MUI NE

TOP 10 THINGS TO SEE &  DO IN MUI NE

1.The Red Sand Dunes
Location: 3km north of Mui Ne Town, Phan Thiet – Mui Ne
The Red Sand Dunes are one of Phan Thiet’s most unique natural formations, where you can take gorgeous snapshots and enjoy an array of activities. Located three kilometer north of Mui Ne, it features reddish-brown sand with gentle slopes that’s reminiscent of a miniature Middle Eastern desert. If you get to the highest peak, you’ll be greeted with a great sunset view of the ocean. Sand-sledding is a common (and fun) activity here, with plastic sleds available for about 1-2 usd.  Visitors can also rent quad bikes and dune buggies to explore Red Sand Dunes,

2. The White Dunes
Location: 26km northeast of Mui Ne Beach
Highlights: All year round. Best time to visit is either early in the morning or late afternoon as the sand can get very hot during the day. Take lots of water.
The White Dunes are by far the larger dunes and are known by locals as Bau Trang or White Lake. There are quite a few small stands selling food and drinks to visitors within the area along with pine trees offering much-needed shade.

3. Mui Ne beach
Mui Ne Beach runs along the coast of this popular coastal town in the capital of Binh Thuan province. It features 15 kilometres of sandy beaches, gentle waves, and luxurious beachfront resorts. The northern end of Mui Ne Beach is home to a traditional fishing village while the southern caters to recreational activities such as swimming and water sports. Thanks to its rock-free waters, the most popular activity in Mui Ne Beach is kite surfing. The best time to enjoy this is between the months of November and March, when the skies are sunny with strong winds
4. The Po Shanu Cham Towers
Location: Ong Hoang Hill, Phan Thiet – Mui Ne
The Po Shanu Cham Towers comprise three ancient worship towers dedicated to Hindu deities Lord Shiva, Agni and Nandi. Constructed during the Champa Kingdom, these ruins are set atop Ong Hoang Hill, where you’ll get expansive views of Phan Thiet and the distant coastline. If you explore past the towers, you can also find a fortress formerly used by French and South Vietnamese troops. There’s also a memorial in honour of revolutionaries who launched an attack on the fortress back in 1947. Po Shanu Cham Towers are accessible within a 15-minute drive from Mui Ne Town and a fee of VND 10,000 is required before entering.

5. Mui Ne Fishing Village
Location: 7km north of Mui Ne Town, Phan Thiet – Mui Ne
Many tour operators include the visit of the fishing village in a package altogether with the dunes, and it is also how we got there, but you can enjoy Mui Ne Fishing Village absolutely independently (on a bike or motorbike).
We’ve already mentioned than Mui Ne was once a tiny fishing village, but even though nowadays tourism took over, it does not mean that still, quite many people make a living out of this traditional industry. The visit to the fishing village is absolutely amazing and very photogenic, so have your camera ready. You will know soon you are getting nearer as the smell is quite overwhelming, but nothing you could not get used to after a couple of minutes.
You will find the bay with tens of colorful boats at the north end of Mui Ne, and it is only up to you when you decide to visit this place. In general, you can stay here only fifteen minutes, have a look over the bay and snap several photos of the boats, but to be honest, we found the village very interesting so more time you have, it’s better.
The best time to visit Mui Ne fishing village is early in the morning when fishermen return from the sea (ask locals if they know the time exactly), and during this time you can admire the unusual boats, take photos of locals (with their permission), and their catch. You might have a feeling that in the morning all the village is on the small beach because vendors, locals and restaurant owners come here to buy fish.
Also, the fishing village is a great place to watch sunrise or sunset, and of course, it is a place to go for dinner as you won’t find many restaurants in the country where the fish will be more fresh and tasty.
6. Fairy Stream
Location: Huynh Thuc Khang, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet – Mui Ne
Fairy Stream is a photography hotspot in Phan Thiet and Mui Ne thanks to its dramatic landscape of reds, whites, oranges and pinks. With clear water flowing from Ham Tien’s Dinh Mountain, one side of Fairy Stream features a mix of white and red sand dunes while the other is an expansive field of verdant trees, blossoming flowers, and coconut palms. If you’re feeling a bit peckish, there are several food stalls set along the way while bars and restaurants are located upstream. Also, make sure you wear comfortable clothing and bring an extra pair of shoes as you’ll be wading through water during your visit to Fairy Stream
7. The Prince’s Castle
Location: Ong Hoang Hill, Phan Thiet – Mui Ne
he Prince’s Castle, set atop Ong Hoang Hill, offers breathtaking views of Mui Ne’s historical structures, surrounding hills, coastline and countryside. Its name was given by the locals after French Duke De Montpensier had taken a liking to the hilltop and built a massive estate house in 1911.
The villa originally spanned 536 square metres but due to a lack of restoration efforts, all that’s left today is its stone foundations as well as an old watchtower and several military bunkers that were used during the French occupation of Vietnam.
After exploring The Prince’s Castle, travellers can easily make their way to other prominent attractions on foot such as the Po Shanu Cham Towers, which were built by the Cham people to commemorate Lord Shiva during the 8th century. The tomb of Vietnamese poet Han Mac Tu is also located nearby the towers, who often praised The Prince’s Castle and its surroundings in his love stories and poets.
8. Van Thuy Tu Temple
Van Thuy Tu Temple, dating back to 1762, is the largest and oldest whale temple in Phan Thiet – Mui Ne. Built in honour of Ca Ong (Lord Whale), locals believe that whales are benevolent creatures that protect fisherman from bad weather and the dangers at sea. Therefore, Van Thuy Tu Temple houses the skeletal remains of more than 100 whales, including 22-metre long whale skeleton that’s thought to have been the biggest in Southeast Asia. Numerous artefacts from the Nguyen Dynasty are also displayed within the main hall of the temple, such as written decrees by 24 former kings, terracotta statues, incense table, lacquered boards, and an antique bronze bell.
Religious ceremonies such as Spring Festival, Whale Worshipping Festival, and Peace Prayer Ceremony are held at the temple every year, where locals gather and pray for smooth sailing, good weather and fishing harvest. Visitors can also expect an array of activities such as solemn rites, folk singing, and boat racing during these events.
9. Ta Cu Mountain
Approximately one hour drive from Mui Ne is another worthwhile stop, Ta Cu (sometimes spelled Takou) Mountain featuring Buddhist statues, pagodas, and a large reclining Buddha statue (the biggest one in Vietnam). Ta Cu Mountain is near Thuan Nam city,
To the top of the mountain lead a narrow rocky path, and although the climb is pretty steep and steady at times,It is possible to get to the top of the mountain by cable-car or walk
 

