Vung Tau Beach Day Tour: Jesus Christ Statue Visit
Eight hours, four beaches, one 105-foot statue, and the colonial mansions that shaped a coastal city.
A private or small-group day tour from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau City covers 2 hours by air-conditioned bus, with an English-speaking guide, lunch at a local restaurant, and entrance fees included. The itinerary centers on the 32-meter Jesus Christ Statue, one of Asia's tallest, where you climb 847 stairs and can ascend inside the outstretched arms for panoramic views; Thuy Van Back Beach, a 10-kilometer stretch of fine sand; the Thang Tam Whale Temple, which houses whale bones honoring the coast's protector deity; and Bach Dinh, a French colonial mansion built in the early 20th century as a retreat for the Governor of Indochina. A stop at Cape Nghinh Phong overlooks the East Sea before the return to Ho Chi Minh City, with a break at a rest-stop for local specialties.
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Vung Tau city beach and sightseeing tour
- Depart Saigon to Vung Tau city
- Arrive and free time at Thuy Van beach
- Enjoy authentic Vietnamese lunch
- Visit Jesus Christ Statue and climb stairs
- Visit Thang Tam Temple (Whale Temple)
- Explore Bach Dinh colonial mansion
- See Cape Nghinh Phong cliff views
- Return to Ho Chi Minh City with rest stop
- Arrive back in Ho Chi Minh City
What’s included
- Air-conditioned private or group transport from central Ho Chi Minh City.
- English-speaking tour guide.
- authentic Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant.
- bottled drinks.
- entrance fees to the Jesus Christ Statue, Thang Tam Temple and Bach Dinh.
- free pickup and drop-off in central Saigon.
Times
- Every day 07:00 08:00 09:00
Before you book
Operated by Vietnam Travel Tour
Prices and times updated 12 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The day starts at 8 a.m. from central Ho Chi Minh City and runs two hours by air-conditioned bus to Vung Tau. You arrive by 10:30 a.m. at Thuy Van Back Beach, where fine sand stretches nearly 10 kilometers along the shore. Time to walk, swim or rest before lunch. A local restaurant serves authentic Vietnamese food, fueling the afternoon's exploration.
The centerpiece is the Jesus Christ Statue, a 32-meter-tall figure completed in 1993 that ranks among Asia's tallest. Climbing 847 stairs leads you inside the statue's outstretched arms, which span just over 18 meters. From there, the panoramic view of Vung Tau and the coast opens in all directions. After descending, the tour moves to Thang Tam Temple, also called the Whale Temple, where whale bones are displayed as symbols of the coast's protector deity: each time a whale washes ashore, its bones are ceremonially brought to the mausoleum. Bach Dinh, a French colonial mansion from the early 20th century, shows the architecture of Indochina's colonial era, and Cape Nghinh Phong, the final stop, is a clifftop viewpoint with unobstructed sight lines across the city and the East Sea.
The return journey to Ho Chi Minh City takes about two hours, with a short break at Long Thanh Cow Milk Rest-stop for local specialties and souvenirs. You arrive back by 7:30 p.m. The tour includes an English-speaking guide, bottled drinks, all entrance fees, and free pickup and drop-off in central Saigon. Lunch is part of the package. Group options range from two people to fifteen, or you can book a fully private tour.
Is this one for you?Book the private option if you want the flexibility to set your own pace at the beaches and statue without coordinating with other travelers. Choose a small group if you prefer to share the cost and meet other visitors while keeping the day structured around the same itinerary and timing.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Chinese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How long does it take to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau on this tour?
The drive by air-conditioned bus takes approximately two hours each way, with the full day tour lasting eight hours from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., including stops and lunch.
What is the Jesus Christ Statue like when you get there?
The statue stands 32 meters tall (105 feet) with outstretched arms spanning just over 18 meters, making it one of Asia's tallest Christ statues. You climb 847 stairs to reach it, and the adventurous can ascend inside the arms to the top for panoramic views of Vung Tau City and the coast.
What beaches does this tour include?
Thuy Van Back Beach is the main beach stop, a 10-kilometer stretch of fine sand and white waves where you have free time to swim or rest. The tour also passes Front Beach, Pineapple Beach and Mulberry Beach as part of the route through Vung Tau.
Is lunch included, and what else comes with the tour?
Lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant is included, along with bottled drinks, all entrance fees to the statue and temples, an English-speaking guide, and free pickup and drop-off in central Ho Chi Minh City. Tips and personal expenses are not included.
Can I book this as a private tour, or does it have to be a group?
You can choose between a fully private tour or join a small group of two to fifteen people. Both options depart at the same time with the same itinerary and inclusions.
What is Thang Tam Temple, and why is it called the Whale Temple?
Thang Tam Temple, also known as the Whale Temple, displays whale bones that symbolize the protector deity of the coast. Whenever a whale washes ashore in the area, its bones are ceremonially brought to the mausoleum as an offering to this guardian spirit.
Vung Tau Beach Day Tour: Jesus Christ Statue Visit
8h · EN +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 121 per person
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