Vung Tau is a lot more commercialized compared to the Con Dao Islands and there's a lot more to do in the mainland town. This is partly because this area was used as a rest & recreation destination for American soldiers during the Vietnam War. Later on when Vung Tau became the centre of the oil business in the country, many Russians came to work in the oil fields and started a large resident compound here. Many of them socialised downtown and revitalised the place. If your idea of a good night out is a game of pool and chatting with girls who work as hostesses in some of the more ‘colourful’ cafes and bars, Vung Tau is the place to be. Con Dao is beautiful and very quiet at night. Nightlife activity here is still very limited. It can be quite simple – eating out at one of the local restaurants, followed by drinking Vietnamese coffee or tea or beer probably at the same venue. 

Not only is it a tourist centre, Vung Tau also has the biggest offshore oil fields in Vietnam and its shopping choices reflect the town's cosmopolitan nature. Though it might not be the best place in Vietnam to shop for souvenirs, what the town has by way of shopping is quite interesting.