Once upon a time there was a poor fishing village here, and today Mui Ne is a popular resort village in southern Vietnam. People come here for the warm sea, secluded beaches, cheap seafood and Vietnamese flavor, which you won’t find in noisy Nha Trang. The tourist season in these places lasts from November to April, so you still have time to plan your trip. We tell you what to do in Mui Ne and the surrounding area besides a beach holiday.
Entry rules
All COVID restrictions have been lifted. Russians are allowed to stay in the country without a visa for up to 15 days. You can apply for an e-visa on the Immigration Department website, which allows you to stay in Vietnam for up to 30 days. Its cost is 25 US dollars (approximately 1,800 rubles), but payment is only available with cards from foreign banks.
How to get there
Mui Ne is located 200 km from Ho Chi Minh City. There are no direct flights between Russia and Vietnam; the most convenient transfers are with Emirates, Turkish Airlines and Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Istanbul. Prices for round-trip tickets start from 76,000 rubles*.
The easiest way to get to the village from Ho Chi Minh City is to take a taxi directly to the hotel, it will cost 70-100 US dollars (5,000 – 7,000 rubles).
Public transport will be a more affordable and exotic way. In Southeast Asia, a sleeping bus is popular – a bus with lying-down seats. Its price is slightly higher than the usual one (10 US dollars per ticket, approximately 800 rubles), but you can watch the palm trees and rice fields fly by outside the window while lying in your chair. There is usually free bottled water available at the salon. To take this bus, you need to take a taxi from the airport or take bus 152 to Pham Ngu Lao Street in Ho Chi Minh City. There are travel agencies where you can buy tickets to Mui Ne. On average the journey takes 5-6 hours.
Where to stay
Villa Aria Muine (rating 9.4) – from 6,300 rubles per night*. There is a golf course nearby, and windsurfing is available for water sports enthusiasts.
Phu Hai Resort (rating 9.1) – from 7,900 rubles per night*. Child friendly: The hotel provides babysitting services and a playground for children.
Bamboo Village Beach Resort & Spa (score 9.4) – from 10,700 rubles per night*. The hotel has a sauna, spa, massage areas, and a hot tub. Guests have access to a private beach.
All hotels are located on the first line, have access to the sea.
What to see in Mui Ne and the surrounding area
We have compiled a selection of the most striking places that will help you discover the outlandish Vietnam and diversify your beach holiday.
Fairy Brook
Located near the resort area, it is easy to find by signs located on the main road of the village. The path leads to a small staircase that goes down to the stream. There are several cafes serving food and drinks on the shore, where you can stop by on the way back. The route runs right along the stream, among white and red rocks. They resemble the refuge of mythical creatures – this is probably why the stream got such a beautiful name.
The stream of water winds between the rocks and the jungle. The depth of the stream is only a few centimeters, so we recommend walking barefoot on the soft sand. For a walk, old clothes or bathing suits are suitable, which you don’t mind getting dirty with clay splashes. The stream is surrounded by bamboo and palm forests, but it is still worth taking care of hats and other sun protection.
The walk from one end of the stream to the other takes 10–15 minutes. The cost of visiting is 10,000 Vietnamese dong (30 rubles). It’s best to come here on weekdays.
Fisherman Village
This picturesque place is located about 7 km north of Mui Ne. It is convenient to get there by car, motorcycle or bicycle.
At the entrance there is a magnificent view of hundreds of colorful fishing boats moored along the shore. Early in the morning you can watch fishermen returning with the night’s catch, and at sunset you can watch the sun reflect on the surface of the sea, contrasting with countless boats. This is a great place to watch the life of local residents and enjoy fresh seafood.
Bai Rang and Hon Rom Beaches
Bai Rang — This is 8 km of absolute contrast: here you can see both modern luxury resorts and small fishermen’s cottages. Bai Rang is considered the central beach of Mui Ne, and life here does not stop even after sunset: restaurants and hotels, souvenir shops and all kinds of rental points, ATMs and currency exchange offices are concentrated along the shore. There are several surf schools on the beach where you can rent a board or take a lesson from a certified instructor to catch your first wave.
Hon Rom– an ideal location for lovers of wild nature and solitude. The beach is located at the foot of the mountain and is famous for its clear water, calm waves and lack of reefs. Great for holidays with small children. There are several cafes and bars on the beach where you can have a snack and drink fruit cocktails.
Ham Tien Market
The village market is a little far from the center of Mui Ne, where you can buy almost everything in the world: fresh and dried seafood, clothes, souvenirs, vegetables, fruits… Be sure to include a tasting of traditional dishes and delicacies: try different types of fish salad made from herring and smelt, Banh Can (quail egg pancakes, served in small clay molds), Banh Xeo (crispy rice pancakes with filling) and Banh Hoi Long Heo (rice vermicelli with pork ribs).
It’s better to come to the market in the morning to have time to try and buy everything that is fresh and delicious.
Red Canyon
The natural attraction is located approximately 25 km from the resort area. You can get here by rented transport or with an excursion towards the White Dunes.
Walk along the bottom of the canyon, admire the Martian landscapes and be sure to take pictures as a souvenir – the green vegetation against the backdrop of red sand looks very impressive. The canyon was formed in clay-sandy soils as a result of soil washing away by frequent rains. Unfortunately, over time it may cease to exist for the same reason, which is why it is so important to visit it in time. Admission is free.
Red and White Dunes
Red Sand Dunesare located next to the main coastal road coming from Mui Ne. It’s best to come here at sunset to watch the sun disappear behind the amber hills. Local children offer to rent plastic sleds for 20,000 dong (60 rubles) to frolic on sand slides and ride down the dunes. Nearby vendors sell ice cream, traditional pho (noodle soup) and refreshing drinks.
White sand dunes are located about 20 minutes drive from the center of the village. The best time to see them is at dawn, when the sand is not too hot. Walk barefoot, take dozens of photos and enjoy the views. Here you can rent an ATV to ride through the deserted expanses. Cost from 200,000 to 600,000 dong (600 – 1,500 rubles), the price depends on the time of riding and whether you need a driver or you will drive yourself.
Lotus Lake
Not far from the white dunes there is a lotus lake – a place like from mythical legends and dreams. Most of it is covered with delicate pink water lilies and lotus buds, which fill the air with the sweet aroma of cinnamon. Pyramids of white sand on the horizon highlight the uniqueness of this oasis. Tourists can rent a fishing boat to ride around the lake and also swim among the lotuses.
Reclining Buddha statue on Mount Taku
There are several attractions on the mountain: Linh Son Chong Pagoda and the largest Reclining Buddha statue in Vietnam. The cable car offers scenic views of the surrounding area. The journey to the top takes 10 minutes, there is a complex of temples, pagodas and statues, and on the mountainside there is a 49 m long statue. It is so huge that it often does not fit into the camera lens. So capturing the Buddha as a keepsake is another quest.
At the foot of the mountain, where the climb and the cable car begin, there is a guarded parking lot, many souvenir shops, a beautiful garden and even public transport – small electric cars carry visitors from the entrance to the territory to the cable car station.
Standard entrance ticket: 50,000 dong (150 rubles) for adults and 30,000 (90 rubles) for children (for hiking); a comprehensive ticket includes entrance fee, electric car and ascent/descent by cable car and will cost 160,000 dong (500 rubles). The complex is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
*Prices are current at the time of publication.
