Mui Ne is a famous tourist destination of Phan Thiet City in Binh Thuan Province. Mui Ne is one of the leading resort towns in Vietnam, known by many people for its long stretches of fine white sand, blue sea and coconut trees. Mui Ne Beach has been voted as one of the 11 most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia.
When coming to the seaside town, you not only will be captivated by picturesque sea views but will also have impressive experiences when exploring the peaceful life of locals as well as enjoying delicious local dishes made from seafood.
This Mui Ne travel guide provides the most important information about this tourist destination in Vietnam, including details about how to get there, where to have fun like a local, what to do, where to stay, food to eat, and best of all.
Things to Do in Mui Ne
In addition to the beautiful beaches that fascinate tourists, the main attractions in Mui Ne include Red Sand Dunes, White Sand Dunes (Bau Trang), Fishing Village, and Fairy Spring. As these are the must-visit attractions, there are many tours that can bring you to all these 4 destinations.
Red Sand Dunes
Among all tourist destinations in Mui Ne, sand dunes are the most impressive attractions for many tourists. Red Sand Dunes can be found just about 2 km from Mui Ne Market, and about 23 km east of Phan Thiet city center. The unique feature of this scenic place is that after every big wind or overnight, sand dunes get a new shape.
Here you can take fascinating photos or rent a sand-board for 10,000 VND and experience the downhill sliding experience.
White Sand Dunes
White Sand Dunes, also known as Bau Trang, is a unique and interesting tourist destination in Mui Ne that you should not miss. There are 2 freshwater lakes with blooming lotuses lying in the middle of White Sand Dunes. Visiting White Sand Dunes by jeep during a sunrise or sunset is an unforgettable experience.
Discover the White and Red Sand Dunes on a private Jeep tour.
Fishing Village
Mui Ne Fishing Village is located nearby the town. At the fishing village you can witness hundreds of colorful fishing boats anchored on the water. If you are a seafood lover, this fishing village is your dream destination. After being caught, all seafood is processed right after coming to the mainland.
Fairy Spring
Fairy Spring, also known as Red Stream, is a small stream next to Hon Rom. Fairy stream is only about 1 km long, hidden in the red sand hill, creating an extremely beautiful and impressive landscape. The stream of Fairy Spring is quite shallow, just up on your ankle and the deepest place is only knee level so you can easily walk in the middle of the stream.
If you have just a short holiday in Vietnam, you can join this Mui Ne Day Trip from From Ho Chi Minh to experience town's breathtaking beauty and tour all highlight attractions.
Tasting Local Food in Mui Ne
Mui Ne cuisine is one of the reasons why this town attracts many local and foreign visitors. Some dishes not to be missed when visiting the town include:
Seafood: Mui Ne and Phan Thiet is a seafood paradise for tourists. There are various types of seafood and also a variety of ways of processing. You can easily find to find seafood that is freshly caught. If you want to bring back home, there are dried seafood products such as dried fish or squids you can buy here. Seafood prices are mainly not high and the quality is good.
Sunny Squid (Muc Mot Nang Nuong): A sunny squid is the big squid, which is spread out to dry on the sun for 1 day. Unlike fresh squid, a sunny squid has more sweetness without losing quality and flavor. You can easily find a sunny squid in fishing villages along the coast of Mui Ne or Phan Thiet market as well as shops selling seafood specialties. This dish is even more charming when dipped in Phan Thiet fish sauce with few slices of chili. Prices of a sunny squid range from 300,000-450,000 VND per kg.
Lizards: The specialty of sand dunes area is called "Dong". This is a kind of lizard that every tourist is recommended to try out. Dong meat is like chicken, but sweet, fleshy and softer. Dong’s meat can be cooked in the variety of ways like fried, roasted, stir-fried with herbs, or used as the main ingredient for hotpot. You can enjoy this Mui Ne specialty dish at the shop along the banks of the Ca Ty River, or some local restaurant.
Phan Thiet Beef Noodle Soup: When it comes to beef noodle soup, you immediately think of Hue beef noodle soup (Bun Bo Hue), but Phan Thiet also has its very own beef noodle soup with a completely different taste.
Phan Thiet Quang Noodles: A very typical dish of Phan Thiet. The Quang My noodle dish in Phan Thiet has a slightly sweet taste, so you can squeeze more lemons into it to make it easier to eat. You should try once to see the difference of Quang noodles and Phan Thiet noodles.
King Crab: This is a specialty of Tuy Phong and Binh Thuan regions. Crab meat is sweet, chewy, and fragrant. The king crab in Tuy Phong area is available year round but December is the best time to try it. King crab is usually grilled or steamed with lemon pepper or made porridge. You can enjoy King crab in seafood restaurants around the town.
