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Vung Tau – Vietnam’s Hottest R&R DestinationBy Jeanne Conte | Vietnam | 14 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post  One of an estimated 100 bars in Vung Tau during the Vietnam War. Many bore the names of U.S. towns or other familiar places. Vietnam Virtual Archive, Texas Tech University. Its beautiful and peaceful beaches offered a relaxing respite from the brutality of war raging just miles away. It is a remarkable place, Vietnam’s seaport city of Vung Tau. Situated on a tiny strip of land shaped like a thumb extending into the South China Sea near the southern end of the country, it has long been a place of escape and of rescue, of refuge and of healing. Subscribe Today
The resort beach, long known as Cap Saint Jacques, had been a favorite getaway for the French colonials and the wealthy of Saigon since the late 19th century. During the Vietnam War, Vung Tau was a city of both war and peace, serving as an important and active port and as a favorite R&R spot for fighting men. Today, spurred by the country’s economic vitality, oil exploration and a growing tourist industry, Vung Tau is bustling with development. As the American troop buildup began, Vung Tau became a point of debarkation for tens of thousands of GIs. In the vicinity were a number of U.S. Naval facilities, and a fully equipped repair depot, USNS Corpus Christi Bay, was anchored a few miles away. A large contingent of Australian and New Zealand airmen were also stationed in the Vung Tau area.
 Bireley's, one of many beachside concessions stands at Vung Tau. Vietnam Virtual Archive, Texas Tech University. Many of the estimated 100 bars in Vung Tau during the war were named after American cities, towns or other familiar places, in an attempt to make the U.S. troops feel at home. Some of the bars in town were reportedly joint ventures between Americans and Vietnamese. The downtown section was filled with dance halls and young women and soldiers poured into the clubs where the latest rock music blared. An article, “Vung Tau, Vietnam, Pleasure Capital of the World,” ran in Argosy magazine in 1969. As early as the mid-1960s, both Vietnam’s General Nguyen Khanh and American General William Westmoreland eyed Vung Tau as a possible evacuation route should that become a necessity. Their thoughts proved prophetic. After the war, Vung Tau served as an evacuation point for tens of thousands of boat people fleeing Communist rule. Fishing trawlers bulging with refugees set sail, never to return. Some of the passengers made it to safety, while others perished. Many boats were forced back to land, and their occupants were arrested and served prison terms. One man told of having given all that he had three times to sail away, but the boat was forced back to shore each time; he served three prison terms. Thousands of South Vietnamese continued to attempt escape via Vung Tau through the mid-1980s. Pages: 1 2Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
            Tags: American History, Social History, Vietnam War
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14 Comments to “Vung Tau – Vietnam’s Hottest R&R Destination”
In January 2008 myself and another 23rd MP Company, Americal Division,veteran spent one month on the ground in Vietnam. We traveled south from PhuBai to Saigon by local busses, traveling light and having fun with friendly Vietnamese, we stopped along the way in Hue, HoiAn, TamKy, ChuLai, Quinhon, and NhaTrang. We visited VungTau and it was a nice R&R. I would not however suggest to anyone that they swim off the front beach or any other beach for that matter. All of the storm drains and sewers empty straight into the sea and locals think nothing of squatting down at the shore line to answer natures call. Euro and Aussie wind surfers are out in force on the beach, and on the weekends the beach is crowded with modern day Saigon cowboys and their girlfriends. There were some nice restaurants, decent 2 star air conditioned hotels could be had for $20.00 USD double, massage parlors and pretty, friendly Vietnamese girls/women were in abundance, Tiger beer could be had for about .75 USD per bottle, what more could an old soldier on R&R ask for. In my opinion the only way to travel from VungTau to or from Saigon is on the high speed hydrofoil ferry that leaves from a pier along the back beach side of VungTau on an houly basis. At about $10.00 USD one way it is a 1.5 hr scenic boat ride through the mangrove swamps of the RungSat Special Zone and up the Saigon River. VungTau is certainly worth a visit if you are in Vietnam. While in Saigon stay at the Spring House Hotel for $20.00 double and eat breakfast, drink beer at a sidewalk table in the evenings, and use the computers at the Saigon Cyber Cafe around the corner, you will not be disappointed.
By Al Feser on Sep 17, 2008 at 4:37 pm
i served in sth vietnam during 1970/71 with an australian
infantry battalion and about once every 8/9 weeks we would go
on R in C to Vung Tau. there was nothing in the way of self
gratification or pleasure that could not be purchased. it was like
the old western “wide open” towns of folklore. i grew up in Kings
Cross, Sydney and thought i had seen it all. hadn’t even scratched
the surface. now, 38yrs later, memories of the “old” Vungers still
bring a smile or two.
By peter vincent on Nov 4, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I was stationed in Vung Tau from January – October 1971. What a wild, wide open place it was. The troops coming in for R&R would party 24/7 (or as long as their $ held out). The bars & dance clubs were crowded every night & the beach at the R&R
center (on Back Beach) were crowed during the day. I also
remember some quality restaurants in town where you could get
great meals for practically nothing. I have fond memories of my
time in Vung Tau and hope to return for a visit some day.
