Vung Tau Travel Cost is an easy beach escape from Ho Chi Minh City and can be surprisingly affordable.
You can visit for a day and keep Vung Tau Travel Cost in mind while spending on transport and food. Or you can stay in a beachfront hotel, eat seafood, and visit Hồ Mây Park. Use the cable car, explore museums, and spend a few days here without worrying about your budget.
The important thing is knowing where the money actually goes.
Here is my practical guide to the Vung Tau Travel Cost in 2026, including transport, hotels, food, beaches, attractions and daily spending.
How Much Does Vung Tau Cost?
For a traveler coming from Ho Chi Minh City, I would use these approximate budgets to gauge Vung Tau Travel Cost.
| Travel style | Per person / day | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | 500,000–900,000 VND | Budget hotel, local food, walking, inexpensive activities |
| Comfortable | 1,000,000–1,800,000 VND | Good hotel, restaurants, taxis/Grab and paid attractions |
| Higher-end | 2,000,000–3,500,000+ VND | Upscale hotel, seafood, taxis, drinks and several paid experiences |
These figures are for spending in Vung Tau and do not include international flights. If you are traveling from Ho Chi Minh City, add your transport cost separately.
How Much Does It Cost to Get from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau?
Transport is one of the biggest advantages of Vung Tau. You have several options, and you do not need to spend a lot to get there.
Limousine or Minivan
For most travelers, this is the option I would choose.
Current 2026 listings show limousine services from roughly 140,000–230,000 VND one way, depending on the operator and service level.
The journey normally takes around 2 hours, although traffic can make the actual journey longer.
Some limousine services offer city pickup and drop-off, which can be much more convenient than traveling to a large bus terminal.
If you want the cheapest practical option, compare current limousine prices before booking rather than automatically choosing the ferry.
High-Speed Ferry
The ferry is more expensive but gives you a completely different way to reach Vung Tau.
GreenlinesDP currently lists an adult one-way ticket at:
- 320,000 VND Monday–Friday
- 350,000 VND Saturday–Sunday
The current fares took effect on July 1, 2026 and remain in place until further notice.
For a return journey, that means approximately 640,000–700,000 VND per adult.
I would choose the ferry if the journey itself is part of the experience or if you simply prefer traveling by water. If your priority is saving money, the limousine is usually the better option.
Private Car or Taxi
A private car costs considerably more, but it can make sense for families or groups.
The advantage is that you can travel door to door without worrying about bus stations or coordinating transfers.
For one person or a couple, I would normally choose a limousine. For a group splitting the cost, a private transfer can become much more attractive.
For more information about getting around Vietnam, see our Vietnam Transport Guide.
How Much Do Hotels Cost in Vung Tau?
Accommodation is where your Vung Tau budget can change dramatically.
The good news is that there are options at almost every level.
Budget Hotels
A basic room can often be found for around 250,000–600,000 VND per night, depending on the location, day and season.
You will find many inexpensive hotels around the city, including areas close to Back Beach.
If you are traveling on a strict budget, you do not need to stay directly on the beachfront. A hotel a few blocks inland can cost noticeably less while still being within walking distance of the beach.
Mid-Range Hotels
For a more comfortable room, a realistic planning range is around 600,000–1,500,000 VND per night.
This is where you start getting better locations, larger rooms, swimming pools and stronger hotel facilities.
Current hotel listings show many 3-star properties around the lower and middle part of this range, although prices change considerably between weekdays and weekends.
Upscale Hotels and Resorts
For 4-star and higher-end properties, plan on roughly 1,700,000–3,000,000+ VND per night.
Some of the city’s better-known beachfront hotels regularly sit around this level, although promotions can bring prices down.
For example, current listings for several 4-star Vung Tau hotels are around the $65–75 per night level before any date-specific changes or special offers.
If you are traveling at the weekend, always compare prices before booking. Vung Tau is particularly popular with Ho Chi Minh City residents for short weekend trips, so accommodation prices can move significantly.
You can check current Vung Tau hotel prices on Trip.com before deciding how much of your budget you want to allocate to accommodation.
How Much Does Food Cost in Vung Tau?
Food is one of the easiest categories to control.
You can eat very cheaply in Vung Tau, but the city is also known for seafood, and a seafood dinner can increase your daily spending quickly.
Local Breakfast
For a simple Vietnamese breakfast such as pho, bánh mì, noodles or another local dish, I would budget around 30,000–70,000 VND.
Coffee is often another 30,000–70,000 VND, depending on the café.
Local Lunch or Dinner
A normal local meal can often be around 50,000–120,000 VND per person.
If you choose a more tourist-oriented restaurant, expect to spend more.
Seafood
Seafood is where the budget becomes much more flexible.
A casual seafood meal can be relatively affordable if you order carefully and share dishes. A large seafood dinner with premium ingredients, drinks and several dishes can easily cost several hundred thousand dong per person.
For a seafood-focused evening, I would personally budget around 200,000–500,000 VND per person rather than trying to force the meal into a very low budget.
