Travelogue: Vung Tau –VIETNAM, A Perfect Holiday Destination


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By Ronald Saby DSouza
 Bellevision Media Network

Dubai, 07 Dec 2015: It was my second visit to Vietnam on business. This time around it was Vung Tau, 2 ½ hours by road or   1 ½ hours by ferry from Ho Chi Minh city Airport, I opted by road. Vung Tau enjoys a spectacular location on the peninsula, with ocean on three sides gives a refreshing break in life.

 

Oil is big business here and oil tanker movement and petro dollar dominates the economy resembling Aberdeen or Texas to some extent. It is a city of broad boulevards.

 

Work first and after meetings, managed a day to explore this beautiful place. Compared to Pattaya (Thailand) it is less wild (hope you know what I mean!) and more peaceful due to scenic nature beauty full of mountains and greenery. Plenty of parks, resorts, bars, discos and night clubs of several types, music galore and great kind of night life, amazing sea food variety, heavenly landscaped resorts and friendly staff set you into relaxed and happy rhythm. 

 

 

 

People of Vietnam are extremely friendly and no nonsense nature. They have great respect for India. Industrial Area of Vung Tau was an unimaginable surprise; it was like a well maintained park type. Plenty of huge trees, decorative plants, lawns, landscaped industrial company compounds.

 

 

Most Vietnamese are Buddhists. Vietnam Catholic Association built Jesus Statue in 1974 and completed in 1993. 32 Meter height and his arms extending 18.3 meters on top of 170 meter high Nho Mount.

 

 

Vung Tau has over 10 km stretch of beach road like a highway, similar to Pattaya. A third world country can build such roads and resorts, We in Karnataka will have such opportunity from Ullal to Karwar, where problem of sea erosion will be nonexistent.  Roads, public places are very clean and even narrow alleyways are spic and span. Can our coastal region think such marvel in few decades? Even if such facility built, our moral policing and religion fanatics (I mean all religions without exception) will allow such tourism?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have seen beach front roads and structures in more than a dozen counties, all them are on roaring revenue. I wonder if they do not have CRZ kind of regulations!!?  Money spent on eyewash of sea erosion in our coastal area could have resulted in half of such roads…may be a full four lane road, elevated where needed and passage under the road for fishermen and their boats!

 

Few pictures from my previous visit:

 

 

 

