Phan Thiet

Mui Ne and Phan Thiet are located about 200 kilometers north of Ho Chi Minh City. These traditional fishing towns are quickly gaining popularity as a tourist destination. Although resort-style constructions have risen along the coastline, the lives of the fishing towns have remained mostly unaffected, and Mui Ne's long beach is quiet and serene, ideal for walks, running, and watching stunning sunsets.

Best time to visit:

From November to March, the greatest time to visit Mui Ne is when the skies are clear and the winds are strong, resulting in ideal temperatures and wave conditions. Mui Ne Beach is ideal for swimming, kitesurfing, kayaking, surfing, and kitesurfing due to its rock-free seas. Along the beach, there are numerous food carts and local eateries serving genuine Vietnamese cuisine and fresh seafood.

Mui Ne & Phan Thiet's attractions:

• Red Sand Dunes: It's three kilometers north of Mui Ne and has reddish-brown sand with moderate slopes, making it look like a little Middle Eastern desert. If you make it to the top, you'll be rewarded with a spectacular sunset view of the ocean. Sand sledding is a popular (and enjoyable) activity in this area.
• Mui Ne Beach: Mui Ne Beach stretches along the shore of this beautiful seaside town in Binh Thuan province's capital. There are 15 kilometers of sandy beaches, calm waves, and opulent beachfront resorts on the island. A traditional fishing town may be found on Mui Ne Beach's northern end, while the southern end caters to recreational activities such as swimming and water sports.
• Mui Ne fishing village: Visit the fishing harbour at Mui Ne Bay's northern end early in the morning to see local fisherman sorting their haul of the day, which includes crabs, scallops, groupers, and stingrays.
• Poshanu Cham Towers: The Po Shanu Cham Towers are three ancient Hindu worship towers dedicated to Lord Shiva, Agni, and Nandi. These ruins were built during the Champa Kingdom and are located atop Ong Hoang Hill, where you can get a bird's-eye view of Phan Thiet and the distant coastline. Po Shanu Cham Towers are a 15-minute drive from Mui Ne Town, and an entrance fee of VND 10,000 is required before entering.
• Fairy Stream: Fairy Stream, with its stunning landscape of reds, whites, oranges, and pinks, is a photography magnet in Phan Thiet and Mui Ne. Fairy Stream offers a mix of white and red sand dunes on one side and a wide field of verdant trees, blossoming flowers, and coconut palms on the other, with clear water flowing from Ham Tien's Dinh Mountain.
• Van Thuy Tu Temple: Van Thuy Tu Temple is the largest and oldest whale temple in Phan Thiet – Mui Ne, dating back to 1762. Locals think that whales are friendly creatures who protect fishermen from harsh weather and hazards at sea, hence the structure was built in his honor. As a result, Van Thuy Tu Temple is home to the skeletal remains of around 100 whales, including a 22-meter-long whale skeleton that is claimed to be Southeast Asia's largest.
• White Sand Dunes: The White Sand Dunes, also known as Bau Trang, are a series of stunning white sand dunes that plunge into a small lagoon surrounded with lotus flowers. Unlike the Red Sand Dunes, Bau Trang also has a tiny pine forest, which provides much-needed cover from the hot sun. It's a popular site for unique photo possibilities, sand-sledding, and ATV excursions because it's one of Southeast Asia's only desert areas.
• Ta Cu Mountain: Ta Cu Mountain is home to beautiful rainforests, unusual fauna, limestone caves, and ornate Buddhist temples across 250,000 square meters. The top of the mountain can be reached after an hour's drive from Mui Ne Town through a two-hour jungle climb or a 10-minute cable-car trip. Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda, constructed in 1879, sits atop Ta Cu Mountain.

Best things to do:

• A must-do list for a perfect beach break in Mui Ne