Sunday, November 1, 2015

Mui Ne, A Paradise for Beach Lovers Visiting Vietnam


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Mui Ne is one of the most beautiful beach destinations of Vietnam. Mui Ne is a coastal resort in Phan Thiet   the capital of Binh Thuan province. It’s easy to getting there. From Ho Chi Minh City, travel East for 123 miles on Highway 1 to the city of Phan Thiet. Then take Route 706 East for another 14 miles to Mui Ne Beach.

Mui Ne Beach and Phan Thiet can be easily reached by car or bus and is now about a 5 hour ride by car. Several companies run buses directly to Mui Ne, popular with both locals and travelers alike. One of the most recommended for bus tickets is The Sinh Tourist.

In HCMC they depart from the Pham Ngu Lao area where you can also find their ticket office and in Mui Ne they'll drop you off and pick you up from your hotel. There is no local airport.

Mui Ne is a tropical beach with wonderfully warm weather, which is ideal for swimming. However, since the area from the central stretch to the northern end is dominated by fishing industry, the southern part is more suitable for swimming.

With strong sea breezes, Mui Ne is most famous for kite and wind surfing. Days from November to March have clear skies with perfectly strong winds from 11 am until late evening. The rock-free water makes it relatively safe for the kite surfers. There are also some Kite Surfing Schools, in which kite surfing starters are helped to launch the kite by beach boys. For starters who want more self-practice, you can try the western part front around Kite Surfing School Windchimes, where there are not many surfers, so that you can avoid unwanted accidents.

Things To See:


  • Po Sha Inu tower is a derelict remainder of the ancient Cham culture that was built in the 8th century.
  • Fish Sauce Plants, where the famous nuoc mam (fish sauce) is produced. Big jars harbor the concoction that, after months in the blazing sun, is sold all over Vietnam to add some spice to the food.
  • The famous Sand Dunes (Doi Cat), on the main coastal road a short distance north of the fishing town at the north end of Mui Ne bay, about 10 km from the main resort strip. The whole region is fairly sandy, with orange sand threatening to blow onto the coastal road in some spots. 
  • The Fairy Stream (Suoi Tien) is a little river that winds its way through bamboo forests, boulders and the dunes behind the village, in parts resembling a miniature version of the Grand Canyon. Local kids will want to accompany you to show you the way (and of course earn a dollar or so), but since you're just following the stream, there's little need. For the most part, the stream is about ankle-deep and no more than knee-deep even at its deepest. It is sandy with few stones and can be walked comfortably barefooted. 
  • Mui Ne market and fishing harbor (Lang chai Mui Ne). Don't miss out on an excursion to this quiet little village, at the north end of Mui Ne bay. The coastal road leads straight into the town (with a left turn required to continue up the coast). At the entrance to town is an overlook with a splendid view of hundreds of colorful fishing boats moored in the bay. Further along into town, just off the main road, there is a small but colorful market. 

Where To Stay:

Thai Hoa Resort Bungalows, Mui Ne
Mui Ne has dozens of hotels and resorts to choose from, in every price category (US$5-200), along the main ocean strip.

Accommodations at higher addresses tend to be smaller and less expensive, somewhat removed from the main tourist section and more mixed in more with local life. If a sandy beach is important to you, some research is called for before booking in that area. Many "beach side" resorts are actually against a sloping cement wall that leads into the sea. The sand itself migrates up and down the long coast seasonally leaving some areas with expansive beaches and others with little at any given time.

A few bargain hotels have popped up on the inland side of the road, across from the beach-side resorts. If you stay on the inland side, you will need to pass though one of the resorts to reach the beach, which might or might not result in some hassle from the guards. The resorts jealously guard their lounge chairs and palapas, though the beach itself is open to everyone. If all else fails, you can always access a nice sandy stretch of beach via the Wax Bar at 68 Nguyen Dinh Chieu.

Remember that during Tet (Vietnamese New Year), hotels are booked way in advance.











 
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