Vung Tau is 125 kms south of HCMC. The headland, which was an important navigation point, was named Cap St Jaques by the Portuguese in the 15th century. The name persisted into French colonial times. It is now known by its original name, Vung Tau, which means ‘ship’s bay’ or ‘anchorage’. The beaches either side of the cape are hugely popular, particularly during public holidays when you might expect crowds down for the weekend or a short break. It is easy enough to get to from Saigon by road or by a fairly speedy hydrofoil on the Dong Nai River.

During this visit there were hundreds of wonderfully creative kites and folks testing their skills against the onshore winds. I am not sure if it was a competition, or a regular feature.