Local’s guide to getting the most out of Mui Ne – Part 2

Mui Ne is a small coastal city which has been a rising new attraction in the south of Vietnam. The area is just 5-hour bus ride away from the bustling Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City), it seems like a new planet away from work and responsibility. There are endless reasons to pay a visit to Mui Ne: gorgeous sunsets, stunning beaches, surreal ambiance, and picturesque scenery. Find out what things to see and do in Mui Ne and how to get the most out of Mui Ne.

See more: The best time to visit and How to get to Mui Ne?

1.    Climb Mui Ne’s sand dunes

There a two sand dunes in Mui Ne, one red and one white, which are positioned like deserts right next to the beach. The sand dunes are probably one of the main reasons many visitors come here, even Vietnamese local, because it’s a completely different image of the otherwise lush, green Vietnam.
•    White Sand Dunes, Bac Bình District, Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam.
•    Red Sand Dunes, 706B, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan, Vietnam.

Mui Ne’s red Sand dune

The red sand dunes are just a couple of kilometers from the centre and can even be reached by bicycle or on foot. Come early in the morning to catch the sunrise or in the afternoon to see the sunset, it’s stunning. Early morning is probably the best time to avoid the crowds. At the Red Sand Dunes, you can rent a sandboad at cost US$1-2 for 30 minutes. Slide down a few dunes and once you feel you have enough sand, just sit down to unwind and contemplate the magnificent moment of sunset.

Mui Ne’s white Sand dune

The white sand dunes are a bit further out, roughly 30 kilometres away, but it’s more impressive and less people. At the white sand dunes, you can rent a quad bike or a jeep for 30 minutes or an hour and conquer the hilly dunes in your way. Again, coming in the early morning or late afternoon is the best to avoid the midday heat and admire the view of the sun emerging from or dipping into the sea.

2.    The Fairy Stream

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You’ll find the Fairy Stream directly off of Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Mui Ne’s main road. Like its name, the stream, being surrounded by colourful limestone formations and greenery, looks like a fairytale. The scenery feels like a tinier version of the Grand Canyon. During the rainy season, the scenery might be less attractive, but the walk through this gurgling stream is still well worth it. No need to bring good shoes since you’ll be walking on the barefoot with ankles deep in warm water to explore this muddy stream. At the end, there is a small waterfall as a little gift of nature after your walk.

3.    Mui Ne fishing village and the morning market

The best way to dig into the local life in Mui Ne is visiting its markets and fishing village. Like most other coastal town, Mui Ne has a lively village where fishermen go out very early in the morning and sell their catch at the market upon their return. To immerse into this local fishing life, you need to drag yourself out of the bed around four in the morning and head to the Mui Ne Fishing Village. The fishermen sail to the sea very early in the morning. Your view will include colourful fishing boats moored in the water, and fishermen throwing around their nets, plus the majestic golden sunrise background. Absolutely you will get your best shoots. 

Mui ne fishing village

When men returning from work with the catch of the day, women sorting out the catch, setting up their stalls and people coming to buy the freshest seafood. The smell won’t be pleasant at first, but you wil get used to it as you take a stroll around to witness the haggling, chit-chat and learn about local seafood varieties. There are also some stalls where you can have a local breakfast here before carrying your day. Try delicious fish noodles, crab cakes, and shrimp rolls. Most food are along with fish sauce “nuoc mam” – a signature food of Vietnam.
Contact Threeland Travel local expert to get free advice on your Saigon – Mui Ne trip.

4.    Explore the Po Sha Inu Cham towers 

The Po Sha Inu Cham towers are some of the oldest remaining Cham towers in Vietnam, built to honour Hindu deities Lord Shiva, Agni and Nandi. These towers are remnants of the Cham culture that once flourished in Vietnam. Po Sha Inu Cham towers contribute to enrich Vietnam’s cultural and historic treasure generally. Nearby are the Prince’s Castle built in 1911 by a French Prince, and Phuong Thien pagoda. The Cham towers occupy a hillside, so you will be rewarded with fantastic views of the coastline as well.

5.    Reward your nostrils at fish vats

Mui Ne and Phan Thiet are well-known amongst Vietnamese for being the home of high-quality fish sauce. In Vietnamese, fish sauce is called “nuoc mam”. In Mui Ne, you can witness the action of fish sauce factories nearby the Fairy stream. Coming to there, you can see how fish sauce is made from fresh fish and salt. Fish is dried by the heat of the sun and then is fermented with salt in huge vats for years. It is such an memorable experience of Vietnamese culture. You may not like its smell at first, but give it some try, you will love it like every Vietnamese. The fish sauce really levels up the taste of Vietnamese foods. 

……To be continued

The list of things to do and see in Mui Ne has yet stopped. We will come back with more interesting activities in Mui Ne. Stay tuned!