The Mui Ne resort area stretches between the village of Mui Ne and the city of Phan Thiet, which in itself can serve as a rather interesting place to get acquainted with Vietnamese history and culture. The picturesque harbor, surrounded by parklands, is ideal for a walk.
In the center of the city there is a water tower - the symbol of Binh Thuan province. The most interesting place in Phan Thiet is the Temple of Kit, which houses the largest skeleton of this animal in Vietnam, 22 m long, as well as a hundred skeletons of both whales and other inhabitants of the sea. Fishermen on the shores of Vietnam still believe that the whale is a sea deity, the ruler of storms, on whose favor their return to the coast depends.
Fairy Stream
This is perhaps the only natural attraction located in the resort area itself, not far from the village of Mui Ne. This is a tiny canyon, washed in a multi-colored sandstone rock by a small rivulet that flows into the sea. A walk up the river for a couple of kilometers leads to a small but picturesque waterfall.
Red and White dunes
Pink (aka Red) dunes are a couple of minutes drive from Mui Ne Beach. The dunes are called Pink for the color of the sand. Climbing the hills, you can admire the panorama of the bay, and then descend from the dune on the "ice", as from a snowy mountain. Children like this "attraction" very much, the "ice" can be rented from local residents. Next to the Pink Dunes is the Pink (aka Red) Canyon. In addition to the Pink Dunes, there are also White Dunes - again, named for the color of the sand. They are farther than Pink - 40 km from Mui Ne. Here you can ride down the mountain again, and then go to Trang Lake, densely overgrown with pink lotuses. The lotuses bloom in the second half of the year. It is worth looking at the unique Red Canyon - the photos are fantastic.
Cham towers
Not far from Phan Thiet there is a complex of religious buildings dating back to the era of the Cham state. It was built at the turn of the 8th - 9th centuries A.D., only three towers have survived to this day. A small cultural center is open next to the temples, where you can get acquainted with traditional crafts and buy works of masters.
Reclining buddha statue
A religious complex is located on Mount Ta Ku, an hour's drive south of Phan Thiet. Its main structures are two Buddhist pagodas, erected at the end of the 19th century, and an imposing statue of the reclining Buddha, turning into nirvana. The sculpture is 49 m long and 11 m high: this is the largest reclining Buddha in Vietnam. On the way to Mount Ta Ku, you can admire the plantations of pitahaya, or "dragon's eyes", which are also considered a kind of local landmark.
Ke Ga lighthouse
On a small rocky island of Ke Ga, 30 km south of Phan Thiet, rises a lighthouse, which is considered the oldest and highest in Vietnam. It was built by the French at the end of the 19th century from granite blocks brought from the metropolis. The height of the building is 64 m above sea level. It is curious to climb the spiral staircase to the very top and view the surroundings from a height. To get to the island, you need to negotiate with local fishermen or wait for low tide and walk to it.
Phan Thiet is one of the most popular resorts in VietnamThe correct name of the resort is Phan Thiet, but due to some inconvenience in pronunciation in the Russian segment of the Internet, Phan Thiet "stuck" (sometimes you can find the Phan Thiet variant). But our travelers, who have recently discovered this tourist destination, are of little interest in such grammatical subtleties, because the main thing here is the sun, sea and beaches, on which the correct pronunciation certainly does not affect in any way. They delight tourists all year round, and the conditions for recreation, including active ones, are created here for the most optimal, practically not inferior to other popular resorts.
The 350 thousandth Phan Thiet is not only a tourist center, but also an administrative center, it is the capital of Binh Thuan province. The city, divided into 18 communes, is located 200 km from Ho Chi Minh City, so many travelers, despite this, though not too long, but still the distance, combine rest on local beaches with an excursion trip to the former Saigon. There are not so many attractions at the resort itself, but they are original in their own way, they are distinguished by a truly Asian flavor, and domestic tourists are happy to get acquainted with them, carefully study and take pictures for memory.
Phan Thiet is a great place not only for beach activities, but also for water sports. There are also numerous shops where you can buy souvenirs. As the sun goes down, the nightlife begins. In Phan Thiet, it does not have the same scope as in large resort cities, but you are guaranteed a great mood. And the hospitable Vietnamese are happy to treat tourists with national seafood dishes. In short, a vacation spent here, even if it is short, will saturate every vacationer with energy, health, vivid emotions and unforgettable impressions for the whole year ahead!