That gives you enough room to actually enjoy what Vung Tau is known for.
How Much Do Beach Chairs and Umbrellas Cost?
The beach itself is free, but you may want somewhere to sit.
At Hawaii Beach on Bãi Sau, I photographed a current price board during my visit. The prices listed were:
| Option | Weekday | Saturday/Sunday | Holiday / Tet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular chair + umbrella | 70,000 VND | 100,000 VND | 170,000 VND |
| VIP chair + umbrella | 140,000 VND | 180,000 VND | 200,000 VND |
| Regular chair + umbrella + drink | 100,000 VND | 140,000 VND | 190,000 VND |
| VIP chair + umbrella + drink | 170,000 VND | 200,000 VND | 230,000 VND |
These are prices from one beach operator, not a universal Vung Tau beach tariff. Prices can differ between operators.
If you simply walk along the beach or sit in the public areas, you do not need to pay an entrance fee.
For more details, see our Vung Tau Beaches guide.
How Much Do Vung Tau Attractions Cost?
This depends entirely on how much sightseeing you want to do.
Several of Vung Tau’s most interesting experiences are free or inexpensive.
Free Attractions
- Front Beach waterfront
- Back Beach
- Vung Tau promenade
- Many temples and pagodas
- Walking around the city
- Beach sunsets
- Several public viewpoints
This is one reason Vung Tau works particularly well as a budget destination.
Low-Cost Attractions
Some museums and historic sites cost only a small amount to enter.
The Worldwide Arms Museum, for example, currently costs 100,000 VND for visitors over 12, while the other museums in Vung Tau can be considerably cheaper.
You can therefore spend several hours sightseeing without turning your trip into an expensive attraction-hopping day.
Hồ Mây Park
Hồ Mây is one of the more expensive attractions in the city, but there is an important difference between the full park ticket and simply taking the cable car up for the views.
The current listed price for cable car + Royal Garden sightseeing is 100,000 VND for adults and 50,000 VND for children. The full park package is currently listed at 500,000 VND for adults and 250,000 VND for children 1–1.3 meters.
That means you do not necessarily have to spend 500,000 VND if you simply want the mountain and cable-car experience.
Our Hồ Mây Park guide explains the different options.
How Much Does Local Transport Cost?
If you stay around the main tourist areas, you can walk quite a lot.
For longer distances, you can use Grab, taxis or a motorbike.
For budgeting purposes, I would put aside around 100,000–250,000 VND per person per day for local transport if you are moving around several times.
If you mostly walk and only use Grab occasionally, you can spend considerably less.
If you rent a motorbike, add the rental cost and fuel separately.
The city is compact enough that you do not need a car for most sightseeing.
How Much Does a One-Day Trip to Vung Tau Cost?
Let’s take a realistic day trip from Ho Chi Minh City.
Budget Day Trip
- Return limousine: around 300,000–400,000 VND
- Local food: 150,000–250,000 VND
- Drinks/coffee: 50,000–100,000 VND
- Local transport: 50,000–100,000 VND
- Beach: free
- Attractions: 0–100,000 VND
Total: roughly 550,000–950,000 VND per person.
You can absolutely spend a full day in Vung Tau without reaching 1 million VND.
Comfortable Day Trip
- Return limousine or ferry: 350,000–700,000 VND
- Breakfast and coffee: 100,000 VND
- Lunch: 150,000–250,000 VND
- Beach chair and umbrella: 70,000–140,000 VND
- Drinks/snacks: 100,000 VND
- Local transport: 100,000–200,000 VND
- One or two attractions: 100,000–300,000 VND
Total: roughly 1,000,000–1,800,000 VND per person.
This is probably the sweet spot for most travelers who want to enjoy Vung Tau without constantly checking every price.
How Much Does a Weekend in Vung Tau Cost?
A two-day, one-night trip gives you much more flexibility.
Budget Weekend
For two people sharing a basic hotel room, eating local food and using inexpensive transport, a realistic total is around 2,000,000–3,000,000 VND for two people, excluding alcohol and expensive seafood meals.
Comfortable Weekend
For a good mid-range hotel, restaurants, beach time, several paid attractions and some taxis, I would budget around 3,500,000–5,500,000 VND for two people.
Higher-End Weekend
If you choose a better beachfront hotel, eat seafood, use taxis frequently and add several paid experiences, 6,000,000 VND or more for two people is easy to reach.
The hotel you choose will usually have the biggest impact on the final number.
Is Vung Tau Cheaper Than Nha Trang?
For a short trip from Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau can be cheaper simply because you do not need a flight.
That makes a big difference.
Nha Trang has a larger selection of hotels, restaurants and attractions, but getting there from Ho Chi Minh City normally involves a much longer journey or a flight.
Vung Tau works particularly well when you want a cheap two-day beach escape rather than a full holiday destination.
If you are comparing the two cities for a longer trip, our Nha Trang vs Phu Quoc comparison covers a different destination decision, while our wider Vietnam guides can help you build the full itinerary.