Seafood Salad: Salad is a dish you definitely have to try once when traveling to Phan Thiet. There are many different types and Mui Ne is famous for fish salad and snail salad. Fish salad is made from shellfish, transparent fish or fresh opaque fish served with raw vegetables, vermicelli and a special dipping sauce. Snail salad is made with finely chopped snail meat, pork, fried onions, raw vegetables, roasted peanuts and served with sweet and sour dipping sauce.
Shopping in Mui Ne
There are some souvenirs to be found in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet. Products include handicrafts and items made from shells and unique flavor of the sea, such as necklace from snails, artificial pearls, bracelets made from natural stone, etc.
You can also buy Mui Ne specialties such as dragon fruits, sunny squids, durian candies, anchovies, dried shrimp, and fish sauce as gifts.
Other Attractions in Mui Ne
In case you have an opportunity to stay longer in Mui Ne, there are countless attractive destinations not to be missed, such as Hon Ghenh, Duc Thanh School, Poshanu Tower, Ta Cu Mountain, etc. We have gathered suggestions for the top attractions in Mui Ne that are really worth experiencing.
Where to Stay in Mui Ne?
Hotels in Mui Ne are very diverse with the majority of them scattered along Nguyen Dinh Chieu and Huynh Thuc Khang streets towards Hon Rom. There are many accommodation options available in the town, so you can choose the place that suites your needs the best, from high-end to affordable.
Some of the best-rated hotels in Mui Ne:
Luxury Resort: Bamboo Village Beach Resort & Spa
Mid-Range Hotel: Full Moon Village
Budget Hotel: Mui Ne Ocean House
Other suggested resorts and hotels can be found here: Best Hotels in Mui Ne.
How to Get to Mui Ne
As Mui Ne is a small town, it can be reached via one of the bigger cities nearby, such as Ho Chi Minh City or Nha Trang.
Traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne
Ho Chi Minh City is the main entry point for international travelers to Southern Vietnam. Therefore, getting to Mui Ne via Ho Chi Minh is the most popular option. After reaching Ho Chi Minh City, you can continue your trip to the seaside town by bus, train or private taxi.
By Bus
Taking a bus is the option that many people choose for traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne because of its flexibility and affordable price. There are many bus companies operating on this route and each bus company has a very diverse travel schedule. Most of the buses depart from Saigon’s Eastern Bus Terminal or De Tham Street in District 1. Ticket prices normally range from 200,000 VND to 300,000 VND.
Current bus departure schedule can be found and bus tickets can be booked online here: Bus from Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne.
By Train
Taking a train is also a good choice for those who are intending to visit the seaside town. Normally, trains on Saigon - Phan Thiet route depart from Vietnam’s largest city in the morning and train tickets cost starting from 200,000 VND per person. Most of the trains stop at Binh Thuan Railway Station, so for getting to your hotel in Mui Ne you need to hire taxi or take a local public bus.
Current train departure schedule can be found and train tickets can be booked online here: Train from Ho Chi Minh to Binh Thuan.
Private Transfer
Booking a private transfer from Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne is actually a better option than taking a taxi. Private transfer rates in Vietnam in general are relatively low so it can be very practical when traveling with your family or group of friends. When using a private transfer, you don't have to go to pick-up point or to worry about transferring to your accommodation, as the driver will pick you up from the hotel or airport in Saigon and drive you directly to your hotel. Some of the best deals on this route can be found here: Private taxi Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne.
Other Options
A detailed guide on traveling to the seaside town from Ho Chi Minh City can be found here: Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne.
If you are flying to Ho Chi Minh City and want to go to the seaside right away from the airport, explore transportation options for a trip from Ho Chi Minh Airport to Mui Ne.
Traveling from Nha Trang to Mui Ne
Nha Trang is another popular option for travelers to Mui Ne, as they can experience two very different seaside towns not far from each other. Traveling between two destinations is easy once you know how to get from Nha Trang to Mui Ne by bus, train, taxi or tour.
By Bus
Taking a bus is one of the most popular ways for traveling between the cities that is chosen by most people because of the affordable price. The travel time between these popular destinations in Vietnam by bus is about 5-6 hours.
Bus schedule can be found and bus tickets can be booked online here: Bus from Nha Trang to Mui Ne.
By Train
You can take a train from Nha Trang Railway Station to Binh Thuan Railway Station, which is the nearest train station on the main Vietnam railway line. Binh Thuan Railway Station is located about 40 km from Mui Ne.
Train departure schedule can be found and train tickets can be booked online here: Train from Nha Trang to Binh Thuan.
