From Cap Saint Jacques to Vung Tau - A high-quality tourism hub.

On the afternoon of June 20th, the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provincial Historical Science Association, in collaboration with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City, organized a scientific conference on the theme "From the autonomous city of Cap Saint Jacques to Vung Tau, a high-quality tourism center," to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the founding of Vung Tau City (1895-2025).

Báo Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu•21/06/2025

The workshop brought together researchers and experts in history, culture, and archaeology from institutes, universities, local historical science associations, and planning and architecture professionals, with many insightful and in-depth contributions and discussions. These opinions were not only scientifically significant but also held practical value, suggesting a future vision for Vung Tau as a high-quality, internationally-standard city, in relation to the entire Ho Chi Minh City region.

Dr. Le Huu Phuoc, from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City, presented a paper on the administrative boundaries of Vung Tau.

Vung Tau - A unique coastal city.

Vung Tau is an important gateway to the sea for the entire Southeast region of Vietnam. Historical records from the Nguyen Dynasty, along with numerous published studies, consistently affirm that Vung Tau was the first stop for Vietnamese settlers on their journey to develop the Southern region. Archaeological sites and place names recorded in Western sources attest to Vung Tau's long-standing and continuous role in the Southeast Asian maritime landscape.

From the 15th century onwards, the presence of Vietnamese people became increasingly prominent. The establishment of administrative and military power through the Tran Bien Palace and the Thang Nhat, Thang Nhi, and Thang Tam ships affirmed Vung Tau as a coastal garrison, as well as a transit point for information, forces, and goods between the mainland and the sea.

In the 16th century, European maritime powers were aware of Vung Tau. From 1775, the French called Vung Tau Cap Saint Jacques. On May 1, 1895, the Governor of Cochinchina issued a decree establishing the autonomous city of Cap Saint Jacques with the aim of developing it into a leading resort and tourist center in Indochina, combining port and strategic military functions.

After the liberation of South Vietnam and the reunification of the country, Vung Tau shouldered the responsibility of developing a national strategic sector, becoming the capital of the oil and gas industry. Tourism, based on the potential already established during the French colonial period, continued to receive strong investment and development, becoming the second most important economic pillar after oil and gas.

Former Provincial Party Secretary Tran Van Khanh emphasized the importance of developing Vung Tau as a maritime economic center and a high-quality resort tourism center in the Southeast region.

According to Dr. Dinh Van Hanh, from the Southern Branch of the Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism, among Vietnam's coastal cities, Vung Tau stands out not only for its unique geographical location but also for its historical depth and the multi-layered memories of its local communities. From an ancient fishing village with picturesque scenery and distinctive folk beliefs to a modern oil and gas exploration center bearing the strong imprint of industrialization, the presence of diverse communities with different sets of memories makes Vung Tau a multi-layered space that interacts, complements, and restructures itself in the process of forming, preserving, and developing the city. Historical and cultural memories are the very material that shapes Vung Tau's urban identity, creating a distinction between Vung Tau and other coastal cities.

Dr. Dinh Van Hanh suggested that, in the process of becoming a smart tourist city, responsibly preserving and recreating memories through cultural products and programs that mark a stage of development with "very Vung Tau" characteristics will both preserve the unique identity of the coastal city and create a distinct competitive edge in building Vung Tau into a high-quality tourism center.

According to Architect Nguyen Duc Lap, Chairman of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provincial Architects Association, Vung Tau still has many architectural works, mansions, villas, religious buildings, and government offices built during the French colonial period. Promoting the value of these structures while incorporating global architectural values is also a solution to enhance high-quality tourism products.

Citing several domestic and international examples of preserving and promoting the value of ancient architecture in tourism in China, Japan, Hanoi, Hoi An, and Hue, Architect Nguyen Duc Lap proposed the need to create a list of valuable architectural works, approve architectural management regulations according to the Architecture Law; delineate areas requiring preservation, and establish regulations for managing these areas and surrounding regions. Simultaneously, policies are needed to encourage and guide relevant parties in preserving and promoting the value of ancient architectural works to foster consensus in protecting, preserving, and inheriting valuable architectural structures, thereby enhancing tourism products by exploiting the ancient spirit of the city.

Vung Tau must develop in a way that connects the entire coastal area, including Can Gio.

Vung Tau enjoys a mild, warm climate year-round, surrounded on all sides by the sea, rivers, and mangrove forests. The gently sloping, white sandy beaches stretch from Bai Truoc to Bai Sau. The two mountains, Tao Phung and Tuong Ky, reaching heights of 200-300m, create a unique landscape ideal for developing ecotourism, exploiting the potential advantages of mountains, sea, rivers, and mangrove forests. Furthermore, the rich system of historical and cultural relics reflects the depth of its formation, the diversity and convergence of regions within the country, and international investment cooperation, giving Vung Tau all the strengths needed for tourism development.

Dr. Phung Duc Vinh, former Principal of Vung Tau Tourism College, recommended that Vung Tau should focus on developing MICE tourism, with resorts and convention centers capable of hosting international events. In addition, it is necessary to plan to maintain the continuous coastline and simultaneously develop a strategy for training and attracting human resources to meet the requirements of a high-quality, internationally-standard tourist city.

Former Provincial Party Secretary Tran Van Khanh believes that Vung Tau must develop as a national and Southeast regional gateway to the maritime economy. Vung Tau's development must be linked to the entire Binh Chau-Ho Tram-Long Hai coastal tourism route, creating convenient coastal cities and an ideal living environment for tourists and residents. This is especially important in the very near future when Vung Tau becomes part of the Ho Chi Minh City megacity.

Vung Tau and Can Gio must build upon their existing foundations and attract even more investment to become the leading resort and tourism hub for the entire region.

Text and photos: DANG KHOA

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Source: https://baobariavungtau.com.vn/du-lich/202506/tu-cap-saint-jacques-den-vung-tau-trung-tam-du-lich-chat-luong-cao-1045836/