Mui Ne

While Mui Ne used to be a relatively unknown fishing village, a tourism boom in the 1990s transformed it into a global tourist destination.

The tourist attraction is now known for more than only its weather and beaches; it also boasts Cham towers, sand dunes that change color with the light, and sleepy fishing villages.

NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO VISIT

As a year-round vacation destination, Mui Ne has a tropical hot climate and is one of the driest regions in the country.

When planning a beach vacation, it’s best to visit between April and October, when the water is calm and the wind is consistent, making it ideal for relaxing and exciting activities like windsurfing and kitesurfing.

WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES?

The Mui Ne fishing town, located 23 kilometers north of Phan Thiet, the capital of Binh Thuan province, is instantly recognizable by the hundreds of brightly colored coracles that float on the tranquil waters. Fishermen rely on this as their primary source of income.

At 5 a.m. every day, the seafood market is accessible to the public, and tourists can’t help but be surprised by the variety of fish available for purchase. Fish, shrimp, crab, squid, scallops, and groupers are among the many delicacies that can be found on the shore when fishermen return from the sea.

To receive their husbands’ return and sort their catch for sale to local restaurant owners and street food sellers, the wives of the fisherman get up at the crack of dawn to greet their husbands.

After 9 a.m., the beach is quiet again. There are only a few women with conical caps selling the day’s leftover fish to customers who arrive after 10 a.m.

Local resident Nguyen Van Nghiem claims that he and his wife get up at 5 a.m. every day to go to the beach and wait for the returning fisherman to sell them their catch.

“Customers in Phan Thiet or the surrounding area buy many tons of fish every day from us and we resell them at local marketplaces. We’ve been doing this for about two decades now “Nghiem made the statement.

The little fishing village saw an increase in the number of food carts and open-air restaurants after the tourism boom hit. These establishments serve typical Vietnamese fare like pho bo, banh mi, and Banh xeo, as well as a wide variety of grilled seafood, all at reasonable costs.

As of the year 2020, the fishing village of Mui Ne has begun offering kayak tours as part of its tourism offerings. For the duration of the tour, visitors are able to see the floating rafts where fish and shrimp are raised.

There are only two places in Vietnam where the color of the sand dunes changes based on the angle of the sun or the amount of cloud cover.

Locals refer to the white sand dunes, known as Bau Trang, as the distinguishing feature of Mui Ne from other Vietnamese beach resorts.

Mui Ne’s attractions include the white and red sand dunes, the White Lake (Lotus pond), the Fairy Stream, and the Mui Ne Wharf, which are all accessible via jeep trip. The beaches of Hon Rom and Suoi Nuoc are frequently visited by the trips.

An English-speaking tour guide, hotel pick-up, and drop-off, and a dawn or dusk jeep tour are all common features of these excursions.

For roughly $20, you may rent a buggy to ride the dunes for 30 minutes.
These days, a hot air balloon ride above the sand dunes is also available. Vietnam Balloons can be used to book these.

Two freshwater lotus lakes with pink lilies blooming in the summer make the white sand dunes even more spectacular, according to several local and foreign tourists.

Pink lotuses blossom in the summer at Bau Trang Lake, enticing tourists. Image credit: Tuan Dao

When the sun sets, the Red Sand Dunes take on a rusty red or brown hue.
For VND20,000 (less than $1), you can rent an inflatable sled to ride the dunes from top to bottom, as well as to enjoy sunrises and sunsets from the dunes. These can be arranged upon request at the hotel’s front desk.

In Mui Ne, visitors can participate in various activities on the sand dunes. Ngo Tran Hai An and Tam Linh took these images.

The Red Sand Dunes Sunset Tour usually includes a stop at the ankle-deep Fairy Stream, which is flanked on each side by a Grand Canyon-like scenery. The Sinh Tourist has a tour you might be interested in.

Mobile sellers sell ice cream and cold refreshments on the red sand dunes.

Getting to Ta Cu Mountain, a nearby tourist destination, is possible via taxi or by renting a motorbike. It takes around an hour and fifteen minutes to get from Mui Ne to the 563-meter-high mountain. The tranquility is further enhanced by the presence of several Buddhist pagodas.

Ta Cu mountain’s Buddhist monasteries and statues may be seen from above. Images from the Ta Cu Mountain Tourist Area are used here with permission:

Adults pay VND50,000 for a trip to Ta Cu Mountain, while minors pay VND30,000.

The more challenging and memorable option is to hike up the mountain via the dense forest and steep trails frequented by wild monkeys.

An enormous white Buddha sits at the very top of this structure, making it Southeast Asia’s longest reclining white Buddha.

Visitors are cautioned by a sign not to climb the statue or spray-paint it.

A round-trip cable car ride up the mountain costs VND250,000 for individuals who aren’t fit enough to go on such an adventure.

Co Thach, which translates to “old rocks” and is located about 100 kilometers distant, is a unique coastal spot with seaweed-covered stones and boulders of all sizes.

There are millions of seven-colored stones on the Co Thach beach, which appears desolate most of the year except during the green mossy season. Thousands of years of tidal and wave action have shaped these naturally.

Green moss covers large boulders on Co Thach beach. Di Vy took the picture.

