Vung Tau Shore Excursion From Phu My Port

Vung Tau Shore Excursion From Phu My Port detailed itinerary

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM: Pier pickup at Phu My Port

Your guide and driver wait at the designated cruise passenger meeting area at Phu My Port from the moment your ship clears immigration.

Once you’ve stepped off the shuttle bus from the gangway, you’ll spot your name on a sign, and the vehicle is parked just steps away.

The exact pickup time depends on your ship’s arrival schedule, but most cruise lines clear passengers between 8:00 and 9:00 AM.

8:00 AM – 8:45 AM: Drive from Phu My Port to Vung Tau City

The Vung Tau Shore Excursion From Phu My Port around 30 kilometers along Highway 51 toward the coast.

Your guide uses this stretch to walk you through the history of Vung Tau, from its days as a Cham fishing village to its years as a French colonial seaside resort and later as an Australian R&R destination during the Vietnam War.

The road runs past fishing villages, salt fields, and the first glimpses of the East Sea before you enter the city.

8:45 AM – 9:45 AM: Bai Truoc (Front Beach)

Your first stop is Bai Truoc, also known as Front Beach, the most popular of Vung Tau’s four beaches.

You’ll have a relaxed walk along the curved promenade lined with coconut palms, French-era villas, and seafood restaurants.

This is where locals come for sunrise tai chi and evening strolls, and it gives you an honest first feel of the town before the heavier sightseeing begins.

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM: Christ the King statue

A short drive of Vung Tau 1-day tour from Phu My Port brings you to the base of Small Mountain (Nui Nho), home to the towering Statue of Christ the King.

Standing 32 meters tall with arms outstretched 18 meters wide, this is one of the largest statues of Jesus in Asia and a defining symbol of Vung Tau.

The full climb to the top involves 800 steps and rewards you with a 360-degree view over the South China Sea.

If the stairs feel like too much in the heat, you can stop at the base and still enjoy the gardens and lower viewpoints.

Wear modest clothing: knees and shoulders covered as you’ll be entering a religious site.

10:45 AM – 11:30 PM: Bach Dinh (the White Palace)

Next is Bach Dinh, the White Palace, perched 50 meters above sea level on the slope of Big Mountain at 4 Tran Phu Street.

Built between 1898 and 1916, this former French governor’s villa later hosted the last emperor of Vietnam, Bao Dai.

Inside you’ll find archaeological artefacts from shipwrecks off the Vung Tau coast, period furniture, and rooms preserved much as they were during the colonial era.

The gardens out front are shaded with frangipani trees and offer one of the finest sea views in the city.

11:30 PM – 12:45 PM: Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant

Lunch is served at a family-run restaurant known among local guides for its fresh seafood.

Expect grilled prawns from the morning catch, clay-pot fish, banh khot (Vung Tau’s signature mini savory pancakes), morning glory stir-fry, and steamed rice.

12:45 PM – 1:30 PM: Thich Ca Phat Dai pagoda

The afternoon opens with Thich Ca Phat Dai, a Theravada Buddhist temple complex on the northwest slope of Big Mountain.

Built in the early 1960s, the grounds spread across terraced hillside gardens dotted with white stupas, a reclining Buddha, and statues depicting key moments in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha.

The walk through the complex is gentle and shaded, and the atmosphere is quieter than the more famous coastal landmarks.

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: The Whale Temple (Lang Ca Ong)

A short ride takes you to the Whale Temple next to Thang Tam communal house.

Whale worship runs deep in southern Vietnamese fishing culture, fishermen believe whales protect them at sea and this 19th-century temple houses the massive skeleton of a whale washed ashore generations ago.

It’s a quick stop but a fascinating glimpse into a tradition you won’t see anywhere outside coastal Vietnam.

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM: Vung Tau Market

Your final stop of Vung Tau shore excursion from Phu My Port is Vung Tau Market, before heading back to Phú Mỹ Port is always a fun one. Local markets here are busy, a little noisy, and honestly much more authentic than souvenir shops near the beach.

At Vũng Tàu Market, you can spend 45-60 minutes shopping for dried seafood, Vietnamese coffee, coconut candies, and tropical fruits.

Dried squid costs around 350,000-500,000 VND per kg depending on size, while local fish sauce is often sold in 500ml bottles for about 80,000 VND.

2:45 PM – 3:30 PM: Drive back to Phu My Port

The return journey runs along the same coastal route, around 45 minutes in normal traffic.

Local experience: traffic on Highway 51 can build up between 3:30 and 4:30 PM as workers leave the industrial parks around Phu My, so the early afternoon return is deliberate.

Before stepping out at the cruise terminal, take a moment to check seat pockets and footwells for hats, sunglasses, cameras, and phone chargers.

You’ll be back at the pier with comfortable time to clear ship security and rejoin your cruise.

Notes: This Vung Tau shore excursion from Phu My port is designed entirely around your ship’s schedule.

Timing flexes to match your published all-aboard time, and the route is structured so you’ll always be back at the pier with at least 60 to 90 minutes of buffer.