Where is Mui Ne in Vietnam. Vietnamese resort of Phan Thiet - is it worth going there on vacation? Mui Ne fishing village

There are no architectural attractions in Mui Ne itself, so if you can’t imagine traveling without the obligatory trip to religious ruins and ancient temples, get ready for field trips. Most often, local guides offer a ride to the Cham towers of Tap Poshan, which were once part of the gigantic temple complex, built in honor of the god Shiva. The sanctuary was destroyed 300 years ago, but the towers did not get their turn, so in the 90s they were restored and tourists began to be taken inside. In addition to travelers, in these ancient buildings you can often meet local fishermen, bringing their gifts to local deities in exchange for good luck in business. If you drive 60 kilometers from Mui Ne, you can stumble upon another religious attraction, a 49-meter statue of a reclining Buddha. The deity comfortably settled on the slope of Mount Taku, where he leads cable car. The place is very popular with pilgrims, so the Buddha almost always has visitors.

Travelers who prefer non-man-made attractions can usually be persuaded to take an excursion to the Red and White Dunes. The first ones are located immediately behind the resort’s fishing village, but to get to the second ones you will have to travel at least 35 km. People visit these places mainly to watch the Asian sunset in a romantic setting, take spectacular photographs and slide down the steepest sandy slopes on a plastic sled. Another popular place that can be reached on foot and without an annoying guide is Red Creek or Fairy Creek, as it is called local residents. The main feature of this modest source is its play on contrasts. On one side, yellow-red piles of sandstone hang over the stream, and on the other, lush exotic thickets adjoin it. For Martian landscapes, it is better to go to the Red Canyon, which is 19 km from Mui Ne (admission is paid), but true aesthetes and delicate natures are recommended to choose the route to the Lotus Lake. However, in the latter case you will have to guess the season: the approximate flowering period of lotuses is from July to September.

Beaches

The beaches of Mui Ne are an ideal place for passive contemplative relaxation and doing nothing, but the rich nightlife here is very difficult. Conditionally coastline The resort is divided into three zones: East End(Ham Tien) central beach(Bai Rang) and West Coast(Puff up). Ham Tien Beach is unanimously considered the least crowded, one side adjoining the same fishing village of Mui Ne, from which the resort grew. Local hotels do not burden themselves with cleaning the territory, so Ham Tien does not shine with glossy cleanliness, but there is more than enough authenticity here. Some come here to look at the “basins” of local fishermen swinging on the waves, others - in search of an inexpensive bungalow, and still others use this territory as an opportunity to shortcut the road to Fairy Creek and the Red Dunes - local attractions.

Boats of local fishermen similar to "basins"

The central beach or Bai Rang is a natural extension of Ham Tien, almost 10 km long. The narrow and often fairly littered strip of coast boasts decent infrastructure and walking distance to mid-price hotels. However, the further west you go, the cleaner, more spacious and, accordingly, more crowded the beach becomes. Moreover, this part of Bai Rang has the most big waves, which automatically puts it on the list of the best places for surfing and kiting.

The status of cozy place for swimming and have a relaxing holiday still behind Pukhai. Since this part of the resort has been staked out by the fashionable hotel complexes, the cleanliness of the coastal area is carefully monitored here. Of course, sunbeds and umbrellas on Puhai are only available to guests of local hotels, but access to the beach itself is open to everyone.

Surfing in Mui Ne

The most “correct” waves excite the sea surface of Mui Ne Bay in the autumn-winter season, so during this period the resort is especially bustling and crowded. In addition to classic surfing, the South China Sea offers good opportunities for kiteboarding. For beginners who have just begun to learn the basics of these sports, it is better to go out to sea in the morning, when the wind is not yet strong enough to “break” the wave. But seasoned extreme sports enthusiasts usually appear on the beaches in the afternoon, when the wind is at full strength. Another pleasant feature of the resort is the high water temperature, which gives tourists the opportunity to save on the purchase of a wetsuit.

For those who forgot to take sports equipment along the way to Mui Ne, they will be happy to rent it out at resort rental shops and surf schools. Usually rent for a “board” does not exceed 150,000 VND per hour (about 390 rubles), while for the services of an experienced instructor you will have to pay at least 1,350,000 VND (3,530 rubles).

The best place for surfing and kiteboarding is considered West Side resort: there are no rocks or hidden shallows that can spoil the pleasure of your vacation and seriously injure the unlucky “wave catcher”. True, during the season, serious competition for spheres of influence begins between swimmers, kiters and surfers. In such cases, there are only two options: take risks and try to maneuver in the midst of boards balancing on the water crests, or go in search of a more secluded place.

Food in Mui Ne

The cuisine at the resort is multinational: in addition to restaurants in traditional Vietnamese style, Mui Ne is full of French, Italian and Russian cafes. By the way, in any local eatery you can find a menu in Russian, which saves tourists from having to order a “pig in a poke”. The situation with prices is slightly ambiguous. For example, it is cheapest to dine in authentic Vietnamese cafes and canteens, since almost all the delicacies in them are either grown in the neighborhood or caught by local fishermen. In international taverns, most of the products are imported, and accordingly, the bill for lunch in such establishments is 2-3 times higher. However, if you don’t order exotic things like shark steaks and crocodile barbecue, then unpleasant surprises in the form of an astronomical bill can be avoided.

