The vortex method is a direct numerical simulation method for solving the Navier-Stokes equations. In order to reveal the influence of Reynolds number and distances between the cylinders, the incompressible flow past a pair of tandem cylinders is solved on the base of the vortex method. The results show that for the flow past two tandem cylinders, there is a critical distance of the tandem cylinders. Over the critical distance, the flow field will have a sudden change, and the drag coefficient, lift coefficient and Strouhal number will also change dramatically. The critical distance will diminish as the Reynolds number rises.