Mui Ne: Vietnam’s Forgotten Beach Town

Everyone goes past it to get to somewhere else

Mui Ne sits on the south-central coast, about 5 hours from HCMC, and most travelers either skip it entirely or use it as a quick stop en route. That’s changed my relationship with Mui Ne — I find it oddly charming precisely because it doesn’t try as hard as Hoi An or Da Nang. It’s kitesurfers, seafood, sand dunes, and a beach road that feels properly sleepy.

The sand dunes: genuinely strange and good

The Red Sand Dunes near the town center are smaller and more accessible — a short taxi from the beach road, good at sunset when the light turns the sand orange-red. The White Sand Dunes (Bau Trang) are larger and 30km away — you drive through pine forests and suddenly there are enormous white dunes with a lake at the base. Neither costs much to visit (a small local fee, 10,000–20,000 VND). — book via Kiwitaxi for the best deal.

The sandboarding thing: plastic “boards” are rented at the entrance for 20,000 VND. Going down is fast and mildly fun; walking back up in the heat is considerably less fun. Manage expectations accordingly.

Kitesurfing

Mui Ne has the best kitesurfing conditions in Vietnam — consistent wind from November to April, a long beach, multiple schools. A one-week beginner course costs around $350–450. This is what brings dedicated visitors rather than general tourists.

The seafood situation

Very good, reasonably priced. The fishing village at the northern end of Mui Ne town has small seafood restaurants where you pick your fish, shellfish, or crustacean from a display and they grill it. Budget 200,000–400,000 VND for a proper seafood dinner.