Long Hải, about 30 km south, has the long, mostly empty beaches that Vung Tau itself does not — fine yellow sand, low-rise resorts, almost no day-tripper traffic. The drive down the coast road is pleasant.
Long Tân, inland east of Vung Tau, was the site of the 1966 battle in which Australian troops held off a much larger Viet Cong force. A small white concrete cross marks the spot in a rubber plantation; it is a destination mainly for Australian veterans and their families. Permits to visit are usually arranged in advance through the provincial tourist office.
Cần Giờ mangrove biosphere reserve, a long curve north-west along the coast from Vung Tau back toward Saigon, makes a good half-day if you have your own vehicle — monkey island, boat trips through the channels, fresh seafood at the small ports.