Vung Tau: A Weekend Getaway
After completing our first full week of classes in Sai Gon, we decided to treat ourselves with a getaway. Almost all 22 of us piled onto a Futa Bus, where the seats were as small or smaller than those in economy class. Two hours later, we had arrived in the relatively quiet beach town of Vung Tau. We had been warned that it wasn’t the most picturesque beach in Vietnam, and while that was true, it served as the perfect day trip destination.
The beach itself was a narrow strip that stretched as far as the eye could see, and featured plenty of open-air restaurants and bars. We found a cozy spot next to one such place, so we didn’t need to wander far for lunch. Some of us immediately lay out and basked in the sun and enjoyed the breeze that kept the air from become stifling hot. The rest hit the waves. The dry season in Vung Tau is known to have high winds and big waves with strong undercurrents in some spots. Evidently we had chosen the perfect spot: while the waves and current were stronger than what I am used to, not once did I feel anything more than exhilarated at being in the waves.
Of course, being the adventurous lot that we are, we didn’t want to restrict ourselves to just the beach, and so we set off for the lighthouse. We all know what lighthouses look like, so the structure itself was nothing too impressive, aside from the fact that it was built in the 1930s and looked great for its age. But my oh my, the view was something entirely different. The old lighthouse sits atop a hill, prime location for a 360 degree view of the city (Check my photos out above). We stopped here to simply soak in the spectacular view of Vung Tau and its houses, buildings, beaches, open waters, and hills. The view from the bottom of the hill was just as stunning. We arrived at the bottom right at the beginning of “golden hour” A.K.A. my favorite time of day. Everything was bathed in a magical golden glow, and served as the perfect ending to our little adventure.
Before leaving Vung Tau, we also managed to visit a temple and eat at one of our Vietnamese partner’s family restaurant. All in all, it was a day well spent.
My Tip of the Day:
- Do not underestimate the strength of the sun, especially when near the Equator like in Vietnam. Not getting the perfect tan is a sin I’m willing to make in exchange for not burning and peeling. Sunscreen is essential.