Ba Ria Vung Tau province
Sitting to the north of the confluence of the Saigon River and the South China Sea, Ba Ria - Vung Tau is best known for the beachside-life and seafood that centres around the provincial capital of Vung Tau.
From a beach-lovers perspective, Vung Tau's beaches are not lovely. Don't expect powder white sand and crystal clear water -- in fact the waters here can be so off-colour many opt for swimming pools rather than the ocean. However a bit of murkiness doesn't put off the windsurfers and kitesurfers who flock here in droves for the excellent conditions.
That said, thankfully there's more to do than lay on the beach. For starters, the seafood is excellent -- even if some of it does breed in Vung Tau's massive fish farms rather than the ocean -- and the prices are considerably more reasonable than what you may pay in Saigon.
Further afield (200km offshore in fact), sits the stunning Con Dao Archipelago -- a collection of over a dozen islands with excellent diving and mountain hiking potential. You'll need to fly to get there, but luckily there are regular flights from Saigon. If you've got the time and the money, Con Dao comes highly recommended -- and it need not be too expensive.
