Vung Tau (Back Beach / Bai Sau)

About This Spot

Vung Tau's kite spot is Bai Sau (Back Beach), the long southeast-facing beach south of the city, ~125 km / 2 hrs from Ho Chi Minh City by car, bus or ferry — making it the closest reliable kite spot to Saigon and a popular weekend/day-trip option. Wind: driven by the NE monsoon, season runs roughly November to April. Peak is January–March, with March the windiest and most reliable month; April still rideable. Wind is typically side to side-onshore (NE), averaging 12–20 knots on a good day and gusting higher in peak season, though stats show many marginal days — expect to wait for the wind to fill in (often building through midday into a steadier 18–24 kt afternoon). Bring a quiver (7–12 m); it is not as consistent or as strong as Mui Ne/Phan Rang. Low season (May–Oct) is the SW monsoon rainy season — humid, stormy, little usable kite wind. Water: tidal beach. At low tide a sandbank extends 1 km+ offshore giving shallow, flatter water with small waves close in and choppy/small swell on the outside — workable for freeride and learning. Sandy bottom, easy walk-out launch. Level: suits beginners to intermediates; several kite schools/rental shops operate here. Wide, sandy launch and landing area with plenty of room. Hazards: it's a busy public city beach in season — watch for swimmers, sunbathers and jet-skis, especially weekends; ride well clear of the swimming zones. Big tidal range leaves tidal pools and exposed sandbank at low water; mind the receding tide and access timing (you can ride/drive across the sand at low tide). Generally uncrowded with kiters. No formal permit system, but confirm locally whether the section you launch from is OK. Water near a major port city can be murky/polluted after rain.