Mui Ne is a small town in the hills of Vietnam that is a popular tourist destination. It is a relaxing place to travel, where you can visit a number of small islands. One of these islands is Hoi An, a charming old town that is also a very popular tourist destination. Mui Ne and Hoi An are both popular destinations and have a lot in common. They are both small towns with a lot of history that are a part of Vietnam. Both are popular tourist destinations.
When you buy travel insurance it is essential that you are insured for the whole trip. This means you need to have cover for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, and Trip Delay. If you are going on a long trip, or have a family or friends with you, it is worth buying additional cover to protect against lost baggage, being ill and other disasters.
A huge number of people come to Vietnam for its beaches, pristine islands and bustling nightlife. However, the country is more than just an ocean beach destination. It is home to thousands of ancient villages and a rich cultural heritage that spans over thousands of years. If you’re after a holiday that will leave you with plenty to see and do, check out our blog, which has plenty of other ideas for things to do in the country.
I mentioned some delicious soups, leisurely evenings watching the sun sink into the sea, and riding a motorcycle down the beach in my last article on Mui Ne. While I typically concentrate on the story, it’s always nice to include some practical knowledge with the narrative, so part two of my stay in Mui Ne is exactly that. (I also have two “crash courses” scheduled in Marrakesh and Montreal.) Is it possible that I’m only writing them for cities that begin with the letter M?!)
Mui Ne Travel Guide
This is the second practical portion of the series!
What is the best way to go to Mui Ne?
From Saigon to Mui Ne, take the bus.
Many buses travel the sandy, congested routes between Mui Ne and HCMC, but one of the most dependable bus companies is Futa Buslines’ Phuong Trang (link to Vietnamese-only site) bright orange vehicles. Yes, it will take a little longer than the open bus tours (5-6 hours), but it is safe and they stop for lunch halfway through. You’ll get a bottle of water, a new towel, and no smiles for your 130,000 dong ($6.25) ticket. The bus ride is 7 hours long and includes two stops: one for a toilet and fruit break, and another for lunch. Tickets may be purchased at the De Tham office near Pham Ngu Lao (272 De Tham; Google map link). The phone number is +84 838 309 309, and there is a separate office in Mui Ne at the end of the beach strip (away from the major resorts). Mui Ne’s phone number is +84 623 743 113.
Buses depart from HCMC at 7 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7 p.m.
At 1 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 3 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., buses depart Mui Ne.
In both instances, the bus will inquire as to where you are staying and will drop you off just outside your door, which was a pleasant surprise.
From Saigon to Mui Ne, use the train.
Another alternative is to take the train. Tom from Vietnam Coracle, a friend of Legal Nomads, has published a very useful article on how to travel to Phan Thiet from Saigon. He makes the following observation:
Over the years, I’ve travelled many, many times between Saigon and Phan Thiet/Mui Ne: by bus, bicycle, car, minivan, coach, but most of the time, by motorbike. I love the ride along the Ocean Road from Vietnam’s biggest city to one of its most popular beach retreats. But there is another way: put your motorbike on the train and let the rails carry your wheels. It’s cheap, easy, fun, fast, efficient and relaxing. Even if you’re not taking your motorbike with you, the train is a much better option than taking one of the buses along Highway 1.
While the train from Saigon to Phan Thiet is an express service, some trains stop at Bien Hoa and Binh Thuan for a few minutes. His article is here, and it contains information on prices, various booking choices, and how to travel the train with your motorbike.
Visit Vietnam Railways for information on timetables and schedules, as well as online ticket purchases.
The following is a note from reader Lilian, who took the train:
The train left at 6.40 a.m. and arrived in Thiet Phat at 11.10 a.m. It was a really pleasant trip; we were given bottled water, towels, and there is a food cart that travels along the aisles. The trip was so peaceful that we both fell asleep for a couple of hours as the train swayed softly down the rails. There is a television on board, as well as excellent bathroom facilities, and the fee is about 140,000 VND each trip. We paid 80,000VND for a cab from Thiet Phat, which was just 10 to 15 minutes away.
From Saigon to Mui Ne via motorcycle
Returning to Tom from Vietnam Coracle, who enjoys lengthy bike trips. He says in his letter:
Between Saigon and Mui Ne, the Ocean Road is a beautiful road. The Ocean Road is a destination in and of itself, skirting the deserted coastline for much of its length and occasionally ducking inland through cashew trees and dragon fruit plantations, past hot springs, hilltop pagodas, and dusty villages where ox-drawn carts full of sun-dried hay linger in the heat. The Ocean Road is a much more rewarding, beautiful, and peaceful option to travel between Saigon and Mui Ne than the straight route on Highway 1.
More information may be found in his post.
What is there to do in Mui Ne?
Mui Ne has a large number of fishing boats.
- Rent a motorcycle and tour Mui Ne and the fishing catches that arrive and go from the sea. Mui Ne village also has a morning market that runs from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m.
- Ride your bike a dozen kilometers out of town to the sand dunes.
- Kitesurfing is a fun sport to try. (You may see a list of schools here.)
- Hike to Fairy Spring, which is close by.
- Visit Phan Thiet port and its many bigger fishing boats, where you can buy fresh catch of the day on the bridge between Phan Thiet and Ham Tien, as well as fish pho at a nearby market. Fresh fish may also be found on the bridge near Mui Ne’s smaller port.
- Hike up Takou Mountain and explore the surrounding nature reserve (about an hour away).
- At night, stroll along the water’s edge, taking in the view from your accommodation.
Kitesurfing without the surfing component.
Where should I stay?
