A fishing town and beach resort on the south-central coast, known for its red and white sand dunes, kitesurfing and basket boats
Mui Ne stretches along a curving bay, with resorts, cafés and kite schools lining the road behind the beach and the old fishing harbour at its eastern end. Out on the water, round basket boats bob among larger fishing vessels, and the harbour is at its busiest in the early morning.
Inland, the landscape changes completely. Orange-red dunes rise near town, especially vivid near sunset, while the pale white dunes around Bau Trang lie further along the coast. The small Fairy Stream is another popular stop. Dry, sunny weather and reliable wind make the area one of Vietnam's best places to learn to kitesurf.
Mui Ne grew up as a fishing community on a coast once ruled by the Champa kingdom, whose Cham towers still stand at Phu Hai near Phan Thiet. In the second half of the 20th century it served as a district capital, and in 1982 it became a ward of Phan Thiet.
Tourism arrived suddenly in the mid-1990s, when visitors came to watch the total solar eclipse of 24 October 1995, and resorts soon spread along the coast. In the 2025 national reorganisation Binh Thuan Province was merged into Lam Dong, so Mui Ne is now a ward of Lam Dong Province.
Fishing is still the backbone of local life, and the harbour is busiest in the early morning as boats bring in their catch. Mui Ne is known for its seafood, served grilled and in soups at simple restaurants along the coast road, and locals also have their own ways of cooking the butterfly lizards that live in the dunes. Resorts and kite schools sit side by side with the working harbour.
A typical day starts before dawn with a jeep ride to the white dunes for sunrise, followed by the fishing harbour and a walk along the Fairy Stream. Afternoons are for the beach or the water, where kitesurf schools offer lessons for beginners. Sandboarding and quad bikes are offered on the dunes, and evenings end with seafood at simple restaurants along the coast road.
November to April is the recommended period, with dry weather and good wind for kitesurfing; the region gets less rain than most of Vietnam. The rainy season runs from May to October, usually with short afternoon downpours.
Checked against the sources on 29 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.
General guidance from our specialists, not official information.
Phan Thiet, with its railway connections, is a short drive west. Ho Chi Minh City lies to the south-west, while the highland city of Da Lat and the beaches of Nha Trang are within reach to the north. Many travellers combine Mui Ne with Da Lat on a loop from Ho Chi Minh City.
Nha Trang is a coastal city whose long, palm-lined beach faces a bay scattered with islands, including the Hon Mun marine protected area. Behind the high-rise seafront are the Po Nagar Cham towers, Long Son Pagoda and a busy fishing harbour.
ExploreVietnam's most populous city and economic engine, still widely called Saigon. Visitors come for its French colonial buildings, museums of the 20th-century wars, markets, Chinatown temples and above all its street food and restless energy.
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Vietnam · 11 nights4★ HotelVietnam · 7 nights4★ ResortThis guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 29 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.
