On Saturday, the fourth day of the Tet holiday that wraps up on Sunday, Bai Sau (Back Beach), stretching nearly 2 km, is packed with beachgoers.
Vung Tau City in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province is a popular destination during national holidays, especially for people in nearby localities like Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong provinces and those in the Mekong Delta.
A motorbike parking lot at the intersection of Thuy Van and Phan Chu Trinh Street is at full capacity.
Families relax in a park along the beach.
Le Van Luu, 38, from HCMC, and a group of friends arrived in Vung Tau on Friday, saying they have chosen the coastal city as their Tet holiday destination every year.
"I found the services to be good, and the prices weren't as high as I had feared. My group just had lunch at a seaside seafood restaurant, and the service was quick," Luu said.
The beach becomes more crowded in the afternoon.
Doan My Hong, 44, from Dong Nai, and her family of six left home at 6 a.m. and planned to stay in the beach city for two days.
"When we arrived, my children were so excited that they ran straight to the beach. I also enjoy the atmosphere here as I could relax and savor many delicious dishes," Hong said.
A group of young people from Binh Duong enjoy watching the big waves crash onto the shore.
"It took me four hours to get to Vung Tau. The road was quite crowded, with a long traffic jam at the section through Dong Nai, but all the fatigue disappeared once I got here," said Ly, a member of the group.
A group of 14 young people from Dong Thap Province in the Mekong Delta pose for photos.
"We rented a car to get here by noon. We also rented an apartment for VND7 million (US$279) per night. It’s quite expensive compared to normal days, but during Tet, there aren’t many other options," said Thu Ba, a member of the group.
A life guard continuously blows whistles and uses loudspeakers to remind tourists to avoid swimming near whirlpools or strong currents.
The toilets were crowded, forcing visitors to queue in long lines.
Due to ongoing renovations in the Bai Sau beach area, the number of temporary toilets installed could not meet the high demand from the large number of beach-goers.
Thousands of tourists from hotels along Thuy Van Street pour onto an embankment to enjoy the cool afternoon breeze.
Many are hesitant to swim due to the large waves and cold water.
According to the Vung Tau City Tourist Management and Support Center, from Jan. 27 to Feb. 1, the city's beaches welcomed around 186,000 visitors.
On the fourth day of Tet alone, there were about 95,000 visitors, 20,000 fewer than the peak day last year.
This decline is partly due to the ongoing renovation project on Thuy Van Street (Back Beach), which has affected the number of visitors to Vung Tau.
Tourists flock to Vung Tau beach on Saturday, the fourth day of the Tet holiday. Video by Truong Ha
