Check out my favorite 2 days in Mui Ne itinerary and find out is Mui Ne worth a visit. Take your adventures in Vietnam to the next level by finding out the top things to do, places to eat, where to stay, and more while you are backpacking Mui Ne!
Located on the Southeast coast of Vietnam you can find the small seaside town of Mui Ne. Though contrary to its size, this place has well and truly earned its place on the banana pancake backpacking trail.
Known for its incredible landscapes there is not anywhere else like it in this country. However what exactly is there to do in Mui Ne and is it really worth visiting on your Vietnam adventures?
Luckily I have spent quite some time backpacking Vietnam visiting many places including Mui Ne. While there I decided to visit the absolute best parts of it to decide whether it was worth a visit.
Think huge sand dunes with impressive views over the ocean, small village vibes, affordable accommodation, and food, as well as nearby beaches to visit.
Nevertheless, let’s get into this travel guide and itinerary with all you need to know for the best time while in Mui Ne.
Ultimate Backpacking Guide To Mui Ne & Best Itinerary
Need A Quick Answer?
If you perhaps don’t have time to read this entire guide, no worries, here are the top tips:
🏖️ Easiest & Best Way to Explore The Highlights: I recommend booking a sunrise or sunset jeep tour for $23.00 per person. Book now with Viator.
🏠 Where to Stay: Top hostel choices for backpackers include iHome Backpackers Resort (dorms start from $7.00) and Mui Ne Hills Backpackers (dorms start from $4.00)
🚗 Transport From Ho Chi Minh City To Mui Ne: Take a luxury sleeper bus and arrive refreshed. Book now with GetYourGuide.
🍜 For Foodies: Take a food tour where you can buy some of the best local delights. Book now with Viator.
🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Vietnam: Baolau & 12.Go Asia
Is Mui Ne Worth Visiting?
Honestly, I do believe Mui Ne is worth adding to your Vietnam Itinerary. The landscapes here are unlike anything else you will find in the country and is quite a unique experience.
However, in saying this you don’t need to spend long here. There are some highlights worth checking out, but they can all be ticked off in one day.
I also didn’t find the beaches here overly spectacular so I would just visit the Red Sand Dunes, White Sand Dunes, and Fairy Stream, then move on.
How Many Days To Spend In Mui Ne
Mui Ne was actually one of the few places where I definitely spent too long while backpacking around Vietnam.
Yes, you still should go, though you do not need to spend as long here as you would in other places in Vietnam.
Overall I would try to spend 3 nights in each location so I can get a good vibe for the place and explore some of the best things there.
Though here you only need 1 night or 2 nights at most.
I know this may not seem like long, but I found so many backpackers here were also doing this. You can easily do a morning tour of the best sites and spend the rest of the time relaxing.
Perhaps you would like to spend longer if you can afford a nice beachfront resort, though unfortunately, my hostel did not cut the mustard. Nevertheless, there was a good party vibe for just $5.00 per night.
How To Plan A Mui Ne Itinerary
When it comes to your Itinerary you do have a couple of options as to getting to and visiting this seaside town:
Independent travel: You can find numerous buses and trains traveling from Ho Chi Minh City or Nha Trang to Mui Ne so it is pretty damn easy to book it yourself over on 12 Go Asia. Once in Mui Ne, you can easily find hostels and guesthouses.
Organized tours: There are a small number of organized tours from Ho Chi Minh City that will take you to Mui Ne. These will include accommodation and a tour of the highlights. Some of these tours are just day trips while others are overnight.
Recommended Tours:
Day Trip: Take a day trip to Mui Ne from Ho Chi Minh City, the perfect option if you are short on time. Enjoy a day where everything is taken care of for you while you enjoy checking out the highlights.
Overnight Trip: Spend 2 days 1 night in Mui Ne from Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy relaxing at a 4 star beach resort with breakfast and lunch included.
Transport ONLY: Book a comfortable and luxurious sleeper bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne. Relax in your own pod style bed and arrive right at your accommodation in Mui Ne.
Day 1: Explore The Outskirts
Welcome to Mui Ne! On our first day, we will take things a bit slower as we explore what exactly the town has to offer.
I have left this day relatively open, and not doing the absolute best things. This is simply because you can arrive at whatever time from your previous destination and don’t have to rush about the first morning.
We will do the best things on our second day before departing in the afternoon.
Morning: Po Shanu Cham Towers
Before we start exploring it is time to grab some breakfast to fuel you for the day. The Brunch Bar Mui Ne is a great breakfast spot with super affordable prices. You can’t go wrong when a delicious egg benedict costs $2.60!