Comments on this Article
Ronald Sabi, Moodubelle Sat, December-12-2015, 6:36
Hi Philip, thank you for the constructive opinion. You have echoed my desire better than I could express. If such responses reach responsible ears and eyes, we can hope for some positive change. I believe Marine Drive, Worli Sea Face, Cuffe Parade-Gateway of India boulevards in Mumbai is of British era, contribution of independent India is alarmingly too little too late. I do agree there is silver lining such as new airports and few metro lines… but waiting period is agonizing frustration. Hope changes will be faster with new generation and young blood like the reformation at airport customs where passengers were treated like dirt few decades back! Implementation of scientific designs such as three legged concrete blocks if used for sea erosion will be cheaper and better alternative instead of rocks dumped on sea shore every year. It is not a rocket science but need tight fisted implementer.
Philip Mudartha, Nerul Fri, December-11-2015, 12:29
@Saby:I share your passion for quality in infrastructure development. There are no two opinions about the shoddy construction work in India. Corruption, poor engineering education and applied skills, mismanagement are a few of the reasons. For those of us with global exposure, the state of affairs is frustrating. I see a silver-line in the clouds. We have our own Marine Drive, Worli Sea Face, Cuffe Parade-Gateway of India boulevards in Mumbai which stretch to several miles. We have the magnificent Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Our new airport terminals in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad are stunningly exceed global standards. Change has arrived in our third world country too. Let us hope that corruption is weeded out, quality standards are enforced, competent engineers and managers are hired and empowered to stand-up against corrupt or incompetent bosses, etc. I take liberty to review your photo #46. The topography matters in Hard engineering works to hold back seashore and battle sea erosion. Vung Tau is blessed. Ullal to Kundapur shore is not so lucky in landscape. Here hard engineered works, for which imported scientific designs are to be imported, fail cost-benefits tests.
Ronald Sabi, Moodubelle Wed, December-9-2015, 6:49
Hi Philip, appreciate your comment. Though some pictures are taken from the resort, sole idea was to draw attention and kindle desire to develop organized and structured industrial area, clean garbage free city and country side as well, scientific road construction that will prevent sea erosion and utilizing under utilized potential beach fronts. I do agree local domestic workers get paid $100 a month and some tips for those working in hospitality industries. People are dedicated towards their task and jobs as mentioned by our Australian friend owner of an oil field company over there(unlike coastal belt- take advance and vanish.... to get the work done, catch their feet and more advance and the never ending saga) Fortunately they are not lured by govt free bees like in our area as part of vote bank politics. Skilled engineering blue collars do get $300 or more. I am yet to know North Vietnam and Hanoi area...may be for the next time if it happens!
Philip Mudartha, Nerul Tue, December-8-2015, 9:46
Saby has mesmerized his readers with some sharp pictures of a small resort town on the Viet peninsula. They provide us a view from a 5-Star balcony perspective and lead us to believe communist party authoritarian rule after fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) has transformed the country a lot more than what the multi-party democracy in India could. Such an assessment is inaccurate. Quite simply, where are the local Viet people? Why the traffic is so thin on the road? Where are the cars and busses? What are the rules for entry of locals in most parts of this town? Are they allowed into pubs, casinos, and high-end restaurants? Just wondering..
Santhosh, Kapu-Udupi Tue, December-8-2015, 11:06

As said in the article coastal Karnataka can be made heaven on earth. At least to start with they can do a four lane road and few resorts in Kaup beach front by building landscaped barriers to the sea and sea erosion can be contained effectively and economy of Kaup and tourism a boost? Hope Mr.Sorake has time to look into it.
Benedict Noronha, Udupi Tue, December-8-2015, 8:45
Beautiful descripton of a beautiful place. Vietnam though faced TEN years war and sufferred yet it has come back to it s natural beauty. That is Wonderful plans of God. Thanks to Ronal Saby and bellevision for sharing this for public viewing.
Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle Tue, December-8-2015, 6:58
Thank you Saby for presenting this wonderful travelogue. The pictures are superb which give a glimpse of a country which was practically destroyed by the so called Vietnam War in the Cold War era rebuilding itself because of the determination and hard work of the people of the country. The later archival pictures manifest the amount of destruction that the country had to face and sufferings and agony of the people during the deadly war.
William Dsouza, London Mon, December-7-2015, 10:37
Beautiful pictures about this not much known country Vietnam is appreciated. A little more details and information about the life style, local traditions .... etc would have completed the travelogue.
Francis J. Saldanha, Moodubelle / Bahrain Mon, December-7-2015, 9:55
Vietnam seems to be a beautiful country; it is one of the most diverse, clean, green and amazing places with such a rich history, culture, food etc. Vietnam has improved a lot after a long war. The travelogue from Ronald Saby with crystal clear pictures of Vung Tau is a treat for the eyes! The later part of the travelogue (previous visit) pictures of war atrocities which gives you a grim reminder of the Vietnam War (1954 -1975) and the human cost of the long conflict were very harsh and disturbing
Valerian Alva, Kattingeri Mon, December-7-2015, 6:45
Vietnam is known for war in the Seventies and considered as a poor country. But the economical and social development taken place in last 40 years is unbelievable. Generally people go to Europe or known destinations in Far East for holidays, but there is very little information available on Vietnam. Good write up Saby, you always love to explore something never tried by others and this shows in your write up. With able leadership and good governance, things can be improved to a great extent and Vietnam is a true example.
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