Vung Ro Bay at a glance
Vung Ro Bay (Vũng Rô) lies on the southern part of the Phu Yen coast. Mountains drop to a sheltered bay with turquoise water, fishing boats at anchor and fish farms on the surface. The bay is known above all for its role in the war history of Vietnam. A published tourism route for the south of the coast lists the memorial of the "ships without numbers" in Vung Ro together with Bai Mon and Mui Dien.
This is an independent guide. It is not run by any authority, museum or tour operator. Since 1 July 2025 the former province of Phu Yen has been part of the merged province of Dak Lak, but maps, drivers and travelers still use the name Phu Yen for this coast.
The memorial of the ships without numbers
What the site commemorates, and how to visit it.
In Vietnamese the ships are called "tàu không số". Vietnamese accounts, for example a retrospective by the news agency VietnamPlus in October 2026, describe an arms supply by sea from late 1964 to February 1965 and tie the discovery of the fourth voyage to 16 February 1965. This page repeats that account as it is told in Vietnamese sources and adds no further details, such as tonnages or battle scenes.
Combine it with Mui Dien
The tourism route for the south lists the memorial and the lighthouse cape together. Plan a half day for both and look at the map before you fix the order.
Mui Dien guide →Check hours and entry
Opening times and any entry fee for the memorial can change. Ask your hotel or driver for the current rules on the day you go.
Follow local signs
Germany's foreign office warns that military restricted areas exist in Vietnam and are not always marked completely. Local prohibition signs apply, whatever a guide book says.
Phu Yen coast tours and day trips
Day trips along the Phu Yen coast and tours that start in Quy Nhon or Nha Trang, with live prices and availability.
Pass, road tunnel and rail tunnel: do not mix them up
The names around the bay are easy to confuse.
| Name | What it is | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Vung Ro Bay | A bay with a memorial site | The place this page covers |
| Vung Ro 4 | A railway tunnel | Named in a 2013 government report on a train accident; it is part of the rail line |
| Deo Ca and Co Ma | The pass and road corridor on the coastal route | The road tunnel is known by these names, not as a "Vung Ro tunnel" |
A press report from 2018 described a shuttle through the Deo Ca and Co Ma road tunnel: passengers rode in a minibus and motorbikes were loaded on trucks. Whether such a shuttle runs today, and at what price, can change, so ask before you plan a trip with a rented motorbike. The UK government warns of frequent serious motorbike accidents in Vietnam. A rented scooter does not replace a valid license for the vehicle class.
Boats, fish farms and the water
The bay is a working fishing area. Boats and fish farms share it, and a small island sits in the water. Do not assume that every beach or every fish raft is open to visitors or suitable for swimming, and do not assume lifeguards. Look at the sea state and ask locally.
The storm season runs from May to November according to UK government advice, and heavy rain falls from September to December. If you go on a boat, choose one that is registered and meets safety standards, take the safety briefing and wear a life jacket. Overcrowded boats are a risk. The weather page has the monthly rainfall.
Plan the rest of the coast
Nearby pages for the same trip.
Mui Dien and the lighthouse
The stairs, the sunrise idea and the fees laid down for the cape.
Phu Yen beaches
Tuy Hoa, Bai Mon, Long Thuy and the access note for Bai Xep.
Getting to Phu Yen
Tuy Hoa airport, the train and buses from Nha Trang and Quy Nhon.
If you arrive from the south, Nha Trang is the usual starting point. Back on the Phu Yen side, the things to do page puts the bay into a longer list of ideas.
Vung Ro Bay: frequently asked questions
What are the ships without numbers?
The phrase "tàu không số" refers to vessels that carried arms by sea in the Vietnam War. Vietnamese accounts place the supply in late 1964 to February 1965 and link the discovery of the fourth voyage to 16 February 1965. A memorial for them stands in Vung Ro.
Is there a Vung Ro tunnel for cars?
Not as one clear road tunnel. Vung Ro 4 is the name of a railway tunnel. The road corridor on the coastal route is called Deo Ca and Co Ma. Do not treat them as the same place.
Can I swim in the bay?
Do not take it for granted. The bay is used by fishing boats and fish farms, and no lifeguard service can be assumed. Check the sea conditions and ask locals, especially from September to December when rain is heavy.
Is the memorial free?
Entry fees and opening hours can change. Ask at your hotel or on site before you plan the visit around a fixed time.
Can I visit Vung Ro and Mui Dien in one day?
The tourism route for the south of the coast lists them together, so many visitors combine them. Look at the road distance on a map and allow time for the stairs at Mui Dien and the drive between the two.
Is this the official site of the memorial or the province?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to authorities, museums or tour operators.