Today’s article looks at two popular cities a mere 30 minutes apart from each other. We’ll examine Vietnam’s hidden gem of a coastal retreat, vs its iconic flagship city. That’s right, this article examines Vung Tau vs Saigon.

You’ll discover which city is more affordable, has a better dating scene, and is generally nicer to live in.

If you’re looking for a new hangout spot in Asia, read on.

1. Cost Of Living

(A Meal Like This Costs $1.50 In Vung Tau)

Vung Tau wins this hands down. When it comes to value, there’s no city that compares. You get warm weather, good infrastructure, great restaurants, and beachfront living. All at an insanely low price.

You can easily rent a hotel for under $20 per night, or get an apartment for $250 a month.

Meals are cheap too, especially if you like fresh seafood. And the general coat of living on things like bottled water or toothpaste is slightly lower than Saigon.

You could rent a place in Vung Tau, eat out for every meal, and go on two or three dates a week for well under $1,000 per month.

2. Ease Of Dating

When it comes to sheer quantity, Saigon has the best (and easiest) dating scene in Vietnam.

You’ve got millions of girls to choose from. There’s local women, female Chinese and Japanese tourists, European backpacker chicks, etc…

Vung Tau is much smaller and more laid-back. You don’t have the same nightlife as in Saigon.

That said, it’s still easy to meet girls online.

A lot of Vung Tau girls use Tinder or VietnamCupid, so you’re still able to set up plenty of dates. The city also has less Westerners, making it easy to stand out.

3. Excitement Factor

(Vung Tau Has A Few Bars, Most Most Of The City Is Fairly Sleepy)

By now you’ve probably noticed how much I’ve used the word “easy” when discussing Vung Tau. And that’s because the city has a very relaxed and lackadaisical flow. That’s great for unwinding, but it also means that there’s not a whole lot of activity here.

When it comes to Vung Tau vs Saigon, Saigon is far more exciting. There’s always something going on, and the city has real energy to it.

Vung Tau doesn’t have this hustle.

Whether that’s good or bad is up to you. Personally, I enjoy this in short bursts. Two weeks to a month of laid-back atmosphere is the perfect amount of time for recharging your batteries.

In terms of living there all year? I’m not too sure.

Because of this, we’ll say Vung Tau wins short-term but Saigon is better for longer stays.

Closing Thoughts On Vung Tau Vs Saigon

(View From A Mountaintop In Vung Tau)

If you’re looking for a fun, affordable beach town with a relaxed pace, there’s nowhere better than Vung Tau. You can enjoy a very comfortable standard of living at a reasonable price, go swimming every day, and generally enjoy yourself.

However, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. And there will come a point when you’d rather spend time in a bigger, more energetic environment.

Because of this, I suggest hanging out in Vung Tau for the short-term, while taking up residency in a major city like Saigon.

P.S. Interested in a trip to Vung Tau? Check out these five terrific hotel options.