In Mui Ne, it is customary to buy fruits directly on the street, from hawkers, however, it is worth considering that prices in high-traffic areas will be higher. To find cheaper gifts of the Vietnamese land, you will have to dive into the tiny alleys branching off from the main street of the resort, or get up early in the morning and go to the Ham Tien morning market.

Shopping

As edible gifts from Mui Ne, tourists take all kinds of fruits, dried and dried seafood and local coffee. You can also find original accessories made of crocodile skin, as well as jewelry made of natural pearls in the resort shops. Such souvenirs, of course, cost a lot, but they are still cheaper than in Russian stores.

Among cosmetic and pharmacy products, coconut oil and warming balms based on snake venom are still in trend. It is better to purchase the latter at a pharmacy: this way there is less chance of buying an unknown and useless product. As for the legendary Vietnamese silk, it is worth seeking out in larger cities, as are cheap clothes.

Prices for souvenirs in Mui Ne are usually very reasonable, which makes it tempting to buy a lot of funny, but absolutely useless things. Those who are looking for interesting authentic gifts should save a certain amount for an excursion to the reclining Buddha: next to the giant monument of the deity there are tents with very exotic souvenirs that cannot be found in Mui Ne itself.

Where to stay

So far, Vietnam retains its status as one of the cheapest Asian countries, so an unpretentious tourist in Mui Ne will not have to splurge on housing. So, for example, a day’s stay in some modest one-star hotel in the area of ​​​​Cape Mui Ne will cost 250,000 VND (650 RUB). In hostels, prices are even lower - from 150,000 VND (390 RUB). Moreover, even if you choose the cheapest room in an establishment without stars, you are guaranteed walking distance to the beach.

Those for whom service and well-groomed coastal areas are important should head in the direction of Phan Thiet: it is in this part of the resort that higher-level hotels are located, which have their own beach areas, which are regularly cleaned and improved. Average cost of a room with breakfast in a “four” like Muine de Century Resort & Spa or Unique Mui Ne Resort and Spa– from 1,800,000 to 2,326,000 VND (4600-6000 RUB). An option for traveling groups and families with children is a separate villa with its own parking, Wi-Fi and other amenities. Such a house will cost an average of about 3,900,000 VND (from 10,000 RUB). Among the adherents economical holiday Guesthouses are still held in high esteem, with room prices ranging from 349,000 to 739,000 VND (approximately 900-1900 RUB).

Transport

Mui Ne is a one-street resort. The entire infrastructure of the area is a continuous strip of hotels, shops and restaurants, stretching for 15 km in parallel sea ​​coast. You can get from one end of the resort to the other, as well as go to neighboring Phan Thiet, by bus that runs daily along the embankment. The fare starts from 9000 VND (about 24 RUB). The fastest (and most dangerous) transport in Mui Ne is considered to be motorcycle taxis, which masterfully maneuver in traffic and make their way into the narrowest alleys. On average, a trip in the company of a Vietnamese motorcyclist costs from 60,000 to 80,000 VND (157-209 RUB).

For those who are particularly prudent and comfortable, a classic taxi is suitable, which can be caught on the street or called by phone. Almost all cars are equipped with meters, but, just in case, it is better to agree on the final amount of the trip in advance with the driver. The average tariff for all taxis is 12,000 VND (31 RUB) per kilometer. In addition, for 60,000 VND (about 157 RUB) in Mui Ne you can rent a bicycle and ride around the area as much as you want.

Car rent

Local rental companies only enter into rental agreements with drivers who have a Vietnamese license. Get this type The document is not difficult, but all the bureaucratic delays will take at least a week. So, if you don’t plan to go outside the resort, it’s better to limit yourself public transport and taxi.

For those for whom Mui Ne will be just one of the locations on a trip to South Vietnam, a car will not hurt. It is better to rent a car in large cities like Ho Chi Minh City or Nha Trang: there are more offices there and a more decent fleet of vehicles. Typically, the cost of a daily car rental costs from 500,000 to 1,000,000 VND (about 1300-2600 RUB).

As for the specifics of driving, extreme sports enthusiasts and experienced drivers will feel most comfortable on Vietnamese roads. Local residents do not burden themselves with following traffic rules, so the risk of being involved in an accident at the resort is very high.

Cellular communications and Internet

SIM card of the operator "Viettel"

There are three mobile operators operating in Mui Ne: Mobifone, Viettel and Vinaphone. The tariffs for all three are approximately the same price category, so there is no point in understanding all the intricacies. Well, since there is no such thing as intranet roaming in Vietnam, you can purchase a SIM card in advance in Ho Chi Minh City or Nha Trang and travel with it throughout the country. The standard cost of connecting to the local network is 80,000-120,000 VND (about 200-300 RUB). The prices for international calls in Vietnam are also extremely tempting. So, for example, a minute of conversation with Russian operator will cost some 2500 VND (7 RUB).

