Villa Blanche - White Palace of Vung Tau City.

hung Phan

White Villa

Vung Tau


The weekend retreat of French governor Paul Doumer (later a French president), this gorgeous, grand colonial-era residence has extensive gardens bursting with frangipani. The interior is oddly empty (besides the odd piece of furniture and some Ming pottery retrieved from shipwrecks off the coast). It sits about 30m above the road, up a winding lane.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Vung Tau attractions

1. Robert Taylor Museum of Worldwide Arms

0.65 MILES

Come here for a stupendous private collection of military arms, uniforms and paraphernalia from across the globe. One section is dedicated to the conflict…

2. French Field Guns

0.92 MILES

These six massive cannons, all with support trenches, demonstrate how strategically important Cap St Jacques was to the colonial authorities (it guarded…

4. Lighthouse

1.45 MILES

Built by the French, this 1910 lighthouse boasts a spectacular 360° view of Vung Tau. From Cau Da Pier on Ð Ha Long, take a sharp right on the alley north…

5. Giant Jesus

2.15 MILES

Atop Small Mountain with his arms outstretched to embrace the South China Sea (East Sea), this 32m giant Jesus is one of the biggest in the world – taller…

7. Monkey Island Eco Forest Park

12.49 MILES

This island is home to a monkey sanctuary, which houses at least a hundred wild but unafraid simians. Take care: like monkeys everywhere, the line between…

8. Vam Sat

20.35 MILES

Located within Can Gio's mangroves, Vam Sat is noted for crab-angling, a crocodile farm and Dam Doi (Bat Swamp), an area where fruit bats nest. Boats to…