How Much Money Should You Bring to Vung Tau?
If you are staying one night and have already paid for your hotel and transport, I would personally keep around:
- 500,000–800,000 VND per person: very economical day
- 1,000,000–1,500,000 VND: comfortable daily spending
- 2,000,000+ VND: plenty of room for seafood, drinks, taxis and paid attractions
You do not necessarily need to carry all of this as cash. Card payments are increasingly common at hotels, larger restaurants and tourist businesses, while smaller food stalls and local operators may still prefer cash.
For broader advice about managing money in Vietnam, see our Vietnam Currency: Cash or Card guide.
Where Does Your Vung Tau Budget Go?
If you want to keep your trip inexpensive, the easiest strategy is not to cut everything.
Instead, spend money on the things that actually improve your trip.
- Save on transport: use a limousine instead of a private car.
- Save on accommodation: stay a few blocks from the beach instead of directly on the waterfront.
- Spend on food: have at least one good seafood meal.
- Use free attractions: beaches, promenades, temples and viewpoints cost little or nothing.
- Choose paid attractions selectively: you do not need to visit every ticketed attraction.
- Walk whenever practical: Vung Tau is compact enough that many areas can be explored on foot.
This gives you a much better experience than trying to make every part of the trip as cheap as possible.
Is Vung Tau an Expensive Destination?
No.
Vung Tau can be very affordable, particularly if you are traveling from Ho Chi Minh City.
The city becomes expensive only when you choose expensive accommodation, seafood restaurants, taxis and several paid attractions at the same time.
For a normal traveler, the biggest advantage is flexibility: you can have a very cheap day, a comfortable day or a luxury weekend without changing destinations.
My Recommended Vung Tau Budget
If I were planning a normal two-day Vung Tau trip for two people, I would not try to travel on the absolute minimum.
I would choose a comfortable hotel, eat local food for breakfast and lunch, have one good seafood dinner, use Grab or taxis when convenient, spend time at Back Beach, walk the waterfront, visit one or two paid attractions and leave some room for coffee and drinks.
For that kind of trip, I would aim for approximately 3,500,000–5,000,000 VND for two people for one night and two days, including accommodation and transport from Ho Chi Minh City.
You can do it for less, and you can spend much more. But this is the range I would consider a comfortable middle ground rather than a stripped-down budget trip.
Quick Vung Tau Cost Guide
| Expense | Typical planning budget |
|---|---|
| Limousine from Ho Chi Minh City | 140,000–230,000 VND one way |
| High-speed ferry | 320,000–350,000 VND one way |
| Budget hotel | 250,000–600,000 VND/night |
| Mid-range hotel | 600,000–1,500,000 VND/night |
| Upscale hotel | 1,700,000–3,000,000+ VND/night |
| Local meal | 50,000–120,000 VND |
| Seafood meal | 200,000–500,000+ VND/person |
| Beach chair + umbrella | From 70,000 VND at Hawaii Beach |
| Hồ Mây cable car + Royal Garden | 100,000 VND adult |
| Hồ Mây full park ticket | 500,000 VND adult |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vung Tau expensive for tourists?
No. Vung Tau can be a relatively affordable beach destination, especially for travelers coming from Ho Chi Minh City by limousine or bus.
How much money do I need for one day in Vung Tau?
A budget traveler can manage around 550,000–950,000 VND including return road transport from Ho Chi Minh City. A more comfortable day with better food, taxis and paid attractions is closer to 1,000,000–1,800,000 VND.
How much does a weekend in Vung Tau cost for two people?
A budget one-night weekend can be around 2,000,000–3,000,000 VND for two people. A comfortable trip is more likely to cost around 3,500,000–5,500,000 VND, while a higher-end weekend can easily exceed 6,000,000 VND.
How much is the ferry from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau?
GreenlinesDP currently lists 320,000 VND for an adult one-way ticket Monday–Friday and 350,000 VND on Saturday and Sunday.
How much is a limousine from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau?
Current 2026 listings show limousine fares starting at around 140,000–160,000 VND, with some services costing around 200,000 VND or more depending on the operator and service.
How much does food cost in Vung Tau?
A simple local meal can often fit into a 50,000–120,000 VND budget. Seafood is more variable, and I would allow around 200,000–500,000 VND or more per person for a proper seafood meal.
How much are hotels in Vung Tau?
Budget rooms can start around 250,000–600,000 VND, while comfortable mid-range hotels commonly fall around 600,000–1,500,000 VND. Upscale beachfront hotels can cost 1,700,000–3,000,000 VND or more, particularly on weekends.
Is Vung Tau cheaper than traveling to Nha Trang?
For a short trip from Ho Chi Minh City, usually yes, mainly because Vung Tau does not require a flight and can be reached by relatively inexpensive road transport.
What is the cheapest way to enjoy Vung Tau?
Take a limousine from Ho Chi Minh City, stay in a basic hotel, eat local food, walk between nearby attractions and focus on the beaches, promenade, temples and viewpoints that are free or inexpensive.
