Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Area: 1,989.6 sq. km.
Population: 926,3 thousand habitants (2006)
Capital: Vung Tau City
Administrative divisions:
- Town: Ba Ria
- Districts: Chau Duc, Xuyen Moc,Tan Thanh, Long Dien, Dat Do, Con Dao.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh),Hoa, Cho Ro, Khmer...

Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province is located in the Southern Vietnam, to the northeast of the Mekong Delta. It shares its border with Dong Nai Province to the north and Binh Thuan Province to the east, Ho Chi Minh City to the west and East Sea to the south - east.

Climate:
There are two distinct seasons: the dry season (from November to April) and the rainy season (from May to December). The annual average temperature is 27ºC.

Tourism and Economy:
Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province is a large tourist center. It has over 100km seashore with beautiful swimming beaches, as well as many lakes and thermal springs. The offshore bench has two kinds of important resources: petrol and seafood. (Vietnam Travel)

In Vung Tau City there are Thuy Van, Chi Linh, Back, Front, and Dau beaches; Long Dien District has Long Hai Beach; Xuyen Moc District has Ho Tram, Ho Coc beaches. In Con Dao Island, tourists are able to swim in Dam Trau, Hon Cau, and Hon Tre beaches... then they can climb in Thanh Gia Mountain, Nho Mountain. If tourists would like to improve their health, they could go to Binh Chau Hot Spring, where its temperature comes up to 80ºC, then visit Binh Chau - Phuoc Buu Natural Preservation Zone.

Other popular places are Communal House of Dao Ong Tran, Ben Da Church, Bach Dinh vestige, Long Phuoc Tunnels, Minh Dam Revolutionary Area, etc and over one hundred Buddhist pagodas and temples such as Niet Ban Monastery, Thang Tam Communal House, Linh Son Pagoda, Dinh Co Temple.

Located in the 90km southern part of Vung Tau, Con Dao Island has a dense forest, which is Con Dao National Park with rich flora and fauna. The sea in this area is home to various valuable marine species. Especially, tourists have a chance to watch the turtle laying the eggs. It also used to host a convict prison during French colonial era, and later, during the American War.

Aside these, tourist can participate in some traditional festivals as Dinh Co Festival, Nghinh Ong Festival (Welcoming the Lord Whale Festival), play golf or watch dog racing in Lam Son stadium in Vung Tau City every Saturday.

Transportation:
Vung Tau is 129km from Ho Chi Minh City, 95km from Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), 513km from Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa)
-Road: Ba Ria - Vung Tau has National Highway 56 to Dong Nai Province, National Highway 55 to Binh Thuan Province, National Highway 51 to Ho Chi Minh City. Express buses leave for Bien Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho and some others.
-Air: There are flights from Vung Tau to the Con Dao Islands.
-Boat: Vina Express operates hydrofoils from central Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau.

Source: Vietnam Travel