Now you are ready to explore and prepare yourself for the Po Shanu Cham Towers. However, they aren’t in the main touristy area, and instead are slightly out of town between Mui Ne and Phan Thiet.
To visit I recommend booking a taxi which will cost you between $10.00 to $15.00 each way. To prevent getting ripped off use Grab in Vietnam, it’s basically the Uber of Southeast Asia. The journey will take you about 15 minutes and then you will arrive.
Like a lot of towers of the Cham religion here in Vietnam, the Po Shanu Cham Towers are located on top of a hill. Similar to My Son in Hoi An, they are from the time of the Champa empire. They were built in the 8th century from the bright red bricks.
This is an excellent place to relax, feel the breeze on your face, and learn a bit about the history here. After about an hour of exploring you will likely be ready to head off.
Entry Fee: 10,000 VND / $0.40
Afternoon: Ta Cu Mountain Or Beach Chilling
Now for the afternoon, I will give you the choice of 2 different activities that you can do.
This is simply because visiting Ta Cu Mountain can be a bit pricey, and you will be spending a bit of time in vehicles, which isn’t fun if you have taken a 5-hour bus from Ho Chi Minh or Nha Trang to Mui Ne that same day.
Though I will explain how it can be done a bit more on a budget, anyway the beach is a fun and relaxing alternative.
But, before you get exploring time to grab a delicious lunch!
If you are a vege like me why not head to El Cafe Vegetarian/Vegan Food. This is the best vegan and vegetarian-friendly spot and is well worth checking out.
Alternatively, you can grab a delicious meal at Sindbad Mui Ne. This was one of our go-to spots as we were actually staying next door, though it is one of the highest-rated restaurants here in Mui Ne. It is locally run and prices are super affordable for the backpacker crowd.
🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Vietnam: Baolau & 12.Go Asia
Option 1: Ta Cu Mountain
First off you will need to actually get to Ta Cu Mountain. You can either take a taxi, which will cost you around $40.00 for the 40-minute journey, otherwise, public transport is the other option.
To use public transport you will want to catch the bus going to Thuan Nam City, and then jump off at the large shopping mall.
Next up you will want to catch bus number 1 or 4 heading to Ta Cu mountain. You will know when you arrive thanks to the impressive shiny gates at the entrance.
Here at Ta Cu Mountain, you can see Buddhist statues, pagodas, and a huge reclining Buddha, which is the biggest one in Vietnam.
You will need to get from the gate to the top of the mountain. If you are not on too much of a budget you can take the cable car for some impressive views. Though this will cost you 160,000 VND / $6.50 roundtrip.
If you are keen to save your money you can hike up, but remember to bring plenty of water. It is a pretty steep climb, though you do not have to be crazy fit to complete it, standard fitness will be fine.
Just be careful on the way down depending on the weather, as if it has rained recently it can be a bit muddy and slippery.
Entry Fee: 20,000 VND / $0.80
Location: Tà Cú Mountain, Thuận Nam, Hàm Thuận Nam District, Bình Thuận Province, Vietnam
Option 2: Beach Chilling
Now for more of a budget-friendly activity, why not hit the beach while you are in Mui Ne!? Now what I will say is check the tides.
High tide basically comes right up to the buildings on that side of the road.
Surprisingly the buildings and the beach are super close together so some resorts have created an artificial beach separated from the tides with a retaining wall. These should be fine no matter the tides.
If you are staying in a beachfront hotel or backpackers go you! You have already avoided my first mistake!
I presumed the beach would be easy to access like most places in the world. Unfortunately, the buildings on the beachside are so built up and commercialized there aren’t many public spaces, and they can be a bit on the dirty side.
So from here, you will either need to taxi a little bit out (just ask the driver and they will be able to take you somewhere appropriate), otherwise do a sneaky into a resort/beach club/ restaurant. Most of the time they are more than happy if you buy a drink or some food anyway.
Evening: Sunset On The Beach
In the evening I highly recommend grabbing a delicious cocktail and watching the beautiful sunset. There are numerous beachfront restaurants and bars along the main strip so just go for a walk and see what tickles your fancy.
If you are super keen there are a heap of restaurants where you can pick your own fresh seafood out of a tank and the chefs will cook it up on a BBQ.
Though warning you now, the assortment of animals on display to eat was certainly a surprise. However, don’t stay out too late as we have a sunrise tour tomorrow.