Geographic features and climate
The Sa Tu river flows through Phan Thiet and flows into the sea. She divides it into two districts. The banks are connected by a cable-stayed bridge called Chan Hung Dao. In general, the local coastal landscape is characterized by two types of relief. The first is distinguished by the presence of sand dunes and beaches, the second is characterized by plains, which stretch along the rivers in a narrow strip. More elevated areas are slightly less common.
The main and undoubted advantage of Phan Thiet is a unique microclimate favorable for recreation. The rainy season in the classical sense is absent here. For comparison: while the central regions of Vietnam in August-February are literally flooded with tropical downpours, often accompanied by typhoons, the south of the country, to which Phan Thiet belongs, enjoys the gentle sun all year round. Of course, precipitation is also not complete (after all, this is not the Sahara Desert), but they occur only in July-August. It rains short, no more than two to three times a week.
The air temperature rarely drops below 20 degrees with a plus sign. The average monthly temperature indicator is + 27 ... + 33 ° С. Moisture readings vary between 79-81%. The water warms up to + 26 ... + 28 degrees. The best time to visit Phan Thiet is November-March. April is the hottest month at the resort, and this circumstance should be taken into account by those who do not tolerate heat and high humidity, especially due to health problems. The heat recedes somewhat only during the rainy season.
The history of Phan Thiet
Phan Thiet territorially refers to the area that in the Middle Ages belonged to the Hindu Kingdom of Champa (or Champa), which included 15 principalities. Subsequently, the Vietnamese troops invaded here from the north, and when in 1692 this area was captured by the latter, King Nguyen Phuc Chu gave it the name Binh Thuan Dinh.
The Nguyen Dynasty ruled the South Vietnamese lands during the revived Le Dynasty, until 1777. During this period, clashes with the armed formations of the Teishon dynasty took place here. With the founding of the French Indochina colony in October 1887, which also included the territory of modern Vietnam, economic growth began. Phan Thiet, however, he avoided. Even at the beginning of the 20th century, when neighboring Nha Trang had already begun to be famous as a seaside resort, it still remained a small and inconspicuous town.
Before leaving for the metropolis, that is, France, the founder of the local Communist Party and the first president of independent Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, worked in Phan Thiet. Then the future leader of the August 1945 revolution against the French and Japanese invaders was still a simple school teacher who taught Chinese along with his native language. And during the Vietnam War, during the period of full-scale intervention in the US conflict (1965-1973), an American air base was quartered in Phan Thiet. Today, an old abandoned airfield is located on this site; the authorities are considering the possibility of building a passenger airport here.
The history of Phan Thiet as a world-famous resort began relatively recently, twenty years ago. Interestingly, the starting point of this new stage in its development was ... a total solar eclipse, which attracted everyone's attention. On December 24, 1995, thousands of Vietnamese, including tourists, came here to look at this unique natural phenomenon. In the same year, the first hotel was built in the city, in which fans of windsurfing and kitesurfing settled. They appreciated the opportunities available in Phan Thiet for water sports and began to advertise them everywhere, as they say. The flow of tourists was not long in coming ...
Attractions Phan Thiet
Phan Thiet, located not far from the picturesque sea coast, has long attracted the attention of numerous travelers who walk for hours along its streets, and these walks in no way get bored - rather, on the contrary. They generate even more interest in local history and related attractions. We will not exaggerate if we say that the ancient city cannot leave anyone indifferent.
Phan Thiet's trademark is the local water tower, built in 1934 as a storage tank. For its direct purpose, she served as much as half a century. The height of the building, which today looks more like a fortress with a flag, is more than 30 meters, which corresponds to the "growth" of a seven-story building. There is nothing inside the water tower, surrounded by majestic palm trees and original stone paths. True, at one time a museum was located here. Due to its size, it often serves as a reference point for lost tourists. Foreigners love to be photographed next to her - like with the Eiffel Tower in Paris or Big Ben in London.
One of the most famous ancient monuments in Phan Thiet is the Cham Towers. It is a complex of three buildings dating back to the 7th century. Two of them are integral, that is, there is no way to get inside. But in the third, hollow, you can get, which is what curious tourists use, studying it with interest from the inside. The towers in the past were part of larger buildings that symbolized the power of the Cham Empire that existed in Vietnam in the early Middle Ages, but the latter have not survived to this day.
