Located in a tropical monsoon climate zone with two distinct seasons - rainy and sunny - the coastal city of Vung Tau (Ba Ria - Vung Tau, now Ho Chi Minh City) is a year-round destination for travellers.

On this trip to Vung Tau, I was spotting Small Mountain (Tao Phung Mountain), where the Christ the King statue stands tall with outstretched arms, overlooking the sea from a height of 170 metres. Right at the foot of the statue are three century-old cannons - part of a historical site featuring 11 ancient cannons on Small Mountain.

Stood there, on the arm of the Christ statue, overwhelmed with emotion as I gazed over the panoramic view of the sea, mountains, and Vung Tau city, all bathed in the golden hues of sunset. In front of me stretched Nghinh Phong Cape, welcoming the wind all year round - the southernmost headland of the Vung Tau peninsula.

That evening, we ventured to the Vung Tau Lighthouse, where we enjoyed a breathtaking view of the city glittering under a blanket of lights.

Vung Tau boasts about 42 kilometers of coastline, with the longest and most beautiful stretch being Back Beach (Thuy Van Beach), which runs nearly 10 kilometres along the southeastern side of the city. Front Beach (Tam Duong Beach), located on the west side, is the perfect spot to catch a magnificent ocean sunset. Meanwhile, Dâu Beach offers calm waters and fascinating rocky outcrops. Both Front and Back Beaches are home to a wide range of homestays, hotels, and upscale resorts.

Attractions in Vung Tau are conveniently close to each other. Right in the heart of Front Beach, adjacent to the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Museum on Tran Phu Street, stands the White Palace (Villa Blanche) - one of the city's most iconic landmarks. Once used as the summer retreat of Paul Doumer, Governor-General of French Indochina, the palace still houses 19 preserved cannons.

Located in a charming French colonial villa on Tran Hung Dao Street, the Robert Taylor Museum of Ancient Weapons is the largest private arms museum in Vietnam. It showcases around 4,000 artefacts - weapons, military gear, and equipment dating from the 12th to the 20th century, collected from countries around the world.

For those interested in spiritual exploration, Vung Tau offers several sacred sites such as Thích Ca Phat Dai, a hilltop Buddhist pagoda on Big Mountain, renowned for its giant seated Buddha statue; Thang Tam Temple, a national historical monument; and the Vung Tau Cathedral.

Besides its fresh seafood, Vung Tau is famous for its local specialties such as bánh khọt (crispy mini pancakes) and stingray hotpot.