Mui Ne is not a large town, the original fishing village that actually lay here was called Ham Tien. Mui Ne is actually a 10 kilometer long road where the many resorts, hostels and hotels are located. It is therefore impossible to get lost here! This is mainly about surfing and the famous sand dunes. Here is a list of the best things to do in Mui Ne.
Mui Ne best things to do & travel guide
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Once Mui Ne was an isolated strip of coastline with a small traditional fishing village, where only the adventurous travelers camped on the beach. The original fishing village is still there, but nowadays there are more tourists than locals. It has now become a tourist beach destination with a number of luxury hotels, a few cheap hostels, but above all a midrange hotels. The sights on Mui Ne and Phan Thiet range from beautiful beaches, tropical forests and sand dunes to traditional villages, fishing port and ancient Cham buildings and ruins.
5 reasons to visit Mui Ne
- Play on the sand dunes
- Learn windsurfing or kite surfing
- Visit traditional fishing villages
- Explore the magical landscape of the Fairy Stream
- Learn more about the ancient Cham culture
What is in this Mui Ne travel guide
Practical information
Recommended days to stay
This town is great if you want to spend a few days on the beach, but there are not much other things to do in Mui Ne.
ATM's & money exchange
There are many cash machines along the main Mui Ne strip.
Local events and holidays
- Mui Ne Street Food Festival: Mui Ne organizes a popular street food festival three times a year (usually January, April and July), with local, national and international dishes.
Best time to visit
Rainy season: between the months of April and October.
Best travel time: The best time to enjoy going to Mui Ne is from November to March.
The weather in Mui Ne is much drier throughout the year than the rest of VIetnam and is even part of the driest region in Southeast Asia.
10 best things to do in Mui Ne
- Tip: If you want to do many of the best things to do in Mui Ne, you can rent a jeep with driver. There are also shared jeep tours you can join. They drive you to the dunes, Fairy Stream and fishing village.
1. Relax on the beaches
The best thing to do in Mui Ne is enjoy the beaches. It is the main reason for going here for most travelers. Mui Ne’s has 15 kilometers of sandy beaches surrounded by palm trees, a fishing village, an array of restaurants and shops, as well as luxury resorts.
Because of the length of the beach and how extensive the town is, you don’t have to worry that the whole beach is overcrowded with tourists. During the day you can swim, read a book or sunbathe and in the evening you can dine or drink a cocktail while you watch the sun go down.
2. Visit the sand dunes
The sand dunes in Mui ne are the biggest attraction here after the beaches.
You have the impressive red and white sand dunes that are compared to the Sahara of Vietnam. This is because the dunes are so big that when you are in the middle of them it feels like you are in a desert.
Besides the fact that the dunes are nice for a desert-like photo, there are also a lot of activities that you can do here. In the red dunes, near Mui Ne, you can slide down the dunes with a sled. Locals, especially children, walk around here to rent their sleighs to you. You can ride a jeep or quad in the white sand dunes.
3. Wind or kite surfing
The constant strong wind is ideal for kite surfing, windsurfing and other water sports. There are lessons in one of the surf schools scattered around the beach at extremely competitive prices.
4. Fairy Stream
The Fairy Stream is a popular stop for the Mui Ne jeep tours. It is a stream that runs through the red-orange dunes. The landscape is therefore also compared to a kind of miniature of the Grand Canyon. The stream is ankle deep so you can walk through it without any problem.
5. Mui Ne fishing harbor
In Mui Ne harbor you can see the fishermen coming back with their catches and you can observe the real local life in Mui Ne. The hundreds of colorful fishing boats that lie in the harbor are a beautiful sight.
6. The local fish market
The chaotic morning market offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of local fishermen. Every morning they bring their catch to the coast. Expect fishing nets full of seafood, buckets full of fish and strewn with shells everywhere.
7. Visit the Cham tower
Like many other towers of the Cham culture in Vietnam, the Po Shanu Cham Towers can also be found on top of a hill. They are from the time of the Champa empire, just like the temple complex of My Son, near Hoi An. They are located next to the city of Phan Thiet and on top of the hill you have a beautiful view of the area.
8. Ke Ga lighthouse
South of Mui Ne along the coast is an area that is best known for a beautiful beach with an island with an old lighthouse on the other side. The tower was built in 1897 and came into use in 1900, making it the oldest lighthouse in southeast Asia.
You can take a boat from the harbor to the island, but you are no longer allowed in the lighthouse. In addition, you can enjoy the beach here and the trip along the coast to Ke Ga is already worth it.
9. Ta Cu mountain and the reclining Buddha
Ta Cu Mountain consists of a vast area of lush jungle, rare flora and fauna, limestone caves and beautiful Buddhist structures, the highlight of which is the reclining Buddha. It is about 1 hour’s drive from Mui Ne. It is a nice day trip that you can combine with driving a loop via Ke Ga.
