Mui Ne Beach: Vietnam's Best Sand Dunes in Phan Thiet City

Mui Ne Beach is a tiny fishing village, located in the Eastern coast of Southern Vietnam. The area is just about 4-hour train ride or 4 hours 45 minutes by private car from the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City. This place is like a different world altogether. Is Mui Ne worth visiting? There are endless reasons for visiting Mui Ne Beach in the city of Phan Thiet. You will find a surreal scenery with gorgeous sunsets, glistening beaches and picture-perfect villages.  Here is our recommended list of What Activities to Do and Best Things to See in Mui Ne:

1) Rent a Bicycle or Motorcycle to explore around: If you want to discover the area of Vietnam’s Cities and Countryside, there is no better way to do it than by Bicycle or Motorcycle. Bicycle or Motorcycle rentals in Mui Ne cost anywhere between $8-12 per day. Traffic can get a little bit crazy in this part of the world, so you should be careful. Local Bus drivers look like to be on a mission to demolish anything comes into their way. Another advice for you – always have your helmet on or you’ll definitely be stopped by police, which will result in a lot of discussion and eventually, bribery.

A bicycle rent is the cheapest and best way to explore the area around Mui Ne and Phan Thiet

Renting a Bicycle or Motorcycle will give you the flexibility of exploring offbeat places in the area, discovering beautiful hidden beaches, and exploring local markets.

2) Go on the Quad Biking at the Red & White Sand Dunes: We’ve already introduced you to this geographical wonder in our write-up on the White or Red Sand Dunes Of Mui Ne. If you’ve rented a bicycle/motorcycle, getting to the White Sand Dunes is a joy ride in itself. It will take you through unpaved roads and gorgeous stretches of Vietnamese countryside. Once you are there, enjoy the dunes on a quad bike – everything from gentle bumps to stomach churning bends are on offer.

The white sand dunes of Mui Ne are approximately 25 km. away from the centre of Mui Ne – once you have had your share of fun at the dunes, just walk over to the lotus pond and spend the afternoon watching the sun going down. Jeep tour is also another option you can choose.

3) Visit the early morning fish market in Mui Ne: Mui Ne’s chaotic early morning market provides a fascinating peek into the lives of local Vietnamese fishermen. Every morning they get their catch to the shore. Their wives and family members sort out the catch and sell it to the local traders, restaurant owners, and street food vendors on the spot. It’s like a trading floor right out of a Wall Street institution. 

Expect to find fishing nets full of seafood, buckets overflowing with fish, shells strewn everywhere, raucous conversation, and plenty of photo-opps (It was tough to tear Vid away from the market.

4) Enjoy Sunrise and Sunset in Mui Ne Beach City: Early morning isn’t the only time you should visit Mui Ne. This little village is absolutely magical at sunrise and sunset. Dozens of brightly coloured boats adorn turquoise waters. Everything is bathed in a luminescent light – highly recommended!! In fact, this might be our favourite thing to do in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet.

If you are morning person, do not miss out sunrise on Mui Ne Beach

5) Visit the Red Sand Dunes in Mui Ne Beach City: Another great place to catch a gorgeous sunset are the Red Sand Dunes of Mui Ne. If you don’t have the time to venture out to the White Sand Dunes, the Red ones are just a couple of kilometres from the centre and can be reached on foot as well.We still can’t get over the wonders of nature in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet – sand dunes that make you feel like you are in a desert right next to the beach?!

6) The Fairy Stream in Mui Ne Phan Thiet City: When we first heard about it, we were apprehensive about this being a tourist trap. But we were wrong!! This aptly named stream is another wonder of nature. Tucked between beaches and fishing villages, this gurgling stream is surrounded by amazing limestone formations. You can deposit your shoes at the entrance or carry them along with you to explore this muddy stream. Make your way through colourful limestone formations, warm water, and bright green trees to reach a waterfall.

7) Visiting fish-sauce making Factories in Mui Ne: Mui Ne and Phan Thiet are famous for being the home of fish sauce in Vietnam. This popular condiment might add a great dash of flavour to Asian food, but it doesn’t smell particularly pleasant. In fact, the word vile comes to mind – fermented fish in huge vats – doesn’t exactly remind you of perfume, does it

8) Find a secluded beach in Mui Ne Beach City: There is no shortage of things to do in Mui Ne but it is easy to spend languid days at your hotel’s beach. But we suggest taking your rented scooter out for a spin and exploring the area. There are a number of isolated beaches perfect for an impromptu picnic or skinny dipping, if you enjoy that sort of thing.

9) Learn Kite Surfing on the Beach in Mui Ne: Mui Ne and Phan Thiet boast of a number of windy beaches that are perfect for kite surfing.  In fact, the area is one of Asia’s most popular sites for kitesurfing. There are a number of Kite Surfing schools in the area that offer courses for amateurs and beginners at extremely competitive prices. Moreover, there is no shortage of wide, sandy beaches to practice the sport. 

10) Binge on The Food Paradise in Mui Ne - Phan Thiet: Then there are the fruits – everything from litchis and mangoes to mangusteens and papayas are on offer. Mui Ne’s morning fruit market is the equivalent of a candy factory for fruit lovers. The pick of the lot? Fuchsia-coloured Dragon Fruit. You’ll see entire orchards of Dragon Fruit on the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne. No wonder it tastes better here than in any other part of Asia.

Mui Ne has also gained a reputation for its cuisine, especially seafood specialties. Do not forget to check out some amazing seafood restaurants when traveling to Mui Ne Beach City.

11. Enjoying Night Life Activities in Mui Ne Phan Thiet: Mui Ne is a relatively small resort town in Vietnam, so visitors planning to visit shouldn’t expect the most sophisticated nightlife entertainment. But, there is still enough in town to keep boredom at bay while staying in the local area. Mui Ne beach has hippy lounges, late-night restaurants and hotel bars that offer lots of booze and food with its friendly service and relaxed ambience.

Travellers in peak season on the holiday to Vietnam can expect to get the most of the local nightlife with dance performances, bonfires, movie screenings, cultural nights, vibrant parties, and even guest DJs from locally in Vietnam and across Europe.

Adventure Journey

See Related Articles:

• Mũi Né Vietnam: History, Accommodation, How to Get There
• What Food to Try, Where to Eat & Best Restaurants in Mui Ne
• Mui Ne Nightlife: Beach Bars, Restaurants, and Night Market