Those who cannot imagine their life without social networks and other pleasures of the World Wide Web will have to choose between Wi-Fi in hotels and restaurants (the speed is usually not the highest, and the connection often breaks) and mobile Internet offered by local cellular operators. Prices for the latter are quite humane: 70,000 VND for 600 MB (183 RUB) and 200,000 VND for a 3 GB package (about 520 RUB).

The language barrier

The vast majority of tourists coming to Mui Ne are Russians or citizens of CIS countries, so the traveler at the resort will constantly hear their native speech. Moreover, there are a lot of signs and advertisements on the “great mighty” here. As for interaction with the indigenous population, the inhabitants of Mui Ne have prepared a dozen speech cliches for tourists that will help at least roughly clarify the needs of both sides. Well, in the most difficult cases, good old English, which almost everyone here understands, will help out.

How to get there

The closest airports to Mui Ne are in Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City. Both accept flights not only from the Mother See and Northern capital, but also others major cities. In particular, you can fly to Vietnam from Yekaterinburg, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk and Omsk. Flights from Moscow are operated by Aeroflot (the only direct flight connecting the capital with Ho Chi Minh City), China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Emirates and Etihad Airwais. Aeroflot, S7 and Turkish Airlines fly from St. Petersburg towards Vietnam.

You can get from Ho Chi Minh City Airport to Mui Ne by taxi, bus or train running between the Vietnamese capital and Phan Thiet. The most convenient and expensive option is a taxi. Since the distance between the resort and the former Saigon is more than 200 km, the trip will cost VND 1,200,000 (approximately 5,700 RUB). However, if you haggle well, there is a chance to significantly reduce the price.

Traveling by bus will cost around 249,000 VND (about 640 RUB), but will last 5-5.5 hours. You can check the route schedule on the official website of the bus company. An option for the most economical is a train departing to the resort from Ho Chi Minh City Central Station. This trip lasts about 3.5 hours and costs from 94,000 VND ( seat in a general carriage) up to VND 1,300,000 (compartment). You can book tickets on the official website of the railway company, and it is better to do this in advance, since this route is very popular among the Vietnamese themselves.

Let's talk about two most popular resorts Vietnam - Mui Ne and Phan Thiet. What are they good about and what are the disadvantages of resorts? Here are reviews from tourists and prices for holidays in 2019.

Perhaps no resort has received such conflicting reviews from tourists as the Vietnamese Mui Ne (Phan Thiet). Some mercilessly scold it, others admire it and gladly recommend it for a visit. Let's try to understand the reasons for such mixed assessments.

Phan Thiet and Mui Ne:

Reviews of holidays in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet for 2018

Mui Ne and Phan Thiet are often identified with each other, although they are different settlements located nearby. Phan Thiet - provincial town with active street traffic and other joys of city life, and Mui Ne is a quiet fishing village. Most often, tourists call Mui Ne a multi-kilometer beach area with hotels and restaurants, stretching from Phan Thiet to the village.

The busiest area of ​​the resort is Ham Tien with Nguyen Dinh Chu street, on both sides of which there are hotels and restaurants, mainly on the first line. The beaches are equipped with umbrellas and sun loungers. The sand strip is wide, with fine white sand, but closer to the fishing village it narrows; by the way, hotels are cheaper there, but the beaches are worse.

The disadvantages of Mui Ne and Phan Thiet, according to reviews from tourists who vacationed there in 2018, include difficulties with the road: you need to fly to Ho Chi Minh City, and from there it takes a few more hours to get there by bus or taxi. But the main displeasure of some tourists was the sea. In Mui Ne most At times, the winds blow, high waves rise in the sea, and swimming takes on an extreme character. It’s better to go to the beach in the morning; after lunch, the excitement only intensifies. The sea becomes relatively calm only in spring.

For kite lovers, Mui Ne is a real haven; there are several good schools on the coast where beginners can undergo training and gain the necessary skills. In the evenings, the main entertainment for tourists is walking, shopping in souvenir shops and dinner on the seashore - seafood is excellent here. If beach holiday If you get bored, you can go on a tour of the surrounding area or go to Ho Chi Minh City or Dalat.

By the way, tourists who do not speak English will find it easy here - almost all signs and menus are in Russian, and the service staff is also often Russian-speaking. The second undoubted advantage of Mui Ne and Phan Thiet, according to reviews from tourists, is the affordable cost of vacation, although, when compared with Nha Trang, the prices here are slightly higher.

(Photo © n0r / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Weather in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet

The warm climate of Mui Ne allows you to relax here all year round, without fear of cold snaps and heavy rains. A natural belt formed around Mui Ne sand dunes, which create a special microclimate and protect the area from heavy rainfall. Even dangerous storms with floods bypass these places.

The average annual temperature in Mui Ne is +30°C with a slight “winter” drop to +25...+27°C. The warmest sea in summer is +27...+29°С, in winter it cools down to +24°С. The hottest months are May and April, the coldest months are . Nevertheless, many prefer to come.

The rains begin in June and continue until October, then dry and clear weather sets in. However, in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet, even in low season showers do not last long - usually in the afternoon and evening, the relative humidity remains at 79%.