I stayed at the lovely Bien Dua Resort (136 Nguyn nh Chiu St), which is full of plants and hammocks, but I would advise anyone planning to visit to be cautious. Because I was kicked out a few days into my stay when she said new customers had reserved and were coming in, like many other guesthouses in Vietnam, you either pay upfront if you like the place or make sure you have a Plan B, because I was kicked out a few days into my stay when she said new customers had reserved and were coming in. What occurred, I believe, was that the newer clients did not bargain down the prices as much as I did, allowing her to earn more money from the room without me in it. She changed her mind despite the fact that she had stated the room was available.
In any case, despite the lovely surroundings and well-kept accommodations, I wasn’t too pleased, but considering the Trip Advisor ratings (see the link above), I got off lightly.
Visitor.
From there, I went to Thanh Duy (243 Nguyn nh Chiu Street, +84 123 452 685), which was owned by a wonderful family and where the grandmother produced one of the finest hot Vietnamese coffees I’d ever tasted. Although it did not overlook the beach as Bien Dua, the accommodations were clean and the staff was kind. I may or may not have sneaked into the resort across the street and taken use of their pool instead.
*cough*
The extremely clean Mui Ne Backpackers came highly recommended by a reader I met during my stay in Mui Ne for anyone seeking for dormitories or a hostel atmosphere.
Where should you dine in Mui Ne?
Lâm Tng (92 Nguyn inh Chiêu street +84 62-3847598) is directly on the beach for lunch, with a bewildering number of tables laid out facing the sea. A tiny balcony area juts out onto the beach itself, which is excellent for low tide but not so great for high tide; you will get soaked. There are some tasty noodle meals and fresh fruit choices, as well as grilled fish with lemon and other Vietnamese favorites. Not the greatest daytime soups – go to Mui Ne at 8 a.m. or 4 p.m. for fish pho and other excellent market foods, or try the bun bo noodle soup I mentioned in my previous article. Even if it isn’t the finest cuisine you’ll eat in Vietnam, it’s a good choice for lunchtime munching with a view.
Lâm Tng’s crab soup with fresh coconut makes for an interesting Christmas meal.
Sindbad Kebab (233 Nguyn nh Chiu Street) provides something roughly approaching Mediterranean meals, including kebabs, hummous salads, tsatziki, sweet potato fries, and other small plates, if you’re weary of Vietnamese cuisine or beach snacks. Late hours are available.
My first option for supper is Taxi Stand Soup (what else can I name it? ), the soup about which I penned a love letter in my last article. It’s in the vacant lot just across from Tutti Frutti. If you can’t see her, it’s probably because she’s surrounded by parked cabs, their drivers slurping up her braised pig soup. There is no menu; just soup is served. 25,000 dong – 30,000 dong, depending on what you purchase, and a fresh coconut if you want one (an extra 10,000 dong). Note: Reader the Traveling German discovered the soup and has some more information on where to get it here.
Another possibility is Chi Em (195 Nguyn ng Chiu Street; +84 166 808 4171), a seafood restaurant that I photographed below. It was less touristy than some of the other seafood restaurants along the beach since it was lovely and family run. The tamarind crab, scallops (fried in pig fat and shallots and served with peanuts), or a smaller fish packed with chile, lemongrass, ginger, and herbs are all good choices.
Without a modest shrine of offerings, no home (outdoor or otherwise) is complete.
Where can you get a drink in Mui Ne?
We ended up purchasing tiny bottles of Vodka Hanoi (a cheap, $1.25 Vietnamese rice-based vodka). and talking while preparing cocktails at the water’s edge These may be purchased at any beachside convenience shop or in HCMC. They were strangely absent from their namesake city of Hanoi, and Hanoi acquaintances had never heard of them. The blue label is made from rice, whereas the red label is made from maize and grains.
After supper, I found myself in Fun Key Bar (124 Nguyn nh Chiu Street) a few of times. Very cheaply priced beverages, right on the water’s edge, and very kind owners and employees. Open for lunch as too, and my wheat-eating friends rave about their crepes. It’s open till late.
For the time being, that’s all there is to it! I only stayed in Mui Ne for six days, but it was a wonderful location to visit and nice to be near the beach (though it’s not a beach for lazing – be careful!). It’s very windy) and a great last-minute Christmas holiday choice.
Longer Articles from Around the Web
(None of those awful 300-word top-ten lists that basically encourage you to sign up for a free ebook but provide very little useful information)
- Here’s Travelfish’s Mui Ne guide.
- Here is Pinay Backbacker’s extensive Mui Ne guide.
- What to do in Mui Ne, Vietnam, according to La Vie au Vietnam (French).
For those of you planning a trip to Saigon and need a tour, I’ve prepared a far more thorough Saigon Guide (almost 10,000 words!) including information on where to eat street food, foreign cuisine, beverages, and visas, hospitals, taxis, and more.
Safe travels!
-Jodi
Popular beaches in Mui Ne are either on the main road or close to it. They do not have a lot of sand, with one exception. There is a small, isolated beach that is a bit further than the rest. It is not as popular but it is less crowded, and it is free for all tourists. The beach is called Đa Laï and it is one of the best beaches in the whole of Vietnam.. Read more about da lat, vietnam and let us know what you think.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mui Ne worth visiting?
Mui Ne is a city in Vietnam that has been visited by many tourists. It is known for its beaches and resorts.
How many days do you need in Mui Ne?
You need about 5 days to visit Mui Ne.
How do I get to white sand dunes in Mui Ne?
White sand dunes are a common sight in the area of Mui Ne, Vietnam. There is no specific place to find them, but they can be found anywhere along the beach and on the shoreline.
Related Tags
This article broadly covered the following related topics:
- mui ne desert
- mui ne sand dunes
- mui ne vietnam
- things to do in mui ne at night
- mui ne beach
