I’m visiting Vietnam for the first time later this month. Starting my trip in HCMC for 5 nights. I’d like a peaceful beach experience for a week and am considering either ferry to Vung Tau or flight to Phu Quoc (then fly directly back to Thailand).
I’d appreciate any comments or views as to the difference in the beaches of the two places mentioned.
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@simon pedal, thank you for your post. You are 100% correct in what you say.
You have to go to the right places. Not keen on Pattaya at all.
I hear there are lots of Russians in Jomtein now.
It hardly surprises me that Geraint didn’t like Vietnam. He said that he’s spending 6 months in Jontiam (Pattaya) in Thailand. That is a very particular part of Thailand and hardly representative of the country.
Hotels, bars, restaurants, everything aimed at the mainly Western tourists. No problem with spending your winter there, sounds like a great escape for you and if that’s your ideal place then much of the rest of Southeast Asia won’t appeal.
He said he doesn’t really like travelling. He’s given it a go and he’s back to Jontiam. Good luck to him.
Edited: 7:32 pm, January 21, 2026
“I’m going back to Thailand early. IMO Vietnam over promises and under delivers in so many ways. Scammers are rife”
Obviously you are entitled to your own opinion, but to come to this conclusion after only visiting 2 places seems a little harsh.
We are just coming to the end of our 3rd trip to Vietnam and have found that the Vietnamese people, that we have interacted with, friendly and helpful. We have really enjoyed most of the places we have visited but there have been a couple that were not for us.
Enjoy your time in Thailand, but please don’t let a couple of bad experiences lead you to write Vietnam off completely, it is a wonderful country (IMO).
69bertie, you are a bit late in expressing your opinion. I started this thread 2 weeks ago and you only comment on it after I post a critical post 2 hours ago.
geraintw37 Vung Tau? I’ve always thought of it as a tacky place to go to. Gets very busy at weekends, as a lot of Saigonese go there. Phu Quoc can be a depressing place too, depends on whether there have been storms etc. Unfortunately rubbish isn’t confined to one country. Sadly, when there is rubbish, Vietnam languishes a bit on the clean it up scale.
I would not go to Vietnam for the beaches. Bad hotel can sure affect your view of a place.
Some places need more time to adjust to.
Thailand has many places, l never want to revisit, usually the more touristy ones.
Thanks for the replies, I came to Vung Tau back beach.
I was supposed to stay in HCMC for 4 nights but left after one. The ”hotel” was a very poor-quality guest house. Accommodation is better in Vung Tau but I really don’t feel like it is geared up for Westerners like myself. Beach can be too windy at times, small amount of garbage, some construction work going on but it did not affect me.
I’m going back to Thailand early. IMO Vietnam over promises and under delivers in so many ways. Scammers are rife.
I don’t eat that sort of food. Just going by food in local restaurants. Coffee was about 40k Dong but it was just a small glass. I never buy cheese or marg .in Asia.
Don’t you eat Vietnamese food?
The home stays were not cheap in Hanoi.
Rooms in Haiphong were cheaper.
Massage more expensive.
Yes booze is cheaper.
I expecting prices to be lower. I don’t go to Hua Hin or Phuket.
#18 Away from HCMC much cheaper. We are talking Vung Tau as that is what the title of the thread is. Accommodation 200,000 vnd per night in Vung Tau and Ba Ria sort of standard basic room with aircon, fridge,tv, free wifi. In supermarkets big baguettes of bread 8-10k, Strongbow cider just over 17k a can. Beer in bars like a bottle of Heineken 30k standard price. Coffee, diary like cheese, margarine cheaper than Thailand. Takeaway very good quality large Pizzas 150-160k (under a fiver). The homestays I mentioned at #16 have washing machine, cooker. kettle, microwave and kitchen. Vietnam and Vung Tau certainly lacks the transport structures, the beautiful modern shopping malls and the convenience of 7/11s.
I will still come to Thailand like the OP but its a good comparison and I’m sure the OP if choosing VT or PQ will enjoy the experience. Personally I don’t like HCMC.