Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau: fast boat, bus or car
Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau: the Greenlines DP fast boat in about 2 hours, FUTA and Hoa Mai buses from the bus stations and the city centre, or by car on the new Bien Hoa – Vung Tau expressway. Where to board, how to reach the Christ statue and why Vung Tau is now part of Ho Chi Minh City.
Short answer: Vung Tau is about 100 km from Ho Chi Minh City. The Greenlines DP fast boat is the quickest and most scenic option, about 2 hours by river and sea, but its pier in Ho Chi Minh City has changed since May 2025, so check the boarding point with the ticket office. The bus is simpler: Phuong Trang (FUTA) and Hoa Mai run from morning to evening from the bus stations and their city offices. By car, part of the route has used the new Bien Hoa – Vung Tau expressway since April 2026.
| Option | Travel time | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenlines DP fast boat | about 2 hours | pier in central Ho Chi Minh City (check with the office) | no traffic, river views |
| FUTA, Hoa Mai, limousine vans | depends on traffic | Mien Tay and Mien Dong bus stations, city offices, Tan Son Nhat | simplest, departures all day |
| Car or Grab | depends on traffic | from your hotel | groups, children, luggage |
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Is Vung Tau part of Ho Chi Minh City now?
Yes: on 1 July 2025 the former Ba Ria – Vung Tau province became part of Ho Chi Minh City, together with Binh Duong (National Assembly Resolution 202/2025/QH15). The city of Vung Tau was divided into the wards of Vung Tau, Tam Thang, Rach Dua and Phuoc Thang, plus Long Son commune (Phap Luat TP.HCM, 20 April 2025). Hotel addresses now read "phường Vũng Tàu, TP. Hồ Chí Minh", while old maps and tickets may still say "Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu".
Does the fast boat to Vung Tau still run?
The Greenlines DP fast boat from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau is running, taking about 2 hours (greenlines-dp.com). In 2026 the operator's site posted a planned suspension on 14–16 September for pontoon repairs in Vung Tau and new fares from 1 October, so the route is in service. On 5 May 2025 the boat left its old pier No. 2 on Bach Dang, which was needed for a new pedestrian bridge over the Saigon river (VnExpress, 6 May 2025). Ask the ticket office where you board now and what time boats leave: 0901 449 888 in Ho Chi Minh City, 0986 908 907 in Vung Tau.
How many boats a day?
Before leaving the pier, the boat ran 4–8 times a day and 10–12 times at weekends (VnExpress, 6 May 2025). The current timetable is shown when you book on the Greenlines DP site. In Vung Tau the boat docks by the Ho May cable car on Front Beach (Bai Truoc), not far from the Christ statue. In the rainy season and in strong wind sailings may be cancelled, so check the day before.
Where do buses to Vung Tau leave from?
Phuong Trang (FUTA) runs buses to Vung Tau from Mien Tay bus station, roughly from 5:30 to 20:00. Hoa Mai leaves from Mien Dong and Mien Tay bus stations, Tan Son Nhat airport and its own city offices, about every 30 minutes from 4:30 to 20:00 (MoMo). There are also 9–11 seat limousine vans picking up in District 1. Check the timetable on the operator's site when you buy the ticket.
Can I take the new expressway?
Part of the new Bien Hoa – Vung Tau expressway opened on 29 April 2026: more than 37 km from the Long Thanh – Dau Giay interchange to Highway 56. For now only vehicles with up to 9 seats may use it, at 60–80 km/h; the Dong Nai section is still being finished (Phap Luat TP.HCM, 29 April 2026). By taxi or Grab the trip is faster than before. Large buses were not allowed on the expressway at the opening, so they still use the old road and get stuck in traffic more often.
What to see in Vung Tau in a day?
The main sight in Vung Tau is the Christ statue on Nui Nho hill: 32 metres tall, arms spanning 18.3 metres, with 133 steps inside up to the shoulders (Wikipedia). It is open roughly 7:00–17:00 with a midday break; you walk up a long staircase, shorts and short skirts are not allowed inside, and shoes and bags stay at the entrance (VinWonders, 4 August 2025). Go in the morning, before the heat and the break. Below it, Back Beach (Bai Sau) is for swimming and the Front Beach promenade is for an evening walk.
Boat or bus: which should I choose?
Take the boat for a day trip without traffic: 2 hours by river and sea, arriving right at Front Beach. The bus is simpler, with departures all day and no need to check the pier, but leaving Ho Chi Minh City at weekends means heavy traffic. With children or a group, Grab is easiest and faster than the bus on the new expressway. All ways out of the city are in Ho Chi Minh City transfers, and other routes are in Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne, Da Lat and Nha Trang.
FAQ
How long from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau? About 100 km. Around 2 hours by fast boat; by bus or car it depends on traffic.
Does the Ho Chi Minh City – Vung Tau boat run in 2026? Yes, Greenlines DP. The pier in Ho Chi Minh City has changed since May 2025 — ask the ticket office where to board: 0901 449 888.
Where does the bus to Vung Tau leave from? FUTA from Mien Tay bus station; Hoa Mai from Mien Dong and Mien Tay stations, Tan Son Nhat and its city offices.
Is Vung Tau part of Ho Chi Minh City now? Yes, since 1 July 2025. Addresses read "phường Vũng Tàu, TP. Hồ Chí Minh".
What are the Christ statue's opening hours? Roughly 7:00–17:00 with a midday break. Shorts are not allowed inside.
Can I do Vung Tau as a day trip? Yes. Leave in the morning by boat or bus and come back on an evening departure — check the time of the last one in advance.