According to tourist reviews about the weather in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet, in December - January, due to strong winds, it can be a little cool in the evenings, so jeans and windbreakers will be very useful. High waves rise on the sea. Read more about it - we talk about the weather in each month.

Holiday prices in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet in 2019

Of course, kitesurfers will get the most out of their holiday in Mui Ne, but non-sporting tourists also have something to do. There are many massage parlors (spas) here, treatments cost from 15 to 30 dollars.

Gourmets are waiting gastronomic pleasures: in the cafe you can order grilled fish, mussels, scallops, oysters, lobsters, as well as local exotics - crocodile or snake dishes. The best seafood is prepared in restaurants in the Boke area. The fresh catch is placed in the aquarium, and the guest orders what he wants. According to reviews, prices in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet are quite affordable - you can have lunch for only 5 dollars, dinner for 15 (in establishments for locals it will be even cheaper). A large glass of freshly squeezed juice costs just over $1.

(Photo © Tri Nguyen | P h o t o g r a p h y / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY 2.0)

In the vicinity of Mui Ne there are unique attractions that you can visit with a tour or on your own. Briefly, the top interesting places looks like that:

1. White and Red Dunes. These are the main attractions of Mui Ne and favorite place for photo sessions with newlyweds. The Red Dunes are easily accessible by renting a scooter, the White Dunes are located a little further. The Red Stream flows next to the Red Dunes - due to the admixture of clay, the water in it is colored red. Not far from the White Dunes there are hot springs and very beautiful lake with lotuses.
2. Cham towers. These towers are the surviving part of an ancient temple complex from the 8th century. Entrance fee is 10 thousand dong, or 50 cents. The towers look especially impressive in the evening when the lights turn on.
3. Ke Ga Lighthouse. A granite creation by a French architect and a very popular local landmark. The lighthouse is located on an island near Phan Thiet. To climb up observation deck, you will have to show physical endurance and overcome 182 steps inside the tower. There is an entrance fee - about 90 cents, and you also need to pay for the crossing to the island. According to reviews from tourists, in the winter of 2018, the area where the lighthouse is located was called a collapse zone and visitors were no longer allowed inside. Let's hope this is temporary.
4. Mount Taku. Located 30 km from Mui Ne. At the top there is a statue of the Reclining Buddha, the largest in the country. Its length is 49 meters, height - 11 m. You can climb the mountain by cable car or walk along the path through a tropical forest past temples and other monastic buildings. The cost of visiting with a cable car costs 160 thousand VND (7 dollars).

(Photo © ruben i / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY 2.0)

Hotel prices in 2019

On a note. If you are at a resort during the Vietnamese New Year, keep in mind that hotel prices rise dramatically and there are usually no rooms available - they are booked by the Vietnamese almost six months in advance. We encountered this when we lived in Nha Trang in the winter of 2016 - we had to leave for Ho Chi Minh City, since during Tet the hotel we lived in was overcrowded, and others cost 2-3 times higher than the regular price. Tet is celebrated in late January or early February.

How to book a hotel? You can find a convenient accommodation option for yourself on the well-known service Roomguru.ru - the site compares the prices of the most different systems booking and finds the best one.

In general, Mui Ne and Phan Thiet are a good alternative and (though you don’t need to wait for the service corresponding to Turkish resorts), a place for an inexpensive and relaxing holiday, where the main entertainment is walks, beach joys, gatherings in cafes and unobtrusive shopping. Nightlife enthusiasts and divers have nothing to do here - nightlife no, but due to constant waves the water is often mixed with sand, cloudy and opaque.

According to reviews from tourists, they are characterized by high waves and winds, so during this period you should not plan a vacation with children, but it is better to postpone it to March-April or November. At this time, the temperatures are the most comfortable, the sea is very warm, and the waves are small.

Kite lovers can go at any time of the year, because winds in Mui Ne are a common occurrence, but the best waves are here from November to March. Those who want to save on costs can safely go during the low season: prices in hotels and restaurants are reduced, and climatic conditions allow you to relax comfortably.

Compare Mui Ne and Phan Thiet with - so you can choose the best for yourself the best place for relax.

(Photo © tesKing / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Introductory image source: © isyaya / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Why do Russians love and hate Mui Ne so much? Read our review! Pros and cons of holidays in Mui Ne in 2019, prices for hotels, food and entertainment, the best attractions, the whole truth about the beaches and the resort.

Holidays in Mui Ne: what to expect from the resort

What does the resort look like?. If you are going on holiday to Mui Ne for the first time, it is important to know: Mui Ne is a fishing village on the cape where locals live. You will hardly see tourists there. Phan Thiet is Big City. But when they say that they are going on vacation to Mui Ne, they mean a multi-kilometer beach area between the fishing village and Phan Thiet. Its length is approximately 20 km. There is only one street along the coast, covered like shellfish with hotels and resorts, bokehs and restaurants, pharmacies and souvenir shops. This is where tourists live. In general, this is not a well-promoted resort with green, neat streets, but a tourist area cluttered with advertising and signs. Don't expect much.