Another favorite place for tourists is Mount Taku, not far from which there is a statue of the Reclining Buddha. The mountain is low, just under 700 meters, and is often used as a natural observation deck, from which stunning views of the Phan Thiet surroundings open up. You can climb Taku both on foot and by funicular, which is a sight in itself. The 49-meter Reclining Buddha is very clearly visible from here (by the way, his statue is the largest in the country). After exploring the surroundings, you can indulge in gluttony - in the best sense of the word: right at the top of the mountain there is a restaurant where you can relax and have a snack after an exciting excursion.
If you want to get to know the local nature better, then welcome to Fairy Creek - one of the most important attractions in Phan Thiet and all of Vietnam. Locals call it "red stream" or "magic river". This small, let's say, body of water can be easily wade through, as it is mostly shallow. It is a pleasure to walk in these picturesque places! The nature here is incredibly beautiful, it is quiet and calm around, because the stream is located far from all the "noise" of civilization. Walking along the coast, you will see a kind of waterfall, from which the stream, in fact, begins.
Phan Thiet boasts its own Fish Sauce Factory, which has existed for more than half a century, and produces products of the highest quality with world renown. The workers of the enterprise have in their arsenal only a special concrete barrel, in which the process of grinding raw materials, that is, fish, takes place. The second stage is the exposure of the resulting mass under the open sun, which continues for quite a long time. Then it is processed, turning into the very sauce. The sanitary conditions here, frankly, are not the most optimal, and the old fishy smell does not at all create a holiday for the sense of smell, but tourists are drawn to the factory in Phan Thiet like a magnet.
During the excursion, experts will tell you about old technologies for making fish sauce and even show them in action. You can also taste the product itself. It, it turns out, comes in different varieties, also differing in aging time. Fishermen, many of whom have been working here for ten years, are happy to share with tourists the secrets of good fishing. They are often asked how fresh is the fish going into production? Answer: only the freshest! There is no reason to doubt this, since the Fish Sauce Factory is located right on the ocean shore.
The Fisherman's Harbor, which is also a landmark of Phan Thiet, is also not distinguished by its sanitary well-being. There are a lot of boats and rafts here, and since it is quite large - 5 km in length, there are also quite large motor ships used to transport the catch. Vacationers love to visit this place for several reasons. Firstly, here you can buy the freshest fish at a low price. Secondly (this refers more to romantics), there is an excellent sunrise on the harbor. And, of course, many people want to take great pictures in memory of the trip to Phan Thiet and chat with sailors who are happy to tell interesting stories from life.
Everyone has heard about the lighthouses, but the Ke Ga lighthouse is special among them, you will not see such a thing anywhere else. This is a real work of art! Situated on an island with picturesque nature, it proudly rises above the surrounding area, having long become a favorite of travelers. It is not difficult to get to this 60-meter colossus: a short distance separates it from the mainland, and the fishermen will quickly bring you there. The lighthouse is perfectly visible from the shore, admiring its architectural design, unusual for Asia. On an excursion to the sights, the caretaker will invite you to climb to the very top, from which unique seascapes open up, which you can enjoy endlessly.
Come to Phan Thiet and not see the famous Lotus Lake? Be sure to visit this romantic place. There are actually three lakes, the names of which from Vietnamese can be translated as “male”, “female” and “mango”. All together they, including small lakes and ponds around, form a whole conglomeration. Lovers often come here to admire the blooming lotuses and just take a walk - especially in the evening, at sunset, indulging in the brightest dreams. But don't even risk swimming. Water procedures in the Lotus Lake are fraught with risks due to the fact that there are a lot of algae, in which it is easy to get entangled and you can not get out.
Another attraction of Phan Thiet is the pitahaya (or pitahaya) plantations. Most often they are located along country roads leading to villages. The plant is inconspicuous in appearance, resembling a cactus. Many people do not even know that it gives delicious fruit, which has a common English name dragon fruit ("dragon fruit"). In the Russian-language media, pitaya is sometimes called "dragonfruit". Local gardeners specially cultivate it and can tell a lot about how to properly care for this rather whimsical plant.