By David Rice on Dec 13, 2008 at 5:56 pm
during 1965 I was in vung tau and there was a line of barbed wire running from the jungle to the waterline at the northen end,when I enquired it was exlplained that it was the borderline between the vc on rand r and the allies,was talking to one vc and he said that he often saw AUSSIES wearing a funny hat.bush hat
By doc judd on Jan 25, 2009 at 2:37 am
Hi . We are Mom & Pop Warren . We arrived in Vung Tau Sept 27th 67.We set up a Servicemen’s Home ( A Home away from home for our Servicemen.) We had lots of “our Boys” visit and stay with us . after the first year ,we saw the need of A Foster Home for Amerasian Babies that were being Abandoued We partnered with a Vietnamese family and built a home for them . They had 8 Children of their own . and ended up with 10 of their own . By the time we left vietnam in August of 1974 we had kept 276 Babies and got them adopted into homes all over the USA. We are still hearing from lots of them and also ,our vietnamese friends that came to the States. After the war we took 65 refugees to a ranch outside of Bakersfield, C. and got them set up in homes, cars, schools amnd jobs. It was a Thrill to see how they have succeeded in Thier new Country. Thank Don Warren
By Donald S. Warren on Feb 11, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I was stationed in Vung Tau from December 1968 to December 1969. I was a lifeguard at the back beach for the first six months, then I ran the ice cream plant that provided ice cream for about 7,000 troops a week including the Aussies.
We used to eat at the USO because we liked their strawberry shakes. In the village we ate “gook” sandwiches. At the Beachcomber (located at the beach) we ate grilled cheese sandwiches.
All lifeguards were called “Steve” by the Vietnamese because more than one of the early lifeguards had first names of Steve and they had a reputation of fighting with the “Cowboys”.
On the beach we had pinapple girls and surfboards. Bar girls could not get on the beach by themselves without our permission. They had to accompany a GI.
In between our beach and the Aussies’ was a section for the Koreans. Fierce soldiers.
The Aussies had a built-in swimming pool at their resort.
Vung Tau was also a black market center for Vietnam.
If anyone was there at the beach working, or living in Vung Tau when I was there, email me at mgabennesch@fuse.net
Mike
By Mike Gabennesch on Mar 2, 2009 at 10:32 am
I had R&R at Vung Tau. I remember arriving and buying a bottle of vodka and some canned tomatoe juice. To be honest I don’t remember my stay or even leaving to return to my unit. But I must of had a great time or at least that was what I was told by my two friends that also had R&R at the same time.
Harry Miller
USA Retired
By Harry Miller on Jun 28, 2009 at 11:19 am
I was at vung tau 2 time and stayed with mom & pop better know
as the warrens also met there brother.serve in viet nam twice 1st
time with the 9th inf out of dong tam would like to hear from them. thank you
By william m chambers on Sep 20, 2009 at 6:18 pm
As a Line Captain with Air America flew there many times. However did not get to enjoy the fun and the sandy beach but did get a good view frfom the air. This was in 1966,67,68. Jack Thompson Montgomery, Alabama 334-799-7520
By Jack Thompson on Oct 6, 2009 at 10:21 am
I was in a A-1 H-J squardon onboard the USS Midway before it went to the yards.The squardon I was in still is flying but in the new type aircraft and on one of the newer carriers. We still visit back and forth and keep in touch by e-mail or phone. The squardon moved onboard the USS Coral Sea and we made two more cruises on her after the midway went into the yards. We were sent off the ship and went in to chue liy or danag we picket up a group of marines and went out with them and tried to find an A-1 that had been shot down and get the gun camera out before the VC got to the plane. We were never very luckey as the vc always beat us to the plane and took as much as they could and put a gernade to the plane. We were always to late. We got our butts shot at alot. The A-1 aircraft was a good attack aircraft and a fighter also as our squardon shot down a russian aircraft while they were out on patrol shot one down and may have shot the other one down also. Very good aircraft the old A-1 was. God Bless America.
By Berwyn Steele on Oct 8, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Hi, I was bar manager of the R&R Center in Vung Tau in ‘68 & ‘69. Spent three tours in RVN from ‘67 – ‘70. The most beautiful country and beaches I have ever seen.
I have spent many hours on the web trying to find pictures of the R&R Center with no luck. I didn’t take any pictures myself-wish I had. I was the guy in the blue shirt usually sitting in the shoeshine chair at the end of the bar talking to the shoeshine boy ‘Bingo’.
If anyone has any pictures of the R&R Center that they would ahare, I would really appreciate it (mikeandgena@windstream.net).
I’m 65 now and double retired. Have had two bouts with cancer. Retired from the Army with 21.5 years as an E-7.
Luck to all vets, Mike White
By Mike White on Oct 13, 2009 at 10:38 am
I was stationed in Vung Tau in 1968 & 1969 as Bar Manager of the US Forces R&R Center. I have spent many hour on the net trying to find pictures of the R&R Center without any luck. I didn’t take any pictures when I was there-too young to know it was important. I was the guy in the blue shirt usually sitting in the shoeshine chair at the end of the bar talking to ‘Bingo’ the shoeshine boy.
I spent three tours in RVN ‘67, ‘68, ‘69 & ‘70. It is the most beautiful country I have ever seen! I see the ‘Grand Hotel’ is still operating. Thats amazing since the French officers used it for their headquarters so many years ago.
By Mike White on Oct 13, 2009 at 10:41 am
G’day all you septics
I served with the Australians at Vung Tau during 66/67.
I was a Medical Assistant with 2 Field Ambulance and we had a fair bit to do with your 33 Evac.
Spent many hours on your beach and drinking at the Beachcomber Club. Remember the Life Guards well. There was one we called “Safari” because of the hat he wore.
Went back in 1998 and was amazed to see the old club still there. It is now a clip joint or so I was told.
Came across this site searching for a photo of a Lambretta tricycle that I need for our 44rd Reunion next year.
By Rodger Eyles on Oct 15, 2009 at 8:45 am