According to accommodation search data for the June 1-August 31 period released by Booking.com, beach destinations, including Vung Tau, remain among the most sought-after locations for Vietnamese travellers this summer.
Data from BenThanh Tourist also shows that seaside tours to Vung Tau continue to be a popular choice among family groups and MICE travellers during the peak holiday season.
"Vung Tau benefits from its proximity, well-developed tourism infrastructure, diverse accommodation options and extensive services for group travellers. It remains a destination that offers good value for visitors from Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring provinces," a company representative said.
Bai Sau Beach Park in Vung Tau is one of Vung Tau's most famous attractions for visitors (Photo: Phuoc Tuan).
A survey conducted by Dantri/Dtinews Newspaper across online booking platforms found that hotel rates in Vung Tau have risen by around 10-20 per cent compared with earlier periods, particularly at beachfront hotels and resorts during weekends.
In the Bai Sau and Thuy Van beachfront areas, room rates currently range from VND 600,000 (approximately USD 23) to VND 4 million (approximately USD 153) per night for two guests, depending on the property category and booking period.
Phuong Mai, a visitor from Ho Chi Minh City, said she recently booked a room at a five-star hotel on Thuy Van Street for June 27-28.
The room costs around VND 3.2 million (approximately USD 122) per night for two people and includes breakfast, swimming pool access and other resort amenities.
"Instead of taking a long-distance holiday that requires extensive travel time, our family wanted a short break focused on relaxation," she said.
Mai said her family plans to have lunch and coffee upon arrival before checking into the hotel. The afternoon will be spent at the beach and enjoying resort facilities.
"Taking into account transportation by coach and all holiday expenses, each family member is expected to spend nearly VND 3.8 million (approximately USD 145) for the trip," she said.
Although she considers the amount relatively high for a two-day, one-night getaway, Mai believes the privacy, convenience and quality of services justify the cost.
Tam Thang Tower, a popular check-in spot among young visitors in Vung Tau (Photo: Duy Khoi).
Travel companies have also reported a growing trend of higher spending on short resort holidays in Vung Tau this summer.
According to Bach Tiep Travel Company, Vung Tau and Long Hai remain among the preferred destinations for corporate summer retreats and employee incentive trips.
Most groups comprise between 70 and 80 participants, with some exceeding 100 people, combining leisure activities, team-building programmes and gala dinners.
"Travellers increasingly favour destinations close to Ho Chi Minh City to save time. Rather than spending hours on the road, they prefer to maximise their time relaxing and enjoying services," a company representative said.
The company estimates that a two-day, one-night Vung Tau package at a three-star or four-star hotel currently costs around VND 4 million (approximately USD 153) per person, including transport, accommodation, meals and group activities.
Many travellers are willing to spend more on short breaks in Vung Tau for better services and experiences (Illustrative photo: The Imoperial Hotel).
For independent travellers, however, Vung Tau remains a relatively affordable destination.
A group of young travellers departing from Ho Chi Minh City can travel by coach or motorbike, stay at a mid-range hotel, enjoy local seafood and visit popular attractions for a total cost of around VND 1-1.5 million (approximately USD 38-57) per person for a two-day, one-night trip.
In addition to established attractions such as Bai Sau Beach, the Vung Tau Lighthouse and Bach Dinh Villa, many families are increasingly incorporating child-friendly activities in the Phuoc Hai area, including animal farms, outdoor recreation parks and newly developed tourism sites.
Children feed animals at Gozoo Farm (Photo: Gozoo Farm).
"In the past, a trip to Vung Tau mainly meant going to the beach and then returning home. Now there are many more activities for children, so the entire family enjoys the experience," said Kim Hang, a visitor from Tay Ninh Province.
"Vung Tau even hosts weekend fireworks displays now, which the children in our family absolutely love," she added.