Mui Ne Sand Dunes
Đồi cát Mũi Né
The red dunes sit right by the village; the vast white dunes, with a lotus lake at their edge, are a 45-minute drive away. Go at sunrise before the sand gets hot.
Mui Ne & Phan Thiet
Mũi Né, Phan Thiết
Red and white sand dunes, kitesurfing winds and a fishing fleet at dawn.
- Region
- South · South Central Coast
- Province
- Lam Dong
- Best weather
- June, August, November–March
- In this guide
- 12 places · 3 dishes
Overview
The coast of former Binh Thuan province (now part of Lam Dong) is the sunniest and driest in Vietnam. Mui Ne, a long beach strip east of the city of Phan Thiet, built its reputation on two things: reliable wind, which made it one of Asia's top kitesurfing spots, and sand dunes that look borrowed from the Sahara.
Beyond the resort strip there is much more: a busy fishing harbour, the Cham towers of Po Sah Inu, rocky capes and lighthouses, and islands that are only now appearing on travellers' radar.
Mui Ne gets far less rain than the rest of the coast. November to April is dry and windy (kite season); May to October brings short afternoon showers and calmer seas.
Where to go
Fairy Stream
Suối Tiên
A shallow, ankle-deep stream winding between red and white sandstone formations. Walk it barefoot, upstream from the main road.
Mui Ne Fishing Village
Làng chài Mũi Né
At dawn the bay fills with round basket boats bringing in the night's catch. Watch the beach market and buy seafood straight off the boats.
Cu Lao Cau
Cù Lao Câu
An uninhabited island of strange wind-carved rocks and coral, reached by boat from Phuoc The. Go with a local tour; overnight stays are not allowed.
Phu Quy Island
Đảo Phú Quý
A remote island about 120 km offshore with clear water, coral reefs and very little tourism. Reached by ferry from Phan Thiet — plan for rough seas.
Ke Ga Cape
Mũi Kê Gà
A rocky cape crowned by one of Vietnam's oldest lighthouses, built by the French in 1899. At low tide you can walk out to the islet.
Co Thach Beach
Biển Cổ Thạch
A beach of smooth, multicoloured pebbles in the north of the area. In spring, green moss covers the rocks along the shore.
Po Sah Inu Towers
Tháp Poshanư
Three 8th-century Cham towers on a hill between Phan Thiet and Mui Ne, with views over the coast.
Ta Cu Mountain
Núi Tà Cú
A forested mountain south of Phan Thiet with a cable car to a pagoda complex and a 49-metre reclining Buddha.
Lady Waterfall
Thác Bà
A nine-tiered waterfall in the Ong Mountain nature reserve, inland in Tanh Linh district — a cool escape from the coast.
Doi Duong Beach
Đồi Dương
Phan Thiet's city beach, backed by a shady park of casuarina pines. Calm and shallow, popular with local families at sunset.
Sand Statue Park
Công viên tượng cát
An outdoor park of large sculptures carved from compacted sand, a fun stop for families.
What to eat
Local specialties worth seeking out in Mui Ne & Phan Thiet.
Banh can
Bánh căn
Little rice-flour pancakes cooked in clay moulds and eaten with fish sauce, fish meatballs or sardine sauce. Best in the evening from street stalls in Phan Thiet.
Banh canh
Bánh canh chả cá
Thick rice noodles in a fish broth with local fish cake. Phan Thiet's version is lighter and less sticky than elsewhere.
Fish salad
Gỏi cá mai
Raw anchovy-like mai fish cured in lime and tossed with toasted rice powder and herbs, wrapped in rice paper. Phan Thiet is also the home of fish sauce.
When to go
The most comfortable months for sightseeing in Mui Ne & Phan Thiet are usually June, August, November–March.
Hover a month for details. Compare with other places on the season calendar.
Vietnam season calendar arrow_forwardDaily temperature range (°C)
20°25°30°35°
Rainfall per month (mm)
0100200300
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Score
- Great
- Good
- Fair
- Wet / extreme
chevron_right Show as table
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Rain mm | Wet days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30.9 | 22.1 | 20 | 3 | Great |
| February | 31.7 | 22.4 | 6 | 1 | Great |
| March | 32.1 | 23.3 | 9 | 2 | Great |
| April | 32.7 | 24.9 | 36 | 7 | Good |
| May | 32.5 | 25.6 | 140 | 21 | Good |
| June | 32.0 | 25.2 | 148 | 22 | Great |
| July | 31.2 | 24.9 | 168 | 25 | Good |
| August | 31.6 | 24.8 | 148 | 24 | Great |
| September | 30.8 | 24.4 | 206 | 25 | Good |
| October | 30.3 | 24.0 | 200 | 22 | Good |
| November | 30.6 | 23.5 | 135 | 10 | Great |
| December | 30.6 | 22.5 | 61 | 7 | Great |
Averages for 2016-2025 from Open-Meteo (ERA5 reanalysis, CC BY 4.0). Model data can overstate light drizzle; treat wet-day counts as a guide. How the score works.
Getting there
About 3 hours from Ho Chi Minh City by road via the expressway, or by train to Phan Thiet station. Mui Ne beach is 15–20 km east of Phan Thiet.
Getting around Vietnam arrow_forwardPlan your stay in Mui Ne & Phan Thiet
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