Day 2: Main Highlights Of Mui Ne
It is an early start on our second day of the Mui Ne Itinerary, though trust me it is worth it.
Today we will do a sunrise tour to the best attractions in town. Yes, we will be visiting the white sand dunes, the red sand dunes, the fishing village, and finally fairy stream.
Booking A Sunrise Tour
Now let’s get into booking a sunrise tour and why this is the best way to see the sights. Walking down the street you will see all the hotels, travel agencies, and even restaurants, advertising this tour.
Sure it is an early wake-up time with your pick up somewhere between 4.30 am and 5.30 am, but trust me it is worth it.
My preferred tour is the Mui Ne Sand Dunes Jeep Tour where you can either book a private jeep or a shared sunrise/sunset jeep starting from just $18.00 per person. You will visit all the highlights and have a fantastic time.
That early start allows you to see the sunrise over the impressive white sand dunes. For the price, we shared a jeep with other people staying at our accommodation.
Just remember if you get quite a motion sick if you haven’t eaten, make sure to pack something the night before. There will be a small number of options available at each stop, but unfortunately, pringles are not the best breakfast.
White Sand Dunes
The first stop on your tour will be the White Sand Dunes to watch the sunrise. This will no doubt be one of your highlights here as it was mine.
You can either pay a jeep to take you out or hire an ATV. Though for both these options prepare to get stuck, as we saw this numerous times. Your best bet will be hiring an ATV with the most horsepower, just prepare to pay more.
Instead, if you are on a budget like I happened to be you can simply walk out to the dunes from the car park. It is a nice stroll and since it is the morning the heat of the day hasn’t started yet.
The white sand dunes are large enough that you can find your own little private spot to watch the sunrise and get away from the rest of the crowds.
The Fishing Village
Surprisingly enough the fishing village was also a highlight for me on the sunrise tour.
I mean sure it doesn’t sound fun or interesting, and in all honesty, it was quite smelly, but I thought it was awesome seeing the fisherman pull in their catch.
You can also see all the brightly colored fishing boats bobbing around in the water.
Red Sand Dunes
The third stop of the day is the famous red sand dunes. These are a lot more touristy than the white sand dunes simply because they back right onto the road, literally.
This means you can often find large tour buses here, whereas, in the white sand dunes, you need a 4WD vehicle to access without getting stuck.
Though trust me it is still worth it! Here you can hire a sandboard and fly down the dunes. Just make sure to agree on a price beforehand, this is how some people make a living.
Fairy Stream
The last spot on the tour is the popular Fairy Stream. This is actually a really nice walk upstream to a waterfall.
However, my favorite part was the colors. It was so incredible seeing these bright orange sand cliffs contrast against the greenery and blue sky.
Depending on the time of year you visit will affect how much water is in the stream and what the waterfall is like at the end.
I visited in the dry season when the water was ankle-deep and the waterfall was just a trickle.
Afternoon: Leaving Mui Ne
After the sunrise tour, you can either head back to your accommodation and get a couple more hours of sleep or grab yourself a delicious breakfast. I Cafe Mui Ne is an excellent spot to come for a quick bite.
Here you are able to get a full English breakfast for just a few dollars. The perfect way to fuel yourself after a busy morning of exploring.
That afternoon I recommend packing up and heading to your next destination. From Mui Ne there are a few spots that I recommend traveling to next:
North: If you are keen to travel North from Mui Ne, you can take a train to Nha Trang and then up to Hoi An.
Continuing north again you have Hue with the Imperial City and then Hanoi right up the top of the country.
Hanoi is a great international hub, where you can head to Thailand or Laos, or instead, you can stay local by hitting up Sapa or Ha Long Bay. Also, there is Ninh Binh between Hanoi and Hue. I haven’t had the opportunity to visit yet, but I will on my next trip!
South: If you want you can head South towards Ho Chi Minh City and visit the Cu Chi Tunnels.
🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Vietnam: Baolau & 12.Go Asia
Travel Tips For Your Time In Mui Ne
Now you have read my 2 days in Mui Ne guide I will let you know my top travel tips to take your backpacking adventures to the next level!
Other Things To Do In Mui Ne
Apart from those things listed above, there are still even more things to do in Mui Ne:
Kite Surfing: There are numerous opportunities to go kite surfing and you will see stores advertising it as you walk alongside the main strip. It is a little more on the pricey side, though compared to doing this somewhere like Europe, prices here are a bargain!
