Vung Tau is at 125km from Ho Chi Minh City. It is a popular destination for the inhabitants of the metropolis, who often come to Vung Tau for the weekend. The whole city area lies on a peninsula which is separated from the mainland by a river called Co May. Today, Vung Tau’s importance as a shipping port has diminished, but it still plays a significant role in Vietnam's offshore oil industry. Indeed, Vung Tau is the only city in Vietnam where crude oil and gas exploitation activities dominate the local economy.