Dog gone it, Vung Tau is not just a holiday resort
Posted by admin on April 21, 2011 under Vietnam Travel in the South, Vietnam travel News | 
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After living in the nation which founded the ancient sport, you would have thought that by now I would have gone at least a dozen times.
But no, for some reason I had maybe gone to the dogs literally but not physically. Greyhound racing is a great spectacle and even inspired Damon Albarn of English BritPop band Blur to feature his favorite pastime, away from music, on the front cover of the award-winning Parklife album.
So a trip to Vung Tau with a group of friends didn’t see me believing I had much chance of fulfilling my ambition. Greyhounds in Vietnam? Not likely.
We checked into the Petro Hotel and when I was coming down the lift I looked out the window and in my amazement saw a greyhound track. Double-take time but yes at reception they confirmed that races were taking place as they do every Saturday evening at the 5,000-capacity Lam Son stadium in 15 Le Loi Street.
I grabbed my friends quickly and dragged them along and what a great experience it was. A seat close to the finish-line and the chance to have a beer as you put a few bets on, what more can a man wish for? A winner, perhaps and with two races to go it duly arrived but not a big lift as it was second favorite. I was unfortunate with my forecasts of 1-2-3. Three times having 1-2-4. I then did a spot of digging and found out this is the only greyhound racing track in the country.
It was the brainchild of Aussie Bevan Williamson in 2002 with the initial investment to finance the air-conditioned 400-meter track coming from Australia but the sand, of course, comes from Vung Tau beach.
Sunday and time to go home but not before we got down to the real business of the trip – the beach and the seafood. The beach I was warned was not great but as it is the closest to Saigon, it is popular but I thought it was nice and everyone I met seemed to be loving being away from the city.
On our way home my friends told me we would be missing the chance of a lifetime if we didn’t go to seafood restaurant Ganh Hao, and boy were they right – it was out of this world.
Honestly, I’d eaten seafood almost daily since relocating to Vietnam but nothing prepared me for the crab and prawn delights of this piece of heaven. Wow. Even thinking about it now makes my mouth water and it was so cheap.
It’s worth going to Vung Tau just to dine at Ganh Hao on 3 Tran Phu Street alone. What’s a three-hour drive or 90 minute ferry journey to this little gem of a restaurant. It’s fair to say my first visit to the Ba Ria–Vung Tau region won’t be my last.
(Source: Saigon Times)
Collected by Vietnam hotel
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