Ke Ga Lighthouse: Ke Ga Lighthouse is the oldest one in Southeast Asia, having been built in 1897. You can find it South of Mui Ne and there is an excellent viewpoint from the rocks on the shoreline.
How To Get To Mui Ne
Depending on which direction you are traveling around Vietnam will affect what way you are coming to Mui Ne. Though it is likely you will either be traveling from the North or South.
Personally, I was traveling from nabove and made my way from Nha Trang to Mui Ne.
Tickets for all journeys can be purchased on Baolau (best for trains) or 12.Go Asia (best for buses)
Bus: The trip from Nha Trang to Mui Ne takes 5 hours.
Plane: It is currently not possible to fly.
Private Transfer: Private transfers are your quickest way and take 3 hours. However, prepare to open your wallet as it is pricey.
Train: On the train it will take 4 and a half hours. Though the closest station is in the town of Binh Thuan, you will need a taxi the rest of the way which costs at least 500,000 VND / $20.00.
| Transport Method | Time | Cost | Highlight | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train | 4 hours 30 minutes + Taxi | from $7 | Comfortable journey | Book Now |
| Private Transfer | 3 hours | from $75 | Super comfortable journey | Book Now |
| Bus | 5 hours | from $7 | The cheapest way to travel | Book Now |
| Tourist Bus | 5 hours | from $12 | More comfortable than the regular bus | Book Now |
| Airport | N/A | N/A | An airport is currently being built outside of Mui Ne | N/A |
Where To Stay In Mui Ne?
There is a wide assortment of places to stay in Mui Ne. Whether you are looking for an affordable hostel, beachside resort, or friendly guesthouse.
We stayed in a hostel during our stay. The rooms were certainly basic, but they did have everything we needed for a few night’s stay. It was also a bit of a party hostel which usually isn’t my scene.
This hostel has closed down now, but instead, I would recommend EVA HUT Mui Ne Beach Hostel.
With prices starting from $6.00 for a dorm room, this beachfront backpackers hotspot is the perfect place for budget travelers. It is smack bang right on the beach, which was definitely something we were lacking during our stay.
The perfect hostel with a decent pool. Dorm rooms starting at $7.00 per night. BOOK NOW |
A good hostel with epic views at an affordable price. Dorm rooms start at $4.00 per night. BOOK NOW |
The ultimate backpackers paradise in Mui Ne. Dorm rooms starting at $6.00. BOOK NOW |
Extravagant rooms starting at $42.00 per night including a delicious breakfast. BOOK NOW |
Staying Safe
Mui Ne is a relatively safe city to visit in Vietnam. Of course, it does have the typical scams of tourist towns and cities in Southeast Asia. This mainly revolves around robberies and being the target of pickpocketing.
In Vietnam, the motorbike snatch and grab is super common so you need to be aware of your surroundings. Someone may see your bag, phone, or camera hanging loosely off you, so they will pull up on their motorbike and take it.
One of the most common scams here is actually people being pulled over by rouge police and demanding they get paid off to avoid filing a police report. These policemen will often hang out on the roads to and from the sand dunes and just pull over every single tourist that drives past.
As you can imagine they do make quite a bit of bank from this and it is a scam that has been operating for years. This was the main reason we decided against hiring a motorbike as it simply wasn’t worth the stress (even though there are plenty of rental shops around).
Just make sure to use your common sense and for the most part, this will keep you out of dangerous situations.
FAQs About Traveling Mui Ne
How long do you need to stay at Mui Ne?
Honestly, I would recommend spending one or two nights in Mui Ne. This may not seem like a lot but it allows you to see the highlights and breaks up a long trip from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City or vice versa.
What is the difference between Phan Thiet and Mui Ne?
Phan Thiet and Mui Ne are two coastal towns in Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam. Mui Ne is one of the five areas of Phan Thiet where you can find beachfront resorts and guesthouses.
What is Mui Ne popular for?
Mui Ne is a coastal town located in the Binh Thuan province of Vietnam. It is known for its beautiful beaches, tropical forests, sand dunes, traditional villages, fishing port, and ancient Cham buildings and ruins.
Where is the beach town of mui ne located?
Mui Ne is a coastal resort town located in the Binh Thuan province of Vietnam. It is approximately 4 hours by bus from Ho Chi Minh City.
How many days should you spend in Mui Ne?
I recommend spending 2 days in Mui Ne, as this amount of time will allow you to visit highlights such as the sand dunes and fairy stream. However, some travelers who are short on time choose to just spend one day here.
