vung tau: where my camera met a monsoon and fell in love
so i rolled into vung tau with a camera that’s seen more rain than a weather station and a backpack full of lens wipes that are probably growing mold. humidity at 87% means my hair’s doing that thing where it defies gravity while sticking to my neck like a poorly designed hat. i just checked my weather app and it’s currently 24.29°C but feels like 25.05°C - the kind of ‘pleasant’ that makes your shirt stick to your back like a second skin. if you’re into that swampy-but-pretty vibe, you’re in luck.
"heard the seafood place by the pier? they’ll charge you tourist prices for fish that probably swam here yesterday. locals sneak in through the back alley with cooler bags - that’s how you know it’s good."
"sunset at the lighthouse is overrated. go to the abandoned resort instead. someone told me the broken windows make the most incredible light patterns. just watch out for security guards."
"if your motorbike rental guy says ‘no helmet needed,’ run. unless you want to explain to a why your face now matches the color of the sand."
capturing the *local market was a circus of smells and bargaining. one old lady tried to sell me a dried fish that looked like it’d been through three wars. i paid 10k dong for it just to see the look on her face. meanwhile, my camera’s lens fogged up from the humidity - perfect for moody shots, terrible for focusing.
if the ocean gets too much for you, hop on a bus and you’ll be drowning in the chaos of ho chi minh city in under three hours. but honestly? vung tau’s slower pace lets your camera breathe. plus, the seafood here doesn’t taste like it swam in plastic.
"the best coffee shop? ignore google maps. find the guy with the pushcart near the mosque. his condensed milk brew’ll give you a buzz that lasts three days - and a stomachache to match."
wandered to bac mountain at dawn. the view’s worth the hike, but my tripod nearly blew into the sea. turns out 87% humidity + wind = photography hazard. captured some shots that look like they belong in a dream sequence though.
pro tip: if your camera dies, don’t panic. the electronics market on nguyen huy tuong street has battery shops that’ll fix anything for about 2 bucks. just don’t ask how they got those ‘genuine’ parts.
someone told me the whale temple is haunted by a photographer who dropped his lens there in ’97. haven’t seen any ghosts, but the temple cats are definitely judging my framing skills.
found this tiny pho stall run by a grandma who didn’t speak english but charged me 15k dong. best bowl i’ve had since i left hanoi. tried to take a photo but she waved her cleaver at me - fair enough.
"the abandoned water park? locals go there for ‘photo shoots’ at midnight. bring a flashlight and maybe a weapon. rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a failed businessman’s pet monkey."
"if your hostel owner offers ‘motorbike rental,’ check the brakes. and maybe buy travel insurance. also, wear long pants - the sand fleas here are vicious."
"heard the french colonial fortress is great for shots, but the security guard hates photographers. offer him a cigarette first. or a beer. both works better."
wanna see what other travelers say? check out vung tau’s best hidden spots on TripAdvisor or yelp’s seafood horror stories.
next stop: phu quoc*. heard the beaches are cleaner. hope my camera survives the humidity war.
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