Fun Things to Do in Mui Ne, Vietnam

I’d best describe Mui Ne, Vietnam, as a little beachside town next to the desert. It was a big contrast to the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh, where we came from. And we fell in love with the chilled-out vibes here. Yup, Mui Ne is very laid-back, and most of the hotels and restaurants are dotted along the town’s beach. Adding to its chilled-out appeal.

We only had 3 nights here, so we packed as much as we possibly could in. But our highlights were the super-pretty Fairy Stream and the otherworldly Red Sand Dunes.

BEST Things to Do In Mui Ne

Fairy Stream

First on our bucket list for Mui Ne was a trip to the Fairy Stream, just a 10-minute drive from Mui Ne town. The scenery here is outstanding, and it feels pretty magical, hence the name.

As you wade through the shallow stream, surrounded by stunning red rock formations and lush greenery, you will feel like you’re in a dream (well, we did anyway). It sure is a peaceful and unique experience, unlike any other in Vietnam.

We recommend arriving at the Fairy Springs early in the morning (before 9 am), which is when the tour buses arrive. The entrance fee to Fairy Springs is super cheap, just 5,000 VND or 25 cents!

Red Sand Dunes (Doi Cat Do)

This is one of the most popular things to do in Mui Ne; the red sands (well, they’re more of a burnt orange color in IRL) of this desert look so eye-catching against the blue sky. You can rent a board here for a small fee and go sandboarding down the steep dunes – it’s a whole lot of fun.

These are also easily accessible, around a 10 minute taxi ride from Mui Ne.

We actually took a half-day sunset tour to the Red and White deserts of Mui Ne. This tour departs for either sunrise or sunset. We opted for the latter, which left Mui Ne around 2 pm (although the departure time changes slightly by season). It’s 5 hours long and costs us approximately $15 USD per person. The half-day tour also includes a stop at a small fishing village and the Fairy Stream.

White Sand Dunes

These seem to be bigger than their red counterpart and, as a result, seemed to us to be a lot less crowded. We took some awesome photos and went sandboarding as part of our tour. For an extra fee, you can go quad biking up and down the sand dunes – they went really fast, so definitely watch out for them when wandering around.

These are further from Mui Ne Village – you’re talking around 35 km.

Mui Ne Fishing Village

At Mui Ne Fishing Village, you can observe local fishermen as they haul in their daily catch. There’s also a busy market here that’s brimming with fresh seafood for sale.

We loved seeing the colorful bamboo basket boats dotted along the beach – these are used in this area by the fishermen as they are highly maneuverable (the fishermen easily spin them around) to catch their hauls.

Chill out on the Beaches

The main beach in Mui Ne isn’t actually the best spot to relax – that’s due to the high winds (it’s super popular with kite surfers). And it’s not the safest spot to swim – due to the waves/ currents.

We prefer Bai Rang Beach and Hon Rom Beach (a further drive away).

Where to stay in Mui Ne

Whilst in Mui Ne we stayed Muine Sports Hotel, clean and basic accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool. Plus, it’s just 100 meters from the beach. A double room here costs as little as $18 USD per night!

If you’re after a more luxurious property in Mui Ne, the Hoang Ngoc Beach Resort is very well-rated and boasts a large outdoor pool, a private beach, and, an on-site restaurant. This one costs from $65 USD per person.

Getting to Mui Ne

We reached Mui Ne via a luxury mini bus from Ho Chi Minh, which took 2 hours and cost around $16 USD each. You can also catch a bus here (there are several companies that operate this route), which takes around 4 hours and is cheaper at around $8 USD per person.

The closest airport to Mui Ne is in Ho Chi Minh (Tan Son Nhat International Airport).

When to visit Mui Ne?

It’s best to come here during its dry season, which runs from November to April. During this time, the weather is typically sunny and dry, ranging from 25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F).

The rainy season here runs from May to October, bringing with it higher humidity and the possibility of tropical storms.

How long to spend in Mui Ne?

I recommend spending 2-3 full days in Mui Ne so that you can tick off everything I’ve listed above.

Thanks for Reading!

And there you have it, a short but information-packed guide to Mui Ne, Vietnam. We traveled here as a couple and had a brilliant time, but we also came across lots of families and solo travelers during our stay here. Mui Ne really does have something for everyone.