Wrap Up: How Long To Spend In Mui Ne & more
Ultimately, Mui Ne is a good destination and nicely breaks up the journey between Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City.
With its stunning sand dunes, picturesque fishing village, and unique fairy stream, this coastal town has something for every traveler.
Just remember it isn’t the perfect beachside destination that you first may imagine. At most just spend 2 nights exploring the highlights then move on to your next destination on your Vietnam Itinerary.
Any Questions? Let me know in the comments!
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Want more Vietnam Inspiration? Check out….
- 3 WEEKS IN VIETNAM ITINERARY
- COMMON SCAMS IN VIETNAM
- BEST THINGS TO DO IN VIETNAM
- COST TO TRAVEL IN VIETNAM & MY BACKPACKING BUDGET
- BACKPACKING VIETNAM TRAVEL TIPS
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- BACKPACKING HOI AN ITINERARY
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- HOI AN TO NHA TRANG TRANSPORT GUIDE
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- BACKPACKING NHA TRANG TRAVEL ITINERARY
- BEST BEACHES IN NHA TRANG WORTH VISITING
- NHA TRANG TO MUI NE TRANSPORT GUIDE
- BACKPACKING MUI NE TRAVEL GUIDE
- BEST THINGS TO DO IN MUI NE
- MUI NE TO HO CHI MINH CITY: ALL WAYS TO TRAVEL EXPLAINED
- CHEAPEST TOUR OF THE CU CHI TUNNELS: IS IT WORTH IT
- BACKPACKING HO CHI MINH TRAVEL GUIDE
- HOW TO TRAVEL VIETNAM TO CAMBODIA: HO CHI MINH CITY TO PHNOM PENH
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. So, if you click on it and purchase something, I get a small percentage at no extra cost to you. As always all opinions are my own and your support is much appreciated.
Photo credit: “Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue” (CC BY 2.0) by Tim Moffatt.
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We were in Mui Ne for 5 days in June and absolutely loved it. The people were lovely, nothing but good things to say about it!
Hi! Thanks for your article. I’m typing this in Mui Ne and please anyone reading this do yourself a favour and skip it altogether.
One of the ugliest places I’ve seen on Earth. Covered in litter, nothing to do or see. No shops/bars/restaurants. The sea is dirty and polluted, the beaches not existent. If you really must go, make sure you book a nice resort with a private beach. That’s the only way of making it bearable for one day.
Not spreading negativity here. I just wished I did more research and avoid wasting money here. If you look for mui ne on Reddit you might see more feedback on this, resembling what I’m saying here!
Yeah that town itself isnt a thing of beauty, nor are the beaches I saw (like you said I couldn’t afford a nice resort with its own beach).
There are much nicer places in Vietnam if you are looking for a beach getaway. However the sanddunes and unique landscapes is truly what makes Mui Ne stand out.
I am in Mui Ne now and I am surprised to read all of the glowing reviews about pristine beaches (blog ad kickbacks). The reality is simply an eye-opener about what we are doing to our planet and ourselves — destruction. While there is so very much to love, there is SO SO SO MUCH non-perishable forever trash on the beaches. It’s utterly inescapable. I just read a blog post from the author that was posted just a few months ago … “To keep tourists and locals coming back to this beach, it’s kept clean so you won’t need to worry about trash.” However, in the last 3 days, I have been on 10 beaches from the southern to central to the northern Mui Ne and it is literally choking on plastics of every kind, paint cans, discarded nets, bottle caps, styrofoam, rusty beer cans. I wanted to cry the first time. I am stunned at the fact that no one seems to openly acknowledge it as thing to deal with. Just a thing to live with. The dunes are also littered with plastic bottles and styrofoam food boxes. My ATV driver deliberately tossed his small disposable plastic water bottle into a bush (to hide it from sight or from his conscience?) and just replied to my very loud gasp, “it’s okay, it’s okay.”
Hi Tasha very informative article. Just wanted to know if its important to do a sunrise tour or can we do a sunset tour also? Reason I will be in Mui ne for 24 hours only.
Hi Juhi
You don’t need to do the sunrise tour, plus not everyone is keen to get up that early. There are also tours in the morning and afternoon as well.
hi there, lovey article! would you happen to have a link to the sunrise tour ?
Hi Cal, here is a link to book a private sunrise jeep tour, it is surprisingly affordable. Though if you are looking for a cheaper shared tour you will need to book it in Mui Ne either through your accommodation or one of the many travel agencies there. Hope you enjoy your visit!