You can choose to climb the mountain or go up with a cable car. If you choose the former you walk through the woods and you will encounter a number of small temples on the way.
10. Sunrise and sunset
Sunsets and sunrises in Mui Ne are among the best in Vietnam. Choose to sit on the beach, from the fishing village or on the white or red sand dunes for incredible skies.
Best hotels & hostels in Mui Ne
Where to stay
Mui Ne beach – The beach of Mui Ne covers 15 kilometers of sandy beaches where you can enjoy a wide range of water sports. The northern part is a traditional fishing village, while in the southern part you can find hotels, shops and souvenir shops. Iconic sights such as Fairy Stream, the red and white sand dunes and Mui Ne Fishing Village are easily accessible.
Phan Thiet City – The village of Mui Ne actually belongs to the city of Phan Thiet. It is also possible to stay here in the city of Phan Thiet, 30 minutes from Mui Ne, good for experiencing the local lifestyle. Hotels are relatively affordable, but the nightlife is quiet compared to Mui Ne.
Best hotels & hostels in Mui Ne
Budget hotels & hostels
- Mui Ne Hills Backpackers
- Vietnam Backpacker Hostels – Mui Ne
- Cocosand Hotel
- Minh Anh Garden Hotel
Mid range hotel
- Muine Bay Resort
- Bao Quynh Bungalow
- Oriental Pearl Beach Resort & Spa
High end hotel & resort
- Bamboo Village Beach Resort
- Villa Aria Muine
- Mia Resort Mui Ne
Food & drinking
There is no shortage of restaurants in Mui Ne, but the selection is not as diverse as you would expect from a city with so many hotels and resorts. Simple Vietnamese fishing rights at BBQ eateries are a good choice. A whole stretch of the beach, known as “bo ke”, is assigned to these wonderful local places. There are also a handful of western options along the strip.
- Surfing Bird’s WOK
- Sindbad
- Lacheln Restaurant
- El Latino
- Ganesh Indian Restaurant
- Breeze Restaurant & Bar
- Sandals
- Deja Vu Restaurant
- Lam Tong
Nightlife
The nightlife in Mui Ne is fairly compact, with hotel bars, restaurants open late at night and hippie lounges on Mui Ne beach. The most popular nightlife venues are also great for parties, cultural evenings, film screenings, cozy campfire and dance shows.
- Joe’s Café
- Jibe’s Beach Club
- Ratinger Löwe
- Dragon Beach Bar
- Line Up Bar & Grill
- Déjà Vu Bar and Restaurant
How to get there
Buses to Mui Ne
Bus tickets to Mui Ne can be purchased in the tourist district of Ho Chi Minh City. There are day and night buses. The duration of the journey is 5-7 hours, depending on how much traffic there is on the road. There are also buses to and from Nha Trang (5 hours) and Dalat (6 hours). If you do not want to travel by bus or train, you can take a private car to Mui Ne.
Trains to Mui Ne
Mui Ne has no train station, but the closest one is in nearby Phan Thiet, in the northwestern corner of the city. There is only one train a day, it leaves Ho Chi Minh City around 7 am and arrives at 11:30 am. From Phan Thiet to HCMC, the train leaves at 1:00 pm and arrives at 6:30 pm. There are also trains to and from Nha Trang (5 hours).
The red local bus runs from Phan Thiet train station to Ham Tien (the tourist strip) and Mui Ne. Otherwise metered taxis are available.
How to get around
The easiest way to explore Mui Ne is by motorcycle or scooter. They rent at shops and hotels for 80,000-150,000 dong a day. Be very careful when driving in Mui Ne, little traffic, but nobody knows traffic rules.
Some hotels offer bicycles for free or rent them out.
Taxis are available for further locations. Taxis usually hang outside the larger resorts or let your hotel call one, they come to you at no extra cost.
To view sights, tour companies offer cheap (shared) jeep or bus tours that are usually cheaper than the cost of renting a motorbike.
Itinerary 2 days in Mui Ne
Day 1
- Start early in the morning for the port of Mui Ne and the local fish market.
- Drive to the white sand dunes and stop on a beach on the way.
- Walk through the Fairy Stream
- Finish the day with a sunset in the red dunes.
- Enjoy a drink on the beach.
Day 2
- Take a kite surfing or windsurfing course.
- Enjoy the rest of the afternoon on the beach.
- Alternatively you can also visit the Po Shanu Cham Towers, The Prince’s Castle and Ta Cu Mountain. Along the way you drive through Phant Thiet city.
More tips for traveling in Mui Ne
Where to go next?
Mui Ne is located not too far from Ho Chi Minh City. From here you can take flights to almost every airport in Vietnam, or buses to the Mekong Delta. There are also buses going from Mui Ne directly to Dalat and to Nha Trang, Quy Nhon and Da Nang in the north. The last three destinations are also connected by railway network.
Mui Ne with kids
Mui Ne is a great destinations for kids. The town is not to crowded with heavy traffic and the beaches are stunning.
