The former French colony has combined the unique charm of several continents and eras. Here you can find your statue of Jesus, as in Rio de Janeiro, your Mont Saint Michel on the Island of Women and your own Calvary with the cross of the Lord and a huge statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Russian Vung Tau
Speaking of Vietnam, many tourists immediately imagine the famous resorts of Nha Trang, Mui Ne or Phan Thiet. However, in this socialist country there are much more authentic places known in narrow circles of avid travelers. Vung Tau can be attributed to such cities that are not popular with domestic tourists, despite the fact that one of the largest Russian diasporas in Vietnam is located here. It makes up about 6% of the total population of the city, which is home to over 300 thousand people. Such statistics are explained by the oil company Vietsovpetro, which was created on the basis of cooperation with Russia. Local Russians in Vietnam live an isolated life, have their own school, church and shops, and the entrance to the territory of the closed town is carried out only with passes. According to rumors, there you can find both black bread and buckwheat, which are so lacking for a Russian in Asia.
The truth about Vung Tau beaches
Vung Tau is comfortably located on the shores of the South China Sea near the mouth of the deep Mekong River. It is this fact, coupled with oil rigs located not far from the coast, that makes the water on city beaches rather muddy. This situation does not disturb local residents at all, who come to Vung Tau from Ho Chi Minh City (125 km) and the nearest cities for a whole weekend by whole buses. Because of this, a lot of garbage accumulates on the coast, which can alienate any European and Russian tourist, spoiled by the beaches of Thailand and Bali. The large concentration of fishing boats and the port add not only charm, but also mud to Vung Tau's treasury. Therefore, the city is completely unsuitable for a beach holiday.
What attracts tourists to Vung Tau?
The culture and architecture of Vung Tau was strongly influenced by the period of French colonization. After that, many Catholic shrines appeared on the Cape of St. Jacques, which, along with Buddhist temples, adorn the city and make it a local Mecca for pilgrims. There is a gorgeous golf club here, you can visit Saturday dog races and try your luck by betting on the fastest dog. Children will love the cable car with funiculars that take you to the amusement park, Buddha statue and the local waterfall.
The uniqueness of Vung Tau lies in the fact that the city has collected stunning cultural and architectural monuments that can be compared with the world sights of Europe and America. There is a 32-meter statue of Jesus, which is only 6 meters lower than a similar sculpture in Rio de Janeiro. At low tide, along a narrow stone path, you can walk to the island of Women with a Buddhist temple on top, which is so reminiscent of the French Mont Saint Michel.
Another iconic Catholic shrine of Vung Tau is the local Golgotha with the Cross of the Lord and a huge statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who holds the baby in her arms. Any of the attractions, including the Buddhist pagodas and the lighthouse on the mountain, are surrounded by lush blooming greenery. Therefore, here you can take a leisurely stroll, arrange jogging and picnics, or simply enjoy the stunning panorama of the city and the sea from the observation platforms.