Tourist opinions about Mui Ne. As in the case of Nha Trang, we put off visiting the resort for a long time due to the prevailing stereotype that it is a Russian ghetto. Reviews from tourists about holidays in Mui Ne are contradictory: from enthusiastic to devastating. We suspected the first of pursuing advertising purposes. These reviews were either paid for by hotels/travel agencies, or the people who wrote them lived in seclusion in a good resort and did not go beyond its boundaries - they paint a too rosy picture of a holiday at a resort. The latter are usually caused by a personal unpleasant history (robbed, deceived) or high expectations.

Why did we decide to visit Mui Ne? Here are some reasons:

1. The main thing is the attractions, namely the dunes. I love the desert and cosmic landscapes.
2. It was terribly interesting why the village is so stigmatized on the Internet and whether everything is really so bad - after all, with Nha Trang it turned out not to be as they said.
3. I wanted to close the gestalt, because we have visited almost all corners of Vietnam, but this village has still not been honored with a visit.

Closed bokeh, access to the seashore (no beach here).

Weather in Mui Ne

We stayed at the resort for only five days in January 2018. The forecast promised rain, but it was just cloudy. At first I was upset - how can I do it? beautiful photos the famous red and white dunes in this weather? Then I realized that we were incredibly lucky with the weather: we would not have known all the charm of the Fairy Creek and the dunes under the scorching sun.

So, about the weather. Thanks to the sand dunes, its own microclimate has formed. There are no sudden cold snaps, heavy rains or storms with floods. The rainy season is from June to October, but showers occur mainly in the evening and do not last long. The average air temperature is +30°C, in winter about +27°C. The water temperature in summer is +27...+29°С, and in winter approximately +24°С. May and April are the hottest. Recreation is popular.

We read in tourist reviews about the weather in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet that in winter it can be cool in the evenings due to winds. This is true, especially if you ride a bike in the evening. I was freezing and wore jeans with a shirt.

This is what the main street in Mui Ne looks like: countless cafes, bokehs, travel agencies.

How to get to Mui Ne

We traveled to Mui Ne from Ho Chi Minh City on a daytime slip bus. We chose the Hanh Cafe agency: they have departures even during the day, and not just at night, plus with their help. Sales agencies bus tickets there are many in Ho Chi Minh City - they are all lined up along Phạm Ngũ Lão Street. Choose any. Prices and departure times vary. We use Hanh Cafe and Sinh Tourist. Ticket price - from 110 thousand dong.

The bus passes through Phan Thiet and slowly drives along the beach, dropping off everyone along the way. The main thing is to show the name of the hotel to the driver or its location on the map.

What to see in Mui Ne

During our holiday in Mui Ne we visited several attractions:

Red Dunes. They are more orange or yellow-red, depending on the lighting. Tourists cluster on the few nearby dunes and mostly slide down on pieces of plastic. We went much further where there was no one. There was a feeling of complete isolation and calm. It is better to visit at sunset and in cloudy weather. It's very stuffy during the day.

Red dunes in Mui Ne. Plastic sledding is the main attraction here.

White Dunes. Very beautiful place, but tourists here are more active than on the red dunes - they ride ATVs, jeeps and pieces of plastic. Therefore there is noise and commotion. We again got away from people - it was wonderful. They arrive at sunset sightseeing buses. There are several lakes near the dunes. It seems that during the rainy season one of them is covered with blooming lotuses.

Picturesque white dunes near Mui Ne. Beautiful and unusual landscape.
On the white dunes, tourists ride ATVs and jeeps with the breeze.

Fairy Brook (Red Brook). Fairy Stream unexpectedly turned out to be a very impressive attraction! The landscapes are breathtaking, the place is soulful. We climbed up the sand into different gorges and looked at the stream from above, and also flew a drone - it was so beautiful there. In total we spent 4 hours in this place. You can get there both from the village and from the highway to Phan Thiet. The second entrance is good because it is clean, there are few tourists, entry is free, and the beauty of the places increases gradually. Parking - 5 thousand VND.

View from above of the fairy stream.
In addition to walking along the stream, you can climb the slopes of the canyon.

It has its own charm, but there is a lot of garbage. There were no people at all. It's unbearably hot during the day.

There are still a few attractions left in Mui Ne that we did not have time to see:

• Cham towers. They look like the Po Nagar towers in Nha Trang.
• Ke Ga Lighthouse.
• Mount Taku 30 km from the village. The views from it are picturesque. At the top is a statue of the Reclining Buddha.

Red Canyon near Mui Ne.

What are the prices in Mui Ne in 2019

Prices for food in cafes

Exchange rate: 10,000 Vietnamese dong (VND) ≈ 27 RUB.

We came here after Fukuoka, where the prices in the cafe were greatly inflated. Mui Ne seemed like a paradise for us in terms of food - everything was so cheap! In general, prices in the cafe are about the same as in Nha Trang.

