 hours.
Personally, I don’t recommend this way for safety reasons.
In 2014, there was an incident where a ferry with about 100 passengers caught fire on its way to Vung Tau.
Luckily, the fire broke out only about 15 minutes after departure on the Saigon River, so passengers were safely rescued by nearby boats. Related article
At that time, it was widely reported in the news, and the ferry operation was suspended for a few months.
Of course, i can’t say that ferries are dangerous just because of one accident, but ferry-related accidents appear in Vietnam news every year.
The advantage of taking the ferry is that it’s not affected by traffic congestion between Vung Tau and Ho Chi Minh City.
However, on weekdays, the last ferry runs at 2 PM and on weekends at 4 PM, so even if you take a bus at that time, traffic is not that bad.
How to visit Vung Tau by ferry
Where is the ferry terminal located?
| Place Name | Bach Dang Port |
| Place Name | Bến Bạch Đằng |
| Address | 27 Đ. Tôn Đức Thắng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam |
Tips for traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau
- Don’t go to Vung Tau by car between 5 and 7 PM. Traffic is really bad. Leave before 4 PM. It will take 4-5 hours instead of 2 hours.
- Buy a small bottle of water and take it with you.
Can i go straight from Ho Chi Minh City airport to Vung Tau?
Yes, you can. You can take a limousine van that we mentioned earlier.
Use a company that has “Sân Bay Tân Sơn Nhất” as the departure place. You can get on at the international terminal. Each company has a number for where to get on.