The formerly little-inhabited beach south of the fishing village of Mui Ne proper has seen some serious development in the last 15 years. Now it is a 15 km long strip of resorts that line up like pearls on Nguyen Dinh Chieu street, shaded by coconut palms.

Mui Ne was my first stop of my 1-month long Vietnam trip; I jumped on a bus within an hour I landed in Mui Ne, which is the right choice. The long white sand beach, breezy climate, and cheap hostel were exactly what I needed after I finished my finals.

Now, let me share my Ultimate Mui Ne Guide with you!

General

Location

5.5 hours bus ride from Nha Trang and 5 hours away from Ho Chi Minh City.

Currency

Vietnamese Dong (VND). You can get 20,000 VND to 22,000 VND from $1 USD

Language

Vietnamese. Most of the hotels, restaurants, and attractions staffs speak English.

ATMs

Rumor says that there are 3 ATMs in Mui Ne, but I didn’t see any while I was there. So it might be a good idea to withdraw some cash in HCMC or Nha Trang before you hop on the bus!

Climate

The weather in Mui Ne is mostly sunny and breezy. It can get really hot during the day, so sunscreen is always a good idea!

Get In and Out & Ticket Office

By Bus

This is the most popular way for backpackers and locals to get into Mui Ne. Buses come from Nha Trang, Dalat and HCMC. You can buy a one-way ticket or an open-tour and hop off at Mui Ne. If you’re flying to HCMC, you can purchase the ticket at airport terminal or ticket offices on Pham Ngu Lao St.

Considering Mui Ne is a 10-kilometer strip, and all the hotels locate on the road, the bus will drop you off at the hotel or hostel. The same goes for when you’re leaving; the bus will pick you up.

I got my ticket at the airport after I collected my luggage, I saw a big sign says “MUINE.” I paid for my ticket and went to The Sinh Tourist’s Office to assign a seat. At the time, the staff asked where I will stay and told me that the bus would drop me off at the hostel. I then purchased my ticket to Dalat from my hostel and the bus picked me up the next day.

Ticket Office

The Sinh Tourist Office — For tours and bus tickets，144 Nguyen Dinh Chieu，Tel: (062) 384-7542，https://www.thesinhtourist.vn

Phuong Trang (Futa) — For bus tickets，20 Huynh Thuc Khang St，Tel: (062) 374-3113，http://futabus.vn/

Tam Hanh — For bus tickets，135 Nguyen Dinh Chieu，Tel: (062) 384-7560，http://www.tamhanhtravel.com/

Alternatively, most hostels and hotels provide bus ticket booking service; you can easily book the ticket at the front desk to save a trip. Or if you prefer certain bus company, you can ask them to call the ticket office and place an order.

Get Around

Walk

As I mentioned, Mui Ne is a 10-kilometer strip and everything a traveler needs is located on the street. If it’s not far, walking is the best way to reach your destination!

Motorbike & Bicycle For Rent

This is a popular choice since it offers complete independence. It will be the easiest to rent one from your hotel since they already have your passport.

It is important to wear a helmet to protect yourself if you’re driving a scooter. Though the traffic is light in Mui Ne, with all the tourist buses, trucks, and drivers who don’t obey the traffic rules, it’s still dangerous to drive especially during peak hours and at night. So drive with caution!

Taxi

Easily found outside of hotels, bars, and restaurants.

Xe Om (Motorbike Taxi)

They’re everywhere in Mui Ne and they will find you even before you start to look for them! Usually costs 20,000 VND to get somewhere on Nguyen Dinh Chieu. The rates will be much higher if it’s late.

You can bargain with the driver to get a lower price! Make sure you and the driver both agree to a price before hopping on the scooter!

Where to Stay

Mui Ne Backpacker Village
Dorm room from $6 | Private room from $22

This place offered both private and dorm rooms. I chose the 6-bed dorm room. The room itself was huge, plenty of space for luggage and personal belongings. Single bed instead of bunk beds (love it!) There are only three toilets and showers for women, so make sure to plan your shower time ahead to avoid the crowd.

The best part about this hostel is the giant pool and the beautiful outdoor space! Everything is cheap here, and everyone is here for a good time. I enjoyed my stay here very much!

This place will be perfect for those who’re looking for cheap accommodation to relax, chill in the pool, drink beer, and get tanned. The bar plays music LOUD til midnight and lots of guests party till then. So if you’re a light sleeper or looking for a quiet and peaceful place, this may not be for you!

If you get the 4-bed dorm, it’s ensuite! Saves you the trouble of waiting in line to shower!

Mui Ne Hills Budget Hotel

Dorm room from $5 | Private room from $22

Just when I thought one outdoor pool was heavenly enough, this hotel offers two outdoor pools. Can you imagine that? Staying in a hotel located on sand dunes and enjoying the view of Mui Ne Bay.