Beaches and entertainment
Phan Thiet is not only and not so much attractions as magnificent beaches. It was they who earned him worldwide fame. The most famous beach stretches to the northeast of the city. It is called Mui Ne, and it is washed by the waters of the bay of the same name. Just imagine: the beach area with clean and fine sand stretches for as much as 15 kilometers! As a matter of fact, Mui Ne is an ordinary fishing village, and when it comes to beaches, we mean the stretch of coastline between it and Phan Thiet. It has its own name: Mui Ne Beach. It is here that the entire infrastructure is concentrated: expensive hotels and budget guesthouses, cafes and shops. The peculiarity of these places is that when the rainy season "rages" in neighboring Nha Trang or another famous resort - Hoi An, here the sea responds to it only by raising waves, which windsurfers immediately jump on.
Local beaches are well equipped: there are sun loungers, boards and kites for surfing and kiting can be rented. As for the quality of the beaches of Phan Thiet, some believe that it leaves much to be desired, while others claim that they are magnificent in their snow-white. The truth, as usual, is in the middle: the sand cannot be called completely white, and it is also very fine - like flour. The weather sometimes loves to joke: the wind raises waves, and they, in turn, carry various garbage to the coast. Another disadvantage is the lack of palm trees near the water itself, as in many "promoted" resorts. However, there are still more advantages here, and the main one is the best conditions for practicing water sports.
Golf is also a popular pastime in Phan Thiet. Fans of this exciting game flock to the Ocean Dunes Golf Club, which has 72 routes and 18 holes. Well, in the evening, not only fans of active sports, but also all tourists have the opportunity to plunge into the nightlife of Phan Thiet. There are several nightclub bars at your service, where you can listen to both electronic and live music. Some of these establishments are Wax Bar and Dragon Beach (the first is on the beach, the second has access to the beach), DJ Station, Show Club and Ocean Repyblic.
Shopping in Phan Thiet
Nightlife in Phan Thiet, as we said above, is devoid of that dose of adrenaline to which travelers are accustomed to in Western capitals, so shopping remains one of the most favorite pastimes of tourists. Here, as in all of Vietnam, you can buy consumer goods at the lowest prices. In Phan Thiet there is a large selection of clothing items, shoes. The attention of Russians is often riveted to local textile products: products made from natural silk are a real exclusive! The widest range of fabrics and products made from this material can be found in local markets, where prices are lower than in stores.
On the main street of the resort - Nguyen Dinh Hieu, which runs parallel to the sea, you will find many shops and souvenir shops. There are also cafes, restaurants, bars and stalls, where lively sellers vying with each other offer exotic goods, for example, mangosteen, pitaya fruits, longan and such a specific fruit as durian. Its smell is so disgusting that in public places in Phan Thiet you can see special signs prohibiting entry into the room with these fruits resembling hedgehogs. But if you overcome their "aroma" and taste the pulp, then you immediately begin to understand where the expression "king of fruits" came from. His taste is simply divine!
What do you think would be the most recognizable souvenir from Phan Thiet in Russia? Of course, the famous flip flops. In markets and souvenir shops, these shoes are presented in huge numbers. The main thing is, do not forget to try it on before buying, since local dimensional grids differ from Russian ones. But the most, perhaps, an unusual purchase could be a product made of real crocodile skin: handbags, wallets or belts. The prices for goods made from this natural material are quite high and ordinary Vietnamese often cannot afford them, but our tourists buy. And not because Russians are very rich. The fact is that crocodile skin (including snakeskin) in socialist Vietnam is two to three times cheaper than in Russia.
From Phan Thiet, travelers also bring tea and coffee, rum and other alcoholic beverages, as well as high-quality sunscreen products (creams and sprays), which can be useful at home so as not to burn under the scorching rays, for example, in the summer at the dacha. We recommend that you look at the pharmacies of Phan Thiet, where you will find various ointments and herbal preparations. Especially popular is the Cobratox ointment containing cobra venom and is excellent for osteochondrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In an ordinary Russian pharmacy, you certainly cannot buy this.
Phan Thiet also has its own large supermarket "SOOR Mart", which Russian tourists jokingly call "USSR". On the first floor, there is a grocery line, household goods, hygiene products, cosmetics, on the second - basic necessities, clothes, shoes. It is worth looking into the children's department: in the assortment you will find high-quality and inexpensive things for a child.
