Vung Tau Activities

VUNG TAU CITY l AROUND VUNG TAU CITY

statue of jesus

The enormous 28m figure of Jesus gazing across the East Sea with outstretched arms is located at the southern end of Small mountain.

Built in 1971, this Giant Jesus rests on a 10m high platform. The interior of the statue is hollow and contains a spiral staircase of 129 steps, ascending from the foot of the statue to its neck. The two shoulders of the figure are balconies, each able to accommodate up to six people, which offer a splendid view of the surrounding landscape.

This is the largest sculpture in the South of Vietnam. Recent construction of a pathway has made the 30-minute hike up the mountain more pleasant and the panoramic view from various vista points along the way is magnificent.

con dao island
The island of Con Dao is 230 km from Ho Chi Minh city. Originally it was used by the French to incarcerate revolutionary prisoners. Nowadays Con Dao is considered an historical vestige where fighters for independence were held and tortured.

The prison, built in 1861, covers a total area of 347,140 sq.m. Part has been transformed into a museum where tiger cages, set up during the period of colonialism, still remain. One kilometre behind the prison is Hang Duong Cemetery where several prisoners were buried.

Con Dao island is part of an archipelago comprised of 14 islets. The area providing facilities for tourists is now a national park with beaches, crystal-clear waters and coconuts groves.

binh chau hot springs
The Binh Chau Hot Springs are located 70 km west of Vung Tau. Covering an area of 1 sq.km, Binh Chau consists of many lakes and ponds joined by an underground pool of mineral water that has been created from a network of 70 main sources.

The hot water, which has a temperature of 80oC (163.4oF, is directed into pools where it is used for its medicinal values, such as treating skin disease and rheumatism. They belong to a protected area that also features numerous forests, coasts and lakes. Hotels and restaurants have been built to accommodate visitors who go there for health as well as recreational purposes.

Binh Chau Hot Springs is an attractive site for those who love nature and who want to relax in an enchanting environment. The admission fee is about 15,000 VND.

bach dinh (white villa)
Bach Dinh or the White Mansion was built during the French occupation. The mansion sits at the bottom of Nui Lon overlooking the South China Sea and is one of Vung Tau's major landmark. Work on the mansion began in 1898 and was completed in 1916.

At the time, no expenses were spared as the amount of work and manpower involved in laying the road leading to the mansion were done almost completely by manual labor. Commissioned by French governor Paul Doumer, this mansion has served as summer retreat for Emperor Bao Dai as well as vacation home for vietnamese heads of state.

The mansion is 50 m above sea level and is designed in the style of 19th century French architecture. The grounds of the mansion still show signs of a once glamorous lifestyle of the French governor who commissioned this building.

The garden has an open air dance floor and many statues and details of Greek mythology. In terms of historical significance, Bach Dinh was where King Thanh Thai of the Nguyen Dynasty was under house arrest before he was finally exiled to Reunion island in Africa.

an son temple
An Son temple is an ancient temple located on Con Son island, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. It was built in 1785 in honour of Lady Phi Yen, wife of Lord Nguyen Anh ( he later became emperor Gia Long). In 1783 Nguyen Anh was defeated by the forces of Tay Son. Together with fishermen he founded three villages: An Hai, An Hoi and Co Ong.

He then sent prince Canh followed by Ba Da Loc to ask for reinforcements to fight against the Tay Son troops. Lady Phi Yen, his second wife advised him not to do so.

He became angry with her and thought that she might have been dealing with Tay Son troops. Just before Tay Son troops attacked the island, Nguyen Anh put his wife in prison and went off to sea. Prince Cai who was then four years old, wanted his mother to go with them. Nguyen Anh got angry and threw his son into the sea. The body drifted to Co Ong beach and was buried by villagers. According to legend, Lady Phi Yen was rescued by a tiger and an ape from the stone prison. She lived with villagers, taking care of Prince Cai's grave. Following her death, the villagers built a temple in her honour. In 1861 French colonialists occupied the island and destroyed it. In 1958 the temple was rebuilt on its present location.

niet ban tinh xa (temple of nirvana)
Niet Ban Tinh Xa is also known as Chua Phat Nam or the Pagoda of the Lying Buddha. The pagoda is 3 km from town and sits on the side of Nui Nho mountain facing the ocean. Work began on the pagoda in 1969 and was completed in 1974.
This is probably the most beautiful pagoda in Vung Tau for its many intricate architectural details and the granite work around the pagoda. There is a flag tower standing 21 m high in front of the temple covered by ceramic tiles.
Perching atop the tower is a Lotus, signifying Buddhist purity. There are 42 steps leading to the Lotus signifying the first 42 pages of the Buddhist Sutra which made their way to Vietnam in the 2nd century.The main area of the pagoda is built in the likeness of the garden in which Buddha entered Nirvana. Here lies a 12 m statue of Buddha overlaid with marble.

The gate of the garden is guarded by two gods, Ong Thien (God of Goodness) and Ong Ac (God of Evil). Standing in wait below the sleeping Buddha is the likeness of his closest disciples.

To the rear of the temple is the boat Bat Nha built of concrete to signify Buddhism as a craft in which mankind can escape Be Kho or Sea of Sorrow. In the upper level hangs the giant bronze bell Dai Hong Chung 3.5 m high and weighing 3.5 tons.

thich ca phat dai pagoda (Sakymuni Pagoda)
Thich Ca Phat Dai is a large pagoda in Vung Tau city. It was built in 1941 on a 6 ha area on the slope of Big mountain, 3 km from the city centre.

The beauty of the pagoda is the combination of religious architecture and natural scenic beauty. Attention should be paid to the 19 m-high Bat Giac tower (Octagon tower) and the statue of Cakya Mouni in the zen position: the height of the statue is 10.2 m and the diameter is 6 m. In 1957, Mr. Le Quang Vinh built a small temple at this site and called it Thien Lam Tu.

In 1961, a larger temple was proposed by the many Buddhists in this region. Work commenced on July 20, 1961 and was completed in 1963. Various statues along the stairs leading to the pagoda describe the history of Buddha: Thích Ca Mâu Ni at his birth, his introduction to Buddhism and his becoming a Buddha.

View larger

Thich Ca Phat Dai pagoda is made famous by its large and serene environment and its statue of Buddha, 6.2 m tall and in the meditation pose Kiê't Già, perching on a pedestal 4 m high shaped like a lotus.

The statue and tower are completely white and erected half-way up the high mountain slope, so they can be viewed from a distance.