Skip to content Which road does the car take to The Imperial?
The car heads east across Saigon to the Long Thanh–Dau Giay expressway, then south on the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau expressway, and enters Vung Tau along the coast. That route has cut the trip from about 2½ hours to 80–130 minutes for a sedan or 7-seater; a 16-seater has to take Highway 51. Tolls on the new expressway are expected to start around November 2026, and our price includes them. See Vung Tau by car, ferry or bus for the full comparison, including the hydrofoil.
Is it a quiet hotel, and where exactly is it?
It’s large (over 300 rooms across a hotel tower and a residence tower, with Victorian-style interiors) and sits on Thuy Van, the road behind Back Beach. Back Beach is the livelier, surf-facing side of Vung Tau, so expect weekend crowds from Saigon, particularly on Saturdays and public holidays. The residence tower has two-bedroom suites that sleep a family or group, which is why we see this hotel suit parties of six or more: book a 7-seater, or two cars.
Does the shuttle bus make sense instead?
If you buy one of the hotel’s packages that includes it, perhaps. The bus must be reserved days ahead and runs to a set schedule from the city. It isn’t designed for airport arrivals. A car is the easier way to do the Saigon to Vung Tau drive when you arrive off a flight, when you are leaving on a different day from the package or when you want to stop for lunch on the way.
What can I do from The Imperial without a car?
The beach is across the road and the hotel’s pools and restaurants keep many guests on site. For the Christ statue, Front Beach seafood and Long Hai you need wheels. A short hire for the evening works well. Marina Bay (see our page) is a quieter alternative on the sea-front road at the other end of town.
Going on from The Imperial
Ho Tram and its resorts (Meliá, Dhawa) are 45–60 minutes east; Mui Ne is a 3½–4½ hour drive (the Mui Ne coast). The table below lists every onward route in both directions.