Restaurants in Vung Tau

In addition to the two recommended venues listed, consider La Maison, at the Petro House Hotel (63-65 Tran Hung Dao St., Vung Tau; tel. 064/385-2014), which serves fine French; or, near the pier, Summer Wine and Mermaid, at 20 Quang Trung St., for reputedly the best steak in town in a surprisingly posh setting.

Nightlife in little Vung Tau is pretty seedy. The places with English signs surrounding the central Tran Phu Square are hostess bars that do a brisk business with Vung Tau's many sailors in port.