Here are the prices for food using the example of the bokeh (seafood restaurant) Bo Ke Tho, where we dined every evening and tried almost the entire range:

Dish	Qty	Price
Grilled scallops	15 pcs	50,000 VND
Fried or stewed shark	1 PC	220,000 VND
Snake	1 PC	1,500,000 VND
Fried frogs	Some	120,000 VND
Grilled oysters	1 kg	120,000 VND
Crocodile steak	1 serving	150,000 VND
Ostrich steak	1 serving	200,000 VND
Fried red snapper	1 PC	200,000 VND
Fried or stewed turtle	1 PC	300,000 VND
Grilled eel	1 PC	220,000 VND
Squid		70,000-150,000 VND
Tiger chrimp	10 pieces	120,000 VND
Lobster	1 kg	1,200,000 VND
Rice with seafood	A portion	60,000 VND

Seafood at Bo Ka in Mui Ne. You choose the bastards that you like, and they will cook them for you right away. The seafood is fresh, almost still alive.
Kari soup in a cafe in Mui Ne.
Many places have menus in Russian, and often even one of the staff speaks Russian.

Hotel prices in Mui Ne - 2019

Jeeping in the White Dunes. The lines of the dunes are impeccable and beautiful - we admire them!

Pros and cons of holidays in Mui Ne

Why do many Russians come here time after time? What attracts them? Let's see what tourists like and what they are dissatisfied with.

Advantages of holidays in Mui Ne - 2019:

• interesting sights;
• delicious cheap seafood - there is hardly a place in the world where you can eat shellfish, shark, turtle and other marine life cheaper;
• inexpensive food;
• cheap kite and windsurfing lessons;
• suitable weather For active species sports;
• good roads - pleasant to ride a bike;
• there is almost no nightlife (for some this is a minus);
• many excursions, including to other cities - for example, Dalat or Nha Trang;
• for those who do not speak English, it’s good - almost everything is in Russian, some Vietnamese know the language.

If you live in a five-star resort and eat in expensive restaurants nearby, most likely you will not be affected by the resort's cons (except for rough seas, of course).

Beach in Mui Ne. Suitable for windsurfing only. Garbage and muddy water are not a “bounty” at all.

Minuses:

• unsuitable weather conditions for a beach holiday;
• garbage, dirt and unpleasant odors - the Vietnamese are not famous for cleanliness;
• general devastation;
• contingent;
• an abundance of advertising and ugly signs (design is unheard of here) - some may consider it a trifle, but this greatly spoils the appearance of the resort;
• long road from the airport;
• beaches are cleaned only at expensive resorts;
• locals are spoiled by tourists;
• the tourist zone is very extended, and it’s difficult without a bike (especially since there are not sidewalks everywhere);
• passages to the sea are either through wastelands and landfills, or through resorts - but they are unlikely to let you through.

About the sea and beaches. Some tourists write in reviews about nice beach and the gentle sea in Mui Ne. People, are you serious? We did not dare to enter this “gentle” sea. Maybe we were unlucky with the weather. And the beaches are cleaned only near the hotel; it’s better not to look outside this area.

About garbage. He's everywhere here. Along the roads, on the sidewalks, on the beach and in the sea, in vacant lots... But this is a problem throughout Vietnam.

About nightlife. We don't like bars, clubs, discos and generally crowds of people, especially drunk people. Therefore, we cannot say anything on this point. According to tourists, all nightlife is concentrated in the establishments of Dragon Beach, Sankara and Line Up Bar and Grill.

ABOUT appearance resort. When we passed the village on a slipbus, we were blinded by the neon colors. One gets an unpleasant impression from all these signs with a design from the 90s with inscriptions in Russian: “Dima Tours”, “Uzbek”, “Pharmacy”, etc. Have we arrived in Vietnam or where? Why spoil the resort like this?

This beach is located north of the village of Mui Ne; you need to go here by bike. It is spacious and quite clean, but the winds blow strong here.

Our impression and review of the holiday in Mui Ne

So, we think that it’s worth going to Mui Ne just for the sights, delicious inexpensive seafood and active rest. That's all. We are sincerely perplexed why beach lovers (especially with children) go to places where the wind is always blowing, dirty beaches and an unswimable sea. For the same money you can, where there are beaches and the sea, or. And even better - . But if you like Mui Ne, then go for it.

Phan Thiet (Mui Ne) is a South Vietnamese resort located on the shore South China Sea, which is located 200 km from the capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The population of the city itself is only 350 thousand people. Very often, when the resort of Phan Thiet Vietnam is mentioned, they mean Mui Ne. The tourist resort of Mui Ne is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Vietnam, it is not only a resort, but also a cape, and partly a peninsula, and the name of the city. Mui Ne Beach is located 22 km from the city of Phan Thiet and is essentially a small fishing village. Resort place are not the cities of Phan Thiet and Mui Ne themselves, but the coastal area between these two cities, the so-called Mui Ne Beach.