If you have bought so many things that you cannot carry away, then it is better to use the services of a taxi. Catching the cherished car in the city is not a problem, it is also easy to recognize it, it is white and green. When getting into a taxi, make sure the driver turns on the meter. The landing fee is 10 thousand VND, which is equivalent to about 28 Russian rubles.
Phan Thiet Accommodation
Numerous hotels and hotels where vacationers stay are scattered along the entire coast, from Phan Thiet to the Mui Ne Peninsula. Most of the local hotels, which are whole complexes with a well-groomed territory and a high level of service, offer tourists accommodation in villas or bungalows. Each hotel has its own beach, where sun loungers and umbrellas are given to vacationers for free.
One of the very first hotels built in the resort is the four-star Victoria Resort, which offers its guests SPA services. Those who want to save money on accommodation can choose hotels with three stars - for example, Bamboo Village, Swiss Village, Palmira Resort or The Beach. They are small, but their location is good, and the service is good.
How to get there
The resort city of Phan Thiet does not have its own air harbor, so from Moscow you can only fly to the airports of neighboring Nha Trang or Ho Chi Minh City. Travel time is about ten hours.
Tourists traveling on their own most often fly to Ho Chi Minh City, and from there get to Nha Trang by land transport. From the former Saigon, you can get to Phan Thiet directly. By taxi, a distance of 200 km is covered in 4-5 hours, the trip will cost $ 80. To save money, tourists travel with a company, dividing the cost among all.
A bus trip on the Ho Chi Minh City-Phan Thiet route will cost significantly less, from $ 6 to $ 8 per person, the journey time is approximately six hours. Since the resort has its own railway station (located on the outskirts of the city), many people prefer the train: departure from Ho Chi Minh City at 6:55 and 16:45.
Tour operators usually offer this route: first by plane to Nha Trang, and then a free transfer to Phan Thiet.
UPD. An article about a vacation in Mui Ne was written a hundred years ago. Now I would not be so categorical. There are also pluses: fresh seafood, low prices, beautiful nature, sea (you can't always swim, but it is there!). One day I will return to Mui Ne and rewrite the post, but for now I ask you not to be offended if the text caused you negative emotions. Vietnam is cool!
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I will share my impressions, reviews, show a photo and tell you about what the popular resort of Phan Thiet in the south of Vietnam and its “offshoot” Mui Ne, which is affectionately known by the people as “Mui Ne”, is a favorite hangout place for kitesurfers and Russian package tourists.
Prices for tours to Vietnam ↓
But first, the background. Oh, how long have I not written backstories! If you are interested in practical information, you can go directly to the desired place in the article by clicking on the link:
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Was Vietnam in my life? Probably it was, since the old passport has a stamp on entry on a Vietnamese visa, bought for $ 77 in the center of Vientiane, Lao. I am with 70 men to travel around the country. With all my heart I wanted to travel from north to south in a month and see authentic villages, national parks and deserted beaches, which I had read about.
Now, when I love and be loved by a wonderful adequate person, it is difficult for me to understand the motives that moved me in that period of my life. What made me abandon the planned route in one night, buy two plane tickets for my own money and follow to noisy Mui Ne where I didn’t want to go?
Part of the passion I wrote about earlier. But, to be completely honest, the driving force was the sudden fear of being left alone and the progressive self-doubt at that time. It was in such a strange state that I found myself at night on the streets of Vietnamese Mui Ne. A place that did not fit into my format, and into which I did not fit in any way.
But the fact remains. I arrived in Mui Ne, stayed there for several days, and then hastily left the resort. In keeping with the best traditions. At night.
Visiting foreign backpackers, who were mistakenly brought into Mui Ne by the finger of fate, curse and also try to make their legs as soon as possible, after which they heal the received mental wounds with bottles of beer in Saigon, where, sitting in the evening on small blue chairs in the Pham Ngu Lao area, they pour their exciting stories about adventures in "russian ghetto" in the ears of those who, for some reason, are planning to go to Mui Ne, having read about the resort in the guidebook.
If at this moment, as if by the way, say something like “By the way, my mother tongue is Russian”, in response you can hear only sad “I’m very sorry. D'you wanna beer? I invite ”.