ALL THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW IN MŨI NÉ:

HOW TO GET TO MUI NE
1.Air
There is no airport in Mui Ne or Phan Thiet. The closest airport is Lien Khuong Airport, which services Da Lat (130 kilometres away). Alternatively, Cam Ranh International Airport is 191 kilometres away; Tan Son Nhat International (aka Ho Chi Minh City’s airport) is 200 kilometres away.
2. Train
Mui Ne doesn’t have a train station — the closest is in nearby Phan Thiet, in the northwest corner of the city. There is only one train a day,

• SPT1 running between Ho Chi Minh City and Phan Thiet. From HCMC, it departs at 06:40, scheduled to arrive at 11:22.
• From Phan Thiet to HCMC, the train departs at 13:10, arrives at 18:27. Tickets for soft seat air-con are 190,000 dong; hard-berth air-con are 220,000 dong ; soft berth air-con are 255,000 dong.

3. Explore the fishing harbour
Most of Mui Ne’s appeal comes from the 12 kilometres of beach that run from nearby Phan Thiet all the way to Mũi Né proper, where the area’s original fishing village still remains. Down at the harbour, an army of brightly coloured fishing boats bob up and down with the tide. Come early in the morning to watch the fishermen unload their catch from the night before.
4. Try kite surfing
Mũi Né’s dependable winds, which average above 12 knots for more than 200 days of the year, are no longer a secret. Kitesurfing schools are your best bet for finding professional instructors, and the town’s main beach is the safest area for newbies and anyone still learning the ropes. If you are an experienced or intermediate kitesurfer, you’ll find other bays and beaches sprinkled nearby.
5. Climb the sand dunes
Mere kilometers from the coast, a pair of massive sand dunes, one red and one white, are positioned like deserts in the middle of a seaside oasis. The red sand dunes are most accessible, however the white sand dunes, roughly 30 kilometres away, are more impressive. Try sand-sledding down the dunes, then make time to walk the freshwater Fairy Springs to see it strange natural formations, carved out of the sand by wind and rain.
6. Visit the Cham Towers 
Mũi Né’s Cham Towers are worth a visit. Perched between Phan Thiết and Mũi Né, these thousand-year-old Hindu temples belong to the former Cham empire, a medieval kingdom which ruled much of the southern coast for centuries. From the top of the hill you’ll have a fantastic view overlooking Phan Thiết.
7. Dine on fresh seafood
Vendors set up camp every night along the seaside at a series of stalls with the catch of the day on offer. Just choose your fish and shellfish and tell the cooks how you’d like each one prepared. Steamed fish, grilled clams, and sweet and sour prawns are all surefire bets.

WEATHER IN MUI NE PHAN THIET VIETNAM

Mui Ne lies in the emerging Binh Thuan Desert and is prone to drought. Onset of rainy season can bring flash flooding and extensive errosion. The rainy season is from May to October and the dry season from November to April. Dry season is the sunny season, no rain. Rainy season brings lush green foliage, and the return of birds, butterflies and other wildlife.
1.Rainy Season in Mui Ne 
Rainy season in Mui Ne is between the months of April and October, when the town has an average humidity of 79%. Hour-long rainfall takes place during the afternoon and evening while flash floods and extensive erosion are known to occur especially in September.
Travellers can also enjoy various recreational activities in Mui Ne as the average temperature is about 27°C between the months of November and April. Mui Ne also receives very little rain compared to other cities in Vietnam, so wearing comfortable clothing is highly recommended during your visit.
There is little variation in sunrise, sunset and daylight hours. Sunrise is around 5:30 am and sunset around 6 pm.
Mui Ne offers the best conditions in all of Vietnam for wind/water sports. Mui Ne has an average of 227 days per year of wind over 12 knots. November through March (Dry Season) is windiest. Dry Season ranges between 18-30 with gusts up to 40 knots.
2. Best Time Travelling to Mui Ne
The best time to enjoy go to Mui Ne is from November to March, when skies are sunny with strong winds, resulting in optimum temperatures and wave conditions. Thanks to its rock-free waters, Mui Ne Beach is great for swimming, kitesurfing, kayaking, surfing and kitesurfing. Numerous food carts and local restaurants are also set along the beach, offering authentic Vietnamese dishes and fresh seafood at affordable prices.