Mui Ne has a very funny story. There used to be a small fishing village here. The wind constantly blows from the neighboring desert, so kitesurfers and windsurfers settled in this place 15 years ago. The village has become overgrown with hotels and restaurants. And everything was good and cool, a youth party of surfers. But then they heard about Mui Ne in Russia and now hundreds package tourists go to hotels on the seashore in Mui Ne. The Vietnamese quickly caught on to the trick, learned a couple of Russian words and now Mui Ne tourist capital Vietnam.
But there is one peculiarity among Russian people: they do not like national identity and do not want to integrate into the local culture. Instead, they prefer to create their own community of Russian speakers and stick to it. And this attracts even more Russian speakers who want to earn extra money in Asia, serving other Russian tourists. As a result, all foreigners are simply blown away by such places because they don’t understand how South-East Asia"Asian Rus'" appeared. This has its own specifics: citizens of “Asian Rus'” live as visarans and hide their work from migration service, for many tourist season is a season of increased work load, the rest of the time you can master water sports and diving, get a certificate in order to serve a new batch of Russian tourists as an instructor next season. The crisis in Russia has led to a reduction in the number of people working remotely, but it has also increased the number of people wanting to earn dollars by working as a guide, tour guide, instructor, photographer, etc.

Phan Thiet, aka Mui Ne, as you understand, is very popular among Russian tourists. Restaurants on the coast have Russian menus, staff in hotels and street shops speak some Russian, you can see signs in Russian on the streets, and agencies sell Russian-language excursions. In a resort town Mui Ne you can even see broadcasts of Russian-language films in restaurants. The tourist area is located along the entire Mui Ne Beach, and hotels are located right on the beach.

When leaving the hotel, you will immediately see the snow-white mui ne beach. Beach Phan Thiet Mui Ne is public, each hotel has its own beach area, but it is not fenced, it is not forbidden to relax in any place you like. On Mui Ne beach developed infrastructure for tourists, but nightlife in the area Mui Ne Hardly ever. On the beach Mui Ne you can find a huge number of establishments: a local bar street with many cafes, bars, restaurants and massage parlors, and a little away from Mui Ne beach, You can visit natural, historical and cultural attractions. On the beach Mui Ne has everything for surfers and others aquatic species sports, and for lovers of sports on land, there is, for example, a golf course. Phan Thiet Mui Ne photo:

Mui Ne attractions on the map

What to visit in Vietnam Mui Ne? Phan Thiet, also known as Mui Ne, attracts surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers from all over the world. Phan Thiet-Mui Ne resorts are considered, compared to others in Asia, to be very attractive for sports, and some consider them the best. The most popular, famous and promoted resort in Vietnam is Nha Trang, while Phan Thiet is only slightly inferior to it. Many tourists are faced with a difficult choice: what to choose, Nha Trang or Mui Ne-Phan Thiet, while the first is more interesting for lovers of nightlife and entertainment than the second. Nha Trang is big city, in which hotels are located right within the city on the beach area, in Phan Thiet Mui Ne the beach is located some distance from big city, which, of course, is a big plus. Phan Thiet has more tourists and more young people who come here in search of the best surfing spot. Nha Trang is a resort city, and Phan Thiet, on the contrary, is a resort on the seashore. To decide for yourself which Vietnam resort you prefer, study the reviews about Nha Trang and Phan Thiet, and you will certainly find what you like. You can go on vacation to southern Vietnam all year round; the tourist season here never ends. The so-called “high season” in Nha Trang and Phan Thiet lasts from November to April, and during the Vietnamese New Year (in February) all the hotels and beaches are crowded with the Vietnamese themselves.

Phan Thiet weather now

We are talking about two of the most popular resorts in Vietnam - Mui Ne and Phan Thiet. What are they good about and what are the disadvantages of resorts? Here are reviews from tourists and prices for holidays in 2019.

Perhaps no resort has received such conflicting reviews from tourists as the Vietnamese Mui Ne (Phan Thiet). Some mercilessly scold it, others admire it and gladly recommend it for a visit. Let's try to understand the reasons for such mixed assessments.

Phan Thiet and Mui Ne:

Reviews of holidays in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet for 2018

Mui Ne and Phan Thiet are often identified with each other, although these are different settlements located next door. Phan Thiet is a provincial town with active street traffic and other joys of city life, and Mui Ne is a quiet fishing village. Most often, tourists call Mui Ne a multi-kilometer beach area with hotels and restaurants, stretching from Phan Thiet to the village.

The busiest area of ​​the resort is Ham Tien with Nguyen Dinh Chu street, on both sides of which there are hotels and restaurants, mainly on the first line. The beaches are equipped with umbrellas and sun loungers. The sand strip is wide, with fine white sand, but closer to the fishing village it narrows; by the way, hotels are cheaper there, but the beaches are worse.

The disadvantages of Mui Ne and Phan Thiet, according to reviews from tourists who vacationed there in 2018, include difficulties with the road: you need to fly to Ho Chi Minh City, and from there it takes a few more hours to get there by bus or taxi. But the main displeasure of some tourists was the sea. In Mui Ne, winds blow most of the time, high waves rise in the sea, and swimming becomes extreme. It’s better to go to the beach in the morning; after lunch, the excitement only intensifies. The sea becomes relatively calm only in spring.

For kite lovers, Mui Ne is a real haven; there are several good schools on the coast where beginners can undergo training and gain the necessary skills. In the evenings, the main entertainment for tourists is walking, shopping in souvenir shops and dinner on the seashore - seafood is excellent here. If you get bored with a beach holiday, you can go on a tour of the surrounding area or go to Ho Chi Minh City or Dalat.