It's not that foreigners don't like Russians, but rather they are shocked by the surroundings of Mui Ne. A person simply cannot expect to come to Vietnam and find himself in the Russian 2000s. Nowadays, you don't really need to go to Russia to hear Alla Pugacheva and Nikolai Baskov shouting their wonderful songs all over the street.
All this is right on the main street in Mui Ne along with borscht, dumplings, sour cream and smiling Vietnamese who are trying to sell you a dragonfruit for $ 3 apiece and say, “This is deseva, madam! Autumn deseva! "
To be honest, Mui Ne is one of those rare places on Earth that I do not like and where I do not want to return for any price. In this article I will try to talk about the resort impartially and note the main pros and cons that caught my eye.
You will say that everything was written a long time ago. Yes but not all. What they write about Mui Ne is more often a lie and custom nonsense copied by copywriters from other copywriters who have never been to Vietnam.
The very first tab on the request of MUI ne led me to the website of the travel agency "Rainbow", which says that "Phan Thiet is perfect for families with children, because there are comfortable beaches" and that Cape MUI ne is, it turns out, an ideal place for a quiet recreation. Yea Yea. How!
Let at least my dear readers learn the truth from me, since the agency "Rainbow" and others like them are not assistants in this.
The secret of the popularity of Mui Ne and Phan Thiet
Mui Ne was once a simple village in the south of Vietnam. The fishermen were unhurriedly fishing for fish and shellfish on their small boats-basins, the sun rose every day at 5.30 in the morning and set below the horizon at 6 in the evening.
Like 1000 years ago, the times of dusk and dawn in Vietnam are the same today. Just like 100 years ago, the streets of the village are now filled with the intoxicating smell of fish sauce. But something has changed and continues to change.
The wind blows constantly from the desert. In the early 2000s, this very wind brought the first kitesurfers and windsurfers to Mui Ne. Since then, the once deserted shores south of the fishing village began to be actively built up with hotels and concrete houses.
Even 5-7 years ago, mainly surfers and kitesurfers traveled to Mui Ne. During the day, the guys skated, and in the evening they got drunk and glued the girls in several local bars. A sort of party "for their own". It was possible to live cheaply and have fun all winter with kite friends.
But one day large Russian travel companies found out about Mui Ne. The monsters of the travel industry have explored the potential and started selling organized tours to a godforsaken village in southern Vietnam.
The Vietnamese know how to adapt, so they quickly learned Russian, raised the prices for housing and fruit and turned the vicinity of Mui Ne into the tourist capital of Vietnam, giving the sprawling resort the proud French name Phan Thiet.
View of the coast from the observation deck 
Fishing boats-basins 
Boats from which to catch marine life, which tourists love so much 
Beach in the morning Mui Ne and Phan Thiet beaches
Mui Ne and Phan Thiet are located 7 km from each other on the coast of the South China Sea. Tourists with a higher travel budget settle in Phan Thiet. There are more expensive hotels and prices in cafes are higher than in Mui Ne. Those with a modest travel budget tend to find accommodation closer to the fishing village.
These resorts smoothly flow into one another and represent a strip of beaches 15 km long, along which there are hotels. From more expensive to less expensive.
There are wild beaches to the north of Mui Ne that can only be reached by bike. Some of them do not even have a road and you have to drive along the sand along the sea.
Despite the fact that Phan Thiet and Mui Ne are positioned as resorts for family beach holidays, swimming there is very problematic, especially with small children.
The sea is dirty and violent. You can swim only in the morning, at lunchtime there are big waves, it is uncomfortable to lie on the shore, because the sand blown by the wind unpleasantly cuts the skin
Why go to Mui Ne people who do not ride is a mystery to me. There is only one explanation - tours are inexpensive, in the offices of tour operators hang noodles on their ears, that's why people go
Hotels in Phan Thiet and MUI ne
Waves on the beach
Wild beaches 
Poisonous boat on the sand Features of rest in Mui Ne (Phan Thiet), my reviews:
- The entire resort is located on either side of one main street, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, which runs along the beach. All cafes, shops, hotels and guesthouses are located on this street.
- Nowhere in the world have I seen so many compatriots having a rest. Even in Turkey it is smaller. On cafes and restaurants, signs in their native language hang, and in the evenings, Baskov's drawn-out voice and the groovy songs of Kirkorov and Pugachova can be heard from the speakers. I don't know if it is possible to meet in Phan Thiet these days a Vietnamese who does not speak Russian.