Private Transfer
The most comfortable way for getting from Nha Trang is a private transfer, offering door-to-door service. You can choose the most suitable time and the driver will be waiting for you at your hotel on time. The difference between taking a taxi and traveling by a private transfer is that the private transfer is pre-booked for a fixed price and you don’t need to worry about being overcharged. If you are traveling in a large group, booking transportation prior to arrival is recommended as you will get a vehicle that suites your needs the best.
Private transfer between the cities can be booked online here: Nha Trang private transfer to Mui Ne.
Other Options
A detailed guide on traveling to the seaside town from Nha Trang can be found here: Nha Trang to Mui Ne.
Traveling from Hanoi to Mui Ne
The town is located about 1,510 km south of Hanoi. If you will start your trip in the capital city and will want to travel directly to the beach town, there are several ways for getting from Hanoi to Mui Ne.
You can fly to Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) or Cam Ranh Airport (CXR) in Nha Trang and then transfer by bus, train or private taxi. Flight tickets on these routes can be booked online here:
Flights from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh Airport
Flights from Hanoi to Can Ranh Airport
Travelling by bus from Hanoi to Phan Thiet can be the cheapest way but also the most dangerous and inconvenient one. When choosing to travel this way, you will need to be on the road for more than one day and the road along the way won’t be smooth.
If you don't like flying, it is better to choose a train from Hanoi to Mui Ne, as traveling by train is safer option than taking a bus. The trains departing from Hanoi Railway Station stop at Binh Thuan Railway Station, which is located about 40 km from the seaside town.
Current train departure schedule can be found and train tickets can be booked online here: Train from Hanoi to Binh Thuan.
A detailed guide on traveling from Hanoi to the seaside town can be found here: Hanoi to Mui Ne.
Other Transportation Options
More transportation options for a trip can be found and transport tickets can be booked by this search form.
How to Get around Mui Ne
Many tourists explore the town on foot, especially those who are staying at the resort nearby the beach and just want to have a relaxing time during a long walk on the beach. For traveling to more distant places of interest, several different types of transportation can be used.
Public Bus
Taking a public bus is one of the memorable experiences in Mui Ne, especially for those who prefer using public transportation, which is both environmentally friendly and much more cost effective.
There are several public bus routes operating in Binh Thuan Province. Some of the most popular bus routes in Phan Thiet for your reference:
- Route 1: Tien Loi - Mui Ne - Hon Rom - Suoi Nuoc
- Route 4: Ta Cu - Phan Thiet - Phu Long
- Route 6: Phan Thiet - Ke Ga - Tan Thanh
- Route 9: Phan Thiet Railway Station - Mui Ne - Hon Rom - Suoi Nuoc
Detailed public bus routes and schedule can be found here: Phan Thiet Public Bus.
Motorbike
Motorbikes are the favorite vehicle for tourists traveling to Phan Thiet because it brings convenience when exploring the famous landmarks of the province. In Mui Ne, there are many motorbike rental services available. You can also rent a motorbike right at the hotel. The motorbike rental price is about 100,000-150,000 VND per day.
Taxi
Taxi is an ideal vehicle for those who love comfort or travel in a large group to locations far from the city. Some of the most popular taxi companies in Phan Thiet are Mai Linh Taxi, Vinasun Taxi, Phan Thiet Taxi and Sun Taxi. Mui Ne taxi fare is affordable but various destinations are quite far away so getting there might not come cheap.
Tour
The most convenient and often cost-effective way for visiting the most popular natural attractions in the area is by taking a Private Sand Dunes Jeep Tour or joining a Group Tour by Jeep.
Best time to travel to Mui Ne, Phan Thiet
Located in the South Central region, Mui Ne in particular and Phan Thiet in general are considered the sunniest and most windy area in the country. The area is also less affected by storms so you can travel at any time of the year. However, there are some notes about the weather in Mui Ne, Phan Thiet to pay attention to before traveling there:
March - May: the hottest time in the area. The temperature can be over 30 degrees Celsius.
June - August: At this time, the weather is cooler than on other months. The sea water is also greener and calmer.
September - November: If possible, avoid traveling there during this period, because it often has sudden rains, so the tour plans may be affected. There will be red tide and seaweed blooming, the sea is no longer clear so it is not suitable for swimming. However, this can happen for some period and not every year, you just need to monitor the weather before the trip.
December - February: The weather is quite cool and pleasant and there are not many storms as before. During this time, many locals from the northern region try avoid the cold and come to travel to enjoy the warmth of the golden sunshine in Mui Ne.
Tips for Mui Ne
The weather is quite sunny and dry, so remember to bring sun screen, mineral water, sunglasses, sandals and slippers when going out.
Another interesting resort town not too far from Mui Ne is Nha Trang. There are nice beaches, fun activities making it suitable for relaxation. You can go there if you have more time.
For those who want to experience something different, head to Dalat in the South Central Highlands of Vietnam.
