Vung Tau (Vietnamese: Vũng Tàu) is a city in
Vietnam. Population in 2005: 240,000. The city area is 140 km² (54 square miles)
including 13 urban wards and one village. It is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau
Province, and is the petroleum center in Vietnam.
Economy and Tourism
The city is located in the south of Vietnam, and is situated at the tip of a
small peninsula. It has traditionally been a significant port, particularly
during Vietnam's period of French rule. . Today, the city's importance as a
shipping port has diminished, but it still plays a significant role in Vietnam's
off-shore oil industry. Vung Tau is the only petroleum base of Vietnam where
crude oil and gas exploitation activities dominate the city's economy and
contribute principal income to Vietnam's budget and export volume.
To most tourists, however, Vũng Tàu is more interesting for its extensive
beaches. Tourists always prefer sightseeing at Front Beach (Bai Truoc) but go
swimming in Back Beach (Bai Sau). Back Beach is well-known for its over 10 km of
fine sand seaside. As Vũng Tàu is only 130 km away from Ho Chi Minh City, it is
a favourite resort destination for those wishing to get away from the city. In
recent times, the number of foreign tourists visiting Vũng Tàu's beaches
increased. Vũng Tàu is also home to one of Vietnam's most well known golf
courses. From Ho Chi Minh City, one can go by road (51A Expressway) for 2 hours
or by hydrofoil express ferry for 1 hour and a quarter. A big resort project has
just been licensed by the Vietnam government - the Saigon Atlantis. Upon
competition, this entertainment project capitalized USD 300 million will include
resorts, shopping, sailing. Two other entertainment project (Vung Tau Aquarium
with USD 250 million and Bau Trung Disneyland-like entertainment park with USD
250 million) are waiting for licensing. Cuisine here is characterized by fresh
seafoods (loster, crab, fish) and German beer and Russian cuisine.
Vũng Tàu is also of interest for religious reasons. The most notable monument in
the city is a large statue of Jesus, constructed on a hill-top by Vietnam's
Catholic minority. It was completed in the early 1970s. The Thich Ca Phat Dai
pagoda and the Niet Ban Tinh Xa temple, both Buddhist sites, are also
significant, drawing pilgrims from around the country. There exists a Russian
village in Vung Tau ever since the Soviet Era, the Russians here work for the
Russian-Vietnamese joint venture Vietsopetro. It is believed that these Russians
or former Soviet Union' citizens were once the most dominant group of westerners
in Vung Tau. Some have remained in Vung Tau after the fall of Soviet Union.
History
During 14th and 15th centuries, the site of now Vung Tau is a swamp where the
European trading ships visited regularly, therefore it was then called Vũng Tàu
(means: anchorage). The Portuguese navigators passed by this cap many times and
named it after Saint Jacques. The French invaded Vietnam afterwards and called
it Cap Saint Jacques. The cliff of Vung Tau now is called mũi Nghinh Phong
(literally means “Cap of breeze welcome”).
Vung Tau was ever referred to as Tam Thắng (Three boats) in memory of the first
3 village’s settlement here: Thắng Nhất, Thắng Nhị, Thắng Tam. It has
administered by province Biên Hòa under Nguyen dynasty. Under the reign of king
Gia Long (1761-1820), when the Malay pirates built their base and proved
themselves a danger to traders in Gia Dinh city, the king has sent 3 troupes of
army to crack down the pirates. The pirates were ousted and solders of these
troupes were given the land as an award.
On 10th February 1859, Nguyen’s army, for the first time, fired by cannons at
French battleships in the fortress of Phước Thắng, located 100 m from the Front
Beach. This remarked an important period in Vietnam’s war against French
invaders in South Vietnam (then called Cochinchina).
In 1876, according to a decree by the French colonialists, Vung Tau was merged
in Ba Ria county, a part of Saigon administration (French: circonscription de
Saigon).
On May the 1st 1895 the governor of Cochinchina by a decree established Cap
Saint Jacques as an autonomy town. In 1898, Cap Saint Jacques was merged with Ba
Ria County once again and was divided as it was in 1899.
In 1901, the population of Vung Tau was 5,690, of which 2000 persons were
immigrants from North Vietnam. Most of the town dwellers lived on fishing.
On April 4th 1905 Cap Saint Jacques became an administration district of Ba Ria
province. In 1929, Cap Saint Jacques became a province and a city (commune) in
1934. The French governor of Indochina, Paul Doumer (who later became President
of France), built a mansion in Vung Tau that is still a prominent landmark in
the city.
During the Vietnam War, Vung Tau was home to the Australian Army and American
support units, and was a popular spot for In-country R&R for U.S. combat troops.
After the war, Vung Tau was a common launching place for the Vietnamese Boat
People fleeing the communists.
On May 30th 1979, Vung Tau town was made the capital of Vung Tau-Con Dao Special
Admistration Zone.
On August 12th 1991, the province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau was officially founded,
Vung Tau town officially became Vung Tau city. Source: Wikipedia
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