Vasco da Gama, often shortened to Vasco, is a city in the state of Goa on the west coast of India. It is named after the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. It is the headquarters of the Mormugão taluka. The city lies on the western tip of the Mormugao peninsula, at the mouth of the Zuari River, about 30 kilometres from Panaji, Goa's capital, 28 kilometres from Margao, the district headquarters and about 5 kilometres from Dabolim Airport.