Beach Trip from Saigon

Q: We have planned a visit to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in January and would like to spend a few days at a beach resort. Can you recommend a resort not too far from the city and recommend transport and accommodation there? - Phil Reese

A: Vung Tau on the South China Sea coast is a popular holiday choice for residents of Ho Chi Minh City. It is about 120kms from the city and takes about two hours to get there by road. Alternatively, you can catch a hydrofoil from Ho Chi Minh City which takes 75 minutes to reach Vung Tau, When it comes to hotels, a comfortable choice on the beachfront is the Rex Hotel Vung Tau (www.rexhotelvungtau.com.vn), where you can get a double room from around 60 US dollars. More upmarket beachfront choices are the four-star Ho Tram Osaka Beach Resort & Spa (www.hotramresort.com) and the Imperial Hotel (www.imperialhotel.vn). Rooms start at around 100 US dollars a night but can soar over popular weekends. If you want a more exclusive break, you can try the Princess d’Annam Resort & Spa (www.princessannam.com). Located in the small fishing village of Ke Ga, it lies in the shadow of a lighthouse and has a nice swimming beach. This is a favourite weekend haunt for well-heeled Saigon residents. (12/9/10)