During the months of March and April, Co Thach Beach’s enormous boulders are covered in green moss, creating a magnificent landscape that is unlike any other in the country.

Characteristics of the Champa

The Poshanu Towers, which are around seven kilometers northeast of Phan Thiet, are a priceless and significant cultural relic of the Champa Empire.

Dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the tower complex dates back to the late eighth century.

The Poshanu Towers were restored from 1990 to 2000, after lying abandoned for centuries.

Phan Thiet’s Poshanu Towers Photographer Viet Quoc captured this image.

Every year, Chams from the surrounding area congregate at the compound to perform various rites. Fishermen from the area also come here to pray for good luck before they set sail on their next voyage.

During the first lunar month, Cham people hold two celebrations at the foot of the towers: Rija Nuga and Poh Mbang Yang, during which they pray for good fortune in the coming year.

With its original architectural characteristics still intact, the Van Thuy Tu Temple stands on Ngu Ong Street.

The temple is particularly noteworthy since it houses Southeast Asia’s largest whale skeleton and is dedicated to the worship of the Whale God. Skeleton measures 22 meters long and weighs 65 tons. Every year, the temple holds key events on the lunar calendar’s most auspicious days.

In Mui Ne’s Van Thuy Tu Temple, visitors can see Southeast Asia’s largest whale skeleton. Photographer Viet Quoc captured this image.

WHERE TO GET FOOD

Banh can (small pancakes), a traditional Cham breakfast dish, is now a breakfast mainstay in Mui Ne.

With a mixture of rice powder, egg, and hot coals, a round clay mold is filled with the batter and baked until it is golden brown and ready for consumption in the morning.

Braised fish, pickles, and onions are served on mini pancakes. Tam Linh took the picture.

Shrimp, minced pork, or squid are all common fillings for these cakes. In addition to the braised fish, pickles, and onions, this dish is drowned in spring onions.

Phan Thiet has a number of places where you can get your hands on this delicacy.

The fish and snail salads of Mui Ne are also well-known. Vietnamese white sardines, raw veggies, vermicelli, and a special dipping sauce are used to make the fish salad in this dish. Snail meat, pork, vegetables, roasted peanuts, and fried onions are all combined with a sweet and sour fish sauce in the dish known as snail salad.

Phan Thiet’s distinctive rice paper is used to wrap the fish and cassava spring rolls, which are then served with veggies, eggs, and a sauce.

The Dung restaurant on Vo Thi Sau Street is widely regarded as the greatest spot to have this meal, according to locals.

Another meal to try in Mui Ne is Banh quai vac (Vietnamese pork and shrimp dumplings). Using wheat flour and a filling of shrimp or pork, the dumpling is ready to eat. A sweet and sour sauce and a garnish of spring onions and fried pork fat complete the meal.

This dish may be found at the Phan Thiet Market and street food vendors along Mui Ne beach.

The Tha hotpot, a delicacy of central coastal districts and a distinctive dish of Mui Ne cuisine, uses deep-fried herring as its major component.

Boiled pork belly and rice crepes are among the other ingredients. Banana flowers are threaded into banana flower threads.

Shrimp, pork bone, sea crab legs, onions, and tomatoes are all used in the soup. Crunchy groundnuts are sprinkled on the dipping sauce.

The hotpot began in the fishing resort of Mui Ne and has since expanded throughout the country as tourism has grown in popularity.

Mui Ne is famous for its excellent hotpot. Ngan Duong provided the images for these posts.

Soc Nau Restaurant at 5 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street and Seahorse Bistro at 11 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street both recommend this meal as a must-try.

INQUIRE ABOUT RESIDENCE

Tourism in Mui Ne has grown rapidly, resulting in an abundance of lodging options for both budget and luxury travelers.

The Anantara Mui Ne Resort. ” All images are copyrighted.

Foreign tourists are the primary customers of homestay services, which are generally located far from the coast and cater to groups of people who seek for new experiences. VND500,000 a night is the average price.

Also, several motels and mid-range hotels can be found in the more remote areas along Huynh Thuc Khang Street, with costs ranging from VND700,000 to VND1 million per night.

The Anantara Mui Ne and the NovaHills Mui Ne, both of which have private pools and rooms with views of the beach, charge up to VND10 million a night for their upscale accommodations.

Mui Ne’s NovaHills Resort & Spa. All images are copyrighted.

What’s the best way to get there

Mui Ne, 230 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, is easily accessible via motorbike, bus, or rail from the southern metropolis.

Visitors can take the Cat Lai boat from Mui Ne to Long Thanh District in Dong Nai and subsequently Ba Ria Town to see the seaside road.

To go to Mui Ne, you’ll first have to travel through Ho Tram and Loc An, before taking the coastal road to Phan Thiet.

The Mien Dong bus station sells bus tickets. It costs VND130,000 ($5.64) per person to take a five-hour HCMC-Phan Thiet bus ride.

Trains to Phan Thiet cost VND110,000 ($4.47) each trip from Saigon’s railway station.

Visitors from Hanoi can fly to Ho Chi Minh City and take a road trip to Phan Thiet, or they can fly to Cam Ranh Airport and take a car to Mui Ne, which is about 200 kilometers from Nha Trang.

HCMC to Phan Thiet travel time will be cut in half when the Dau Giay – Phan Thiet motorway is finished later this year.