Local’s guide to get the most out of Mui Ne

You are stuck in Saigon and wanna escape from the heat? Think about going to Mui Ne. Located a five hours’ drive from Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne is like a new planet away from work and responsibility. Saigonese love to spend a weekend driving from the organized chaos of the big city and get out into nature. Mui Ne is home to some breathtaking landscapes and unrivaled scenery you won’t find anywhere else in Vietnam.

Where is Mui Ne?

Mui Ne is a small coastal region belonging to Phan Thiet city in Binh Thuan province, Vietnam. Mui Ne has its roots in fishing. Over the years, this traditional fishing village is fast becoming a popular leisure destination. This seaside retreat has evolved to offer guesthouses and beach resorts, though so far the lives of the fishing communities remain unchanged. 

See more: Mui Ne beach break 4-day tour from Saigon

How to get to Mui Ne?

By Coach

It is easy to reach Mui Ne whether you’re coming from the north or south. From Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat, and Nha Trang, the most common way to travel to Mui Ne is by bus as you can directly get straight to the center of Mui Ne. The bus trip takes about five to six hours with stop for a bathroom and food break. If you travel at night, you can book a sleeper bus with wide reclining seats. Futa Buslines’ Phuong Trang is one of the more reliable bus operators.
Tip for travel: Your hostel can help you book the tickets and instruct you where you need to go to find your bus.

By Motorbike – From Saigon to Mui Ne

It is possible to go from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne by motorbike. It would be an exotic experience, though it’s a long ride. From Saigon, to reach Mui Ne, you can head to the Highway 1 or the Ocean Road. The Ocean Road may be longer than the direct rout on Highway 1, but the Ocean Road is a far more rewarding scenic route.

The trip would easily take you the whole day. Skirting the deserted coastline, occasionally ducking inland through cashew trees and dragon fruit plantations, over white salt flats and green rice fields, past hot springs, hilltop pagodas, and dusty villages, the Ocean Road is a destination in itself.  It’s worth to give it a try.

It’s gonna be a long ride, be sure to carefully check the motorbike you rent before leaving, better you rent your motorbike from a reliable shop. It’s wise to ask for the number of the repair shop beforehand in case the motorbike breaks down in the middle of a country road.

Also, always wear a helmet. It’s to protect yourself and a law in Vietnam.

By Car

Want to enjoy the scenery, get to Mui Ne stress-free, and want to stop along the way? Hiring a private driver and a car is the best solution, you will have complete flexibility in terms of scheduling. If you go with a group, you could even get a minivan all to yourselves. 

By Train

Cheap, easy, fun, fast, efficient and relaxing – that’s how you feel once traveling by train from Saigon to Mui Ne. From Saigon, the train departs at 6:40am and arrives at Phan Thiet city at 11:10am. It’s very comfortable with bottled water, towel, TV on board, good toilet and the cost is approx. 140,000vnd (~7usd) each way. Check tours to Vietnam and Vietnam Railways here for online purchase of tickets. If you have a motorbike, you can put it on the train and let the rails carry your wheels.

The best time to visit Mui Ne?

Mui Ne is one of the driest places in South East Asia due to its close proximity to the Binh Thuan Desert, it’s relatively different to other places in Vietnam. Even in the rainy season, there seems to be very little rain in comparison to cities nearby. The months between August and April of the next year would be the great time to pay a visit to Mui Ne as the average temperature is about 27°C. During that time, skies are brightly sunny and windy, resulting in optimum temperatures and wave conditions. It’s the ideal time for swimming, kitesurfing, kayaking, surfing and kitesurfing.

In particular, from August to November, waves are big and idyllic for surfing; and between December and April, the beach ò Mui Ne is stunning with yellow sand, crystal water and clear sky. Lying on the beach under the shape of palm trees, sipping a coconut, and cherish the unwinding moment, could it be any better?

Besides, rainy season between the months of April and October is still a good time for Mui Ne. The rain won’t be a big trouble for tourists as its very low rainfall, an average humidity of 79%. Probably you can’t fully enjoy the beach activities but still Mui Ne has many things to do.

Please note that bikini or swimwear is only appropriate for the beach and topless sunbathing is prohibited in Mui Ne.

Where to stay in Mui Ne?
 

Sailing club resort Mui Ne

Mui Ne captivates a plethora of Vietnamese for weekend trips and international travelers slowly discovering the area. There are a wide range of accommodation from the high-end resorts to the budget hostels. Some names worth a look:
-    For the budget travelers: Mui Ne Victory Guest House, Bot Bien Homestay near the famous red sand dunes, Ngoc Thuy Guest house, Thanh Duy homestay with good Vietnamese coffees.
-    Hotels and Resorts: Coco beach resort, Sailing Club Resort with private beach, modern bungalows, and beautiful gardens.
Stay tune for the part 2 of Mui Ne to discover the top things to get out of this coastal place. Otherwise, contact Threeland Travel local experts to have instant support for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Mui Ne.