Vung Tau Day Trip: Beach, Christ Statue & Palace Tour

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.76 (79 reviews) 89% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/28

Duration10h–11h

GroupUp to 25

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Escape the city for coastal views, colonial history and a local lunch without arranging the drive yourself.

A full-day tour from Ho Chi Minh City to the coastal town of Vung Tau, with hotel pickup and drop-off, English-speaking guide, Vietnamese lunch and all entrance fees included. You climb the 32-meter Christ the King Statue for panoramic sea views, explore the Whale Temple and its preserved skeletons, walk Thuy Van Beach along the shoreline, tour the French colonial White Palace, and visit Nghinh Phong Cape. The itinerary is fixed and transport is arranged, so the day holds together without you building it — though note that swimming at the beach is not included, and the White Palace closes Mondays (the tour substitutes Song Vinh Church on those days).

10h–11h

Step-by-step itinerary

Vung Tau sightseeing and beach visit

Pick up from hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
Drive to Vung Tau through countryside
Climb Christ the King Statue
Visit Thang Tam Whale Temple
Enjoy authentic Vietnamese lunch
Explore the White Palace
Walk along Thuy Van Beach
Visit Nghinh Phong Cape
Return to hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

The Experience

You get picked up from your hotel in central Ho Chi Minh City and travel by air-conditioned vehicle through countryside and coastal landscapes to Vung Tau, about an hour away. An English-speaking guide travels with you and explains what you are about to see. The drive itself is the first part of the day — traffic can be heavy, so the operator builds in time for delays.

The Christ the King Statue is the centerpiece: you climb to the top of the 32-meter statue and stand between its outstretched arms, looking out over Vung Tau's coastline and the South China Sea. Your guide shares the history and cultural weight of the landmark as you climb. After that comes the Whale Temple (Thang Tam Temple), where preserved whale skeletons sit inside a shrine dedicated to the guardian spirit of fishermen — the guide explains the local legends and spiritual traditions tied to the fishing community. Then you eat an authentic Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant, with fresh regional dishes included. The meal is the only break built into the day.

The White Palace is a former French colonial mansion on Big Mountain, with sweeping coastal views and European-style architecture throughout its grounds and rooms — you walk through it and see the historical artifacts inside. Thuy Van Beach comes next: you stroll along the sand, feel the ocean breeze and relax by the shoreline, but swimming is not part of the itinerary. The final stop is Nghinh Phong Cape, a scenic point known for its sea views and the "Gate of Heaven" rock formation. Then the driver takes you back to your hotel or the original pickup point. The whole day runs 10 to 11 hours from start to finish.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Ho Chi Minh City.
round-trip air-conditioned transportation.
English-speaking guide for the entire day.
entrance fees to all attractions on the itinerary.
authentic Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant.
and bottled water throughout the tour.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by SST TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Choose the VIP Group option (up to 10 people) if you want a smaller group and more flexibility with timing; the Large Group option (up to 25 people) works for families or friends traveling together and keeps the cost lower per person; the Small Group option (up to 20 people) sits in the middle. All three options follow the same itinerary and include the same guide and meals — the difference is how many other travelers share the vehicle and the pace of the stops.