This place offers DJ, pool tables, beer pong, game nights, volleyball, and much more. It will be perfect for solo or young travelers to make new friends here!

Pandanus Resort

Four stars | Private room from $87

Opened in May 2004, the Pandanus Resort is the only resort in Vietnam that offers a complete all-inclusive program. Pandanus Resort is also large enough to give guests that distinct feeling of freedom and independence.

This is the perfect mid-range budget hotel to stay while pampering yourself!

Aroma Beach Resort

4.5 stars | Private room from $106

Nestled along the sandy beaches, Aroma Beach Resort & Spa in Mui Ne offers an exceptional holiday retreat to enjoy southern Vietnam. The most luxurious hotel in Mui Ne.

This hotel isn’t only famous for its professional staff, cuisine, and rooms, it’s also well-known for its spa services.

Where to Eat

Sinbad Restaurant

233 Nguyen Dinh Chieu | opposite Pogo Club

A restaurant that serves delicious kebabs. This place is voted the #1 restaurant in Mui Ne! Must try. It’s also a perfect place to find late night snacks as it opens till 1 a.m!

Cay Bang

2-4 Nguyen Dinh Chieu

Fresh seafood priced by weight! Hostel staff told me about the place and I had a fabulous dinner there!

Sandals Restaurant and Bar

24 Nguyen Dinh Chieu | Mia Resort Mui Ne

The restaurant belongs to Mia Mui Ne, the most luxurious hotel in the area. I didn’t stay there, but I visited the restaurant once. Food is creative and very Instagram-worthy!

Lam Tong Restaurant

92 D Nguyen Dinh Chieu

The hostel staff recommended this place, about 5 minutes walk from Backpacker Village.

It’s on the beach, I could feel the sand going through my toes while eating. Enjoying fresh seafood, drinking ice cold beer, and watching the sunset are the perfect way to have dinner in Mui Ne.

Food is fantastic, in my opinion, they have the best pho. The price is super cheap, and don’t expect good service!

Where to Drink & Nightlife

Pogo Beach Bar & Grill

138 Nguyen Dinh Chieu

It’s usually quiet in the afternoon, but as soon as the sun goes down and people rush in, this place turns into a massive outdoor party!

It doesn’t matter if it’s crowded or not, this place has great food, drinks and a western setup that will allow you to enjoy Mui Ne’s beach.

Joe’s Cafe

86 Nguyen Dinh Chieu

Live music at the front and a secluded sea view at the back. Great place to hang out and socialize! Also suitable for larger groups.

Dragon Beach Bar & Lounge
120/1 Nguyen Dinh Chieu

During the day, you can lay in a bed to work on your tan or sit in a beanbag and read a book. During the night, there are 2 bars and 2 party areas for you to get loose.

Sankara Club and Beach Bar
78 Nguyen Dinh Chieu

Another beautiful venue located on the beach. There’s even a pool, or if you prefer to swim in the ocean, both are possible here.

It’s not cheap here, but compared to the upscale decor and all the delicious cocktails, it seems fair.

What to See & Activities

There are not too many things to see in Mui Ne. I stayed for 4 days there, most of the time I just found a new place to drink after lunch, then jumped into the ocean to freshen up, had dinner and headed out to clubs.

I didn’t do much, but I had a great time in Mui Ne. I think the selling point of Mui Ne is the beautiful beaches, not too many tourists and everything is cheap.

However, there are still some activities to do, if not drinking.

Take a Walk to See the Fairy Stream
It’s a pleasant short walk to see a small waterfall. It was sad to see all the garbage and plastic around the spot.

If you don’t have anything to do, this is a great activity to kill some time!

Wear flip flops because your feet are going to get wet!

Hop on a Jeep and Ride to Sand Dunes
Sign up for a tour and ride a jeep to see the strange landscape. It was weird to see a Sahara-like place right next to the ocean.

You can choose between sunrise tour or sunset. However, you don’t need to sign up for a tour to get into the park, bring some spare cash for the entry fee!

Visit Cham Tower and Learn about Champa Empire
Po Sha Inu Tower is a derelict remainder of the ancient Cham culture that was built in the 8th century.

Visit Mui Ne Fishing Village in the Early Morning
Every morning, fishers bring the freshly caught seafood to the shore. This is a great opportunity to peek into the local’s life.

Join a Cooking Class
Take a tour to the market, buy fresh ingredients, cook it and enjoy the meal! What’s a better way to spend half a day?

Try Kite Surfing at Jibe’s Beach Club
The original surfing school that offers lessons and gear rentals. Service includes windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfboard and much more surfing related stuff.