By the way, tourists who do not speak English will find it easy here - almost all signs and menus are in Russian, and the service staff is also often Russian-speaking. The second undoubted advantage of Mui Ne and Phan Thiet, according to reviews from tourists, is the affordable cost of vacation, although, when compared with Nha Trang, the prices here are slightly higher.

(Photo © n0r / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Weather in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet

The warm climate of Mui Ne allows you to relax here all year round, without fear of cold snaps and heavy rains. A natural belt of sand dunes has formed around Mui Ne, which create a special microclimate and protect the area from heavy rainfall. Even dangerous storms with floods bypass these places.

The average annual temperature in Mui Ne is +30°C with a slight “winter” drop to +25...+27°C. The warmest sea in summer is +27...+29°С, in winter it cools down to +24°С. The hottest months are May and April, the coldest months are . Nevertheless, many prefer to come.

The rains begin in June and continue until October, then dry and clear weather sets in. However, in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet, even in the low season, showers do not last long - usually in the afternoon and evening, the relative humidity remains at 79%.

According to tourist reviews about the weather in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet, in December - January, due to strong winds, it can be a little cool in the evenings, so jeans and windbreakers will be very useful. High waves rise on the sea. Read more about it - we talk about the weather in each month.

Holiday prices in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet in 2019

Of course, kitesurfers will get the most out of their holiday in Mui Ne, but non-sporting tourists also have something to do. There are many massage parlors (spas) here, treatments cost from 15 to 30 dollars.

Gastronomic pleasures await gourmets: in the cafe you can order grilled fish, mussels, scallops, oysters, lobsters, as well as local exotics - crocodile or snake dishes. The best seafood is prepared in restaurants in the Boke area. The fresh catch is placed in the aquarium, and the guest orders what he wants. According to reviews, prices in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet are quite affordable - you can have lunch for only 5 dollars, dinner for 15 (in establishments for locals it will be even cheaper). A large glass of freshly squeezed juice costs just over $1.

(Photo © Tri Nguyen | P h o t o g r a p h y / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY 2.0)

In the vicinity of Mui Ne there are unique attractions that you can visit with a tour or on your own. Briefly, the top most interesting places look like this:

1. White and Red Dunes. These are the main attractions of Mui Ne and a favorite place for photo sessions for newlyweds. The Red Dunes are easily accessible by renting a scooter, the White Dunes are located a little further. The Red Stream flows next to the Red Dunes - due to the admixture of clay, the water in it is colored red. Not far from the White Dunes there are hot springs and a very beautiful lake with lotuses.
2. Cham towers. These towers are the surviving part of an ancient temple complex from the 8th century. Entrance fee is 10 thousand dong, or 50 cents. The towers look especially impressive in the evening when the lights turn on.
3. Ke Ga Lighthouse. A granite creation by a French architect and a very popular local landmark. The lighthouse is located on an island near Phan Thiet. To climb to the observation deck, you will have to show physical endurance and climb 182 steps inside the tower. There is an entrance fee - about 90 cents, and you also need to pay for the crossing to the island. According to reviews from tourists, in the winter of 2018, the area where the lighthouse is located was called a collapse zone and visitors were no longer allowed inside. Let's hope this is temporary.
4. Mount Taku. Located 30 km from Mui Ne. At the top there is a statue of the Reclining Buddha, the largest in the country. Its length is 49 meters, height - 11 m. You can climb the mountain by cable car or walk along a path through the tropical forest past temples and other buildings of the monks. The cost of visiting with a cable car costs 160 thousand VND (7 dollars).

(Photo © ruben i / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY 2.0)

Hotel prices in 2019

On a note. If you are at a resort during the Vietnamese New Year, keep in mind that hotel prices rise dramatically and there are usually no rooms available - they are booked by the Vietnamese almost six months in advance. We encountered this when we lived in Nha Trang in the winter of 2016 - we had to leave for Ho Chi Minh City, since during Tet the hotel we lived in was overcrowded, and others cost 2-3 times higher than the regular price. Tet is celebrated in late January or early February.

How to book a hotel? You can find a convenient accommodation option for yourself on the well-known service Roomguru.ru - the site compares prices of a variety of booking systems and finds the best one.

In general, Mui Ne and Phan Thiet are a good alternative and (though you don’t need to wait for the service corresponding to Turkish resorts), a place for an inexpensive and relaxing holiday, where the main entertainment is walks, beach joys, gatherings in cafes and unobtrusive shopping. Nightlife lovers and divers have nothing to do here - there is no nightlife, and due to constant waves, the water is often mixed with sand, cloudy and opaque.

According to reviews from tourists, they are characterized by high waves and winds, so during this period you should not plan a vacation with children, but it is better to postpone it to March-April or November. At this time, the temperatures are the most comfortable, the sea is very warm, and the waves are small.

Kite lovers can go at any time of the year, because winds in Mui Ne are a common occurrence, but the best waves are here from November to March. Those who want to save on cost can safely go during the low season: prices in hotels and restaurants are reduced, and climatic conditions allow you to relax comfortably.

Compare Mui Ne and Phan Thiet with - so you can choose the best place to relax.

(Photo © tesKing / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Introductory image source: © isyaya / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.