Vung Tau Information

Vung Tàu pronunciation (help·info) or O Kab in Khmer is a city in Vietnam. Population in 2005: 240,000. The city area is 140 km² (54 square miles) including 13 urban wards and one village. Vung Tàu once belonged to the Khmer Empire. It is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, and is the petroleum center in Vietnam.

History

Many centuries ago when the Khmer Empire ruled most of Indochina, Vung Tàu or O Kab in Khmer was an important piece of land. Cambodia was going through many wars that was weakening the Khmer Empire with neighbouring countries, and it caused many countries to invade. Vung Tàu is still home to many ethnic Khmer people.

During 14th and 15th centuries, the site of now Vung Tau is a swamp where the European trading ships visited regularly, therefore it was then called Vung Tàu (means: anchorage). The Portuguese navigators passed by this cap many times and named it after Saint Jacques. The French invaded Vietnam afterwards and called it Cap Saint Jacques. The cliff of Vung Tau now is called mui Nghinh Phong (literally means “Cap of breeze welcome”).

Vung Tau was ever referred to as Tam Th?ng (Three boats) in memory of the first 3 village’s settlement here: Th?ng Nh?t, Th?ng Nh?, Th?ng Tam. It has administered by province Biên Hòa under Nguyen dynasty. Under the reign of king Gia Long (1761-1820), when the Malay pirates built their base and proved themselves a danger to traders in Gia Dinh city, the king has sent 3 troupes of army to crack down the pirates. The pirates were ousted and solders of these troupes were given the land as an award.

On 10th February 1859, Nguyen’s army, for the first time, fired by cannons at French battleships in the fortress of Phu?c Th?ng, located 100 m from the Front Beach. This remarked an important period in Vietnam’s war against French invaders in South Vietnam (then called Cochinchina).

In 1876, according to a decree by the French colonialists, Vung Tau was merged in Ba Ria county, a part of Saigon administration (French: circonscription de Saigon).

On May the 1st 1895 the governor of Cochinchina by a decree established Cap Saint Jacques as an autonomy town. In 1898, Cap Saint Jacques was merged with Ba Ria County once again and was divided as it was in 1899.

In 1901, the population of Vung Tau was 5,690, of which 2000 persons were immigrants from North Vietnam. Most of the town dwellers lived on fishing.

On April 4th 1905 Cap Saint Jacques became an administration district of Ba Ria province. In 1929, Cap Saint Jacques became a province and a city (commune) in 1934. The French governor of Indochina, Paul Doumer (who later became President of France), built a mansion in Vung Tau that is still a prominent landmark in the city.

During the Vietnam War, Vung Tau was home to the Australian Army and American support units, and was a popular spot for In-country R&R for U.S. combat troops. After the war, Vung Tau was a common launching place for the Vietnamese Boat People fleeing the communists.

On May 30th 1979, Vung Tau town was made the capital of Vung Tau-Con Dao Special Admistration Zone.

On August 12th 1991, the province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau was officially founded, Vung Tau town officially became Vung Tau city.

Economy and Tourism

The city is located in the south of Vietnam, and is situated at the tip of a small peninsula. It has traditionally been a significant port, particularly during Vietnam's period of French rule. . Today, the city's importance as a shipping port has diminished, but it still plays a significant role in Vietnam's off-shore oil industry. Vung Tau is the only petroleum base of Vietnam where crude oil and gas exploitation activities dominate the city's economy and contribute principal income to Vietnam's budget and export volume.

To most tourists, however, Vung Tàu is more interesting for its extensive beaches. Tourists always prefer sightseeing at Front Beach (Bai Truoc) but go swimming in Back Beach (Bai Sau). Back Beach is well-known for its over 10 km of fine sand seaside. As Vung Tàu is only 130 km away from Ho Chi Minh City, it is a favourite resort destination for those wishing to get away from the city. In recent times, the number of foreign tourists visiting Vung Tàu's beaches increased. Vung Tàu is also home to one of Vietnam's most well known golf courses. From Ho Chi Minh City, one can go by road (51A Expressway) for 2 hours or by hydrofoil express ferry for 1 hour and a quarter. A big resort project has just been licensed by the Vietnam government - the Saigon Atlantis. Upon competition, this entertainment project capitalized USD 300 million will include resorts, shopping, sailing. Two other entertainment project (Vung Tau Aquarium with USD 250 million and Bau Trung Disneyland-like entertainment park with USD 250 million) are waiting for licensing. Cuisine here is characterized by fresh seafoods (loster, crab, fish) and German beer and Russian cuisine.

Vung Tàu is also of interest for religious reasons. The most notable monument in the city is a large statue of Jesus, constructed on a hill-top by Vietnam's Catholic minority. It was completed in the early 1970s. The Thich Ca Phat Dai pagoda and the Niet Ban Tinh Xa temple, both Buddhist sites, are also significant, drawing pilgrims from around the country. There exists a Russian village in Vung Tau ever since the Soviet Era, the Russians here work for the Russian-Vietnamese joint venture Vietsopetro. It is believed that these Russians or former Soviet Union' citizens were once the most dominant group of westerners in Vung Tau. Some have remained in Vung Tau after the fall of Soviet Union.