Vung Tau

Vung Tau sits on a headland at the mouth of the Saigon river approaches and has been the weekend sea for Ho Chi Minh City since the French built it as Cap Saint-Jacques. It is also the base of Vietnam's offshore oil industry, which is visible in the supply boats and the workforce. On Small Mountain stands the Christ of Vung Tau, finished in 1994 after a long interrupted construction, about thirty-two metres tall on a base, with a stair inside the figure up to the shoulders and a view from there over the sea. A lighthouse, first built by the French in 1862 and rebuilt higher up in 1913, stands on the top of the same hill.

What to look for

• A headland weekend resort - Saigon's nearest sea.
• The offshore oil base - supply boats and industry in the port.
• A thirty-two metre Christ - with a stair inside up to the shoulders.
• A lighthouse of 1862 - rebuilt in 1913 on the top of Small Mountain.

When to go

November to April; weekdays are far quieter than weekends. A full day.

Before you go

The beaches are not clean and the water is affected by the port and the river. Weekends are extremely crowded with Ho Chi Minh City visitors. The climb inside the statue is hot and narrow, and dress rules apply.

Nearby

Ho Chi Minh City is north-west; Long Hai and Ho Tram are east.

Key facts