Wrexham squandered a few openings yet hardly deserved to go behind when the visitors took the lead from a right-wing corner just after the hour.
Craig James floated his corner towards the box and Stephen Brooker nipped in front of Chris Llewellyn to finish with a downward header through the keeper's legs.
It called for a quick reshuffle as the home side responded by sending on striker Chris Armstrong for the luckless Llewellyn who had earlier missed a couple of chances.
Armstrong added new zip to the attack and had a part in the equalising goal.
He met Dean Bennett's long throw with an overhead kick and Andy Holt added a superb finish, directing his close range header beyond the reach of Jonathan Brain.
Lee Matthews missed a gilt-edged chance for Vale early on. Levi Reid pushed the ball through to put him clear but the striker completely mis-kicked and allowed Andy Dibble an easy save.
Matthews nearly made amends two minutes later with a free-kick that was heading for the top corner before Dibble went up to turn it away for a corner.
Brain blocked a shot from Alex Smith, saved a tricky bouncing shot from Darren Ferguson and watched a Holt effort clear the crossbar.
Vale had Steve Rowland keeping a tight rein on midfield organiser Ferguson and also man-marked the two strikers.
Both sides did open up later on and went for goals in the hope of taking all three points.
Dibble saved from James and at the other end Llewellyn missed a sitter, snatching a hasty shot over the top after Hector Sam headed back across goal.