- If you have lived in Thailand before and are now looking for an alternative for a long stay, then it is likely that Mui Ne will disappoint you. Better Consider Nha Trang
- Phan Thiet is for you if you are fond of kitesurfing and surfing. There are dozens of instructors to help you get on the board, but the beach in Mui Ne is not the best place to study. The strip of sand is very narrow, there are large waves in the sea, and the depth begins immediately near the coast
- There are no large supermarkets here that you get used to in Thailand. Goods have to be bought in small private shops with a surcharge
- There are reviews on the internet about meetings with rats, but I have not seen rodents. Let's believe that we are extinct
- Since there is no public transport as such, you will have to rent a motorcycle. Bikes are rented both with a manual gearbox and automatic machines. If you don't know how to ride a bike and don't want to, you can buy excursions at one of the many travel agencies.
- Be sure to hide your helmets in the trunk. Our helmet was stolen from our bike right in the hotel courtyard
Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street 
The ubiquitous kiters on the beach 
Where to eat and shop in Phan Thiet and Mui Ne
- There are more or less quality markets in Phan Thiet, called Coop Mart and Lotte Mart. When buying food, be sure to look at the expiration date!
- If you need fresh vegetables and fruits, it is better to buy them early in the morning at the Hàm Tiến market in the center of Mui Ne. The same goes for fresh seafood. You need to come to the market for them from 6 to 9 in the morning.
- In the evenings, fruit prices in small shops can be twice as high as in the market.
- Cafes change every year, the service deteriorates, so check the current information about cafes and restaurants on the spot, or better find it in social media. networks of someone who now lives in Mui Ne and ask him
Market in Mui Ne 
Attractions Phan Thiet (Mui Ne) and surroundings
The sights are rather arbitrary. There are not so many of them, and all of them are mostly natural. Without straining too much, all the surrounding beauty can be viewed in one or two days, but this will require a bike.
Red stream
Marked as Fairy Stream on maps. Located in the center of the Mui Ne resort area. It is a canyon with red walls and a stream flowing through it, in the place of which there was a deep river. It is because of the Red Creek that the water in the sea is so muddy.
It is difficult to miss the stream, as there is a fish sauce factory near the entrance to it. As soon as you smell the strong fish smell, you are there!
Cham Towers of Pasha
Built in the 8th century, the remains of the Cham culture.
Red dunes
5 km from the village of Mui Ne. You can get there by bus or bike. Better to go in the morning. It is very hot during the day. A taxi will cost $ 7. This is exactly how much it costs to rent a bike for 1 day.
Red dunes Red canyon
Located on the way to the White Dunes. If you go with a guided tour, you will be released to the stream for two minutes. Better to take a bike and ride it yourself
White dunes and lotus lake
White dunes and wild beaches on the way to them are the best I've seen in Vietnam, so I highly recommend visiting this place. You can buy an organized tour ($ 10 per person) or rent a bike. Of course, the bike is more fun. Drive 40 minutes one way.
White dunes What else to see in Mui Ne:
In the vicinity there is Taku mountain with a statue of a reclining Buddha, Ke Ga lighthouse, Pitahaya plantation. There are several museums and an amusement park in Phan Thiet.
Mountain Dalat
If you come on vacation for a couple of weeks, I highly recommend going to Da Lat for three days. It is a French city in the mountains in the center of Vietnam.
Excursions to Dalat are sold in Mui Ne, but the best thing is to just buy a bus ticket, book a hotel in Dalat for a couple of nights, rent a bike on the spot and travel around the surrounding mountains and waterfalls, crackling strawberries.
Streets of Da Lat city in Vietnam 
Pangur waterfall near Dalat Prices in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet
Housing prices start at 10-15$ per day for a modest room with a shower in a small guesthouse by the sea.
Prices for food in a cafe - 5-10$
Soup - 2.5-3$
Salad - from 3$
Meat and hot dishes - from 5$
Fresh - 2.5$
Coffee - 1$
Kitesurfing training - from 50-60$
in a day
Equipment rental - from 50$
in a day
Guest for $ 10 per day 
Shells Prices for excursions in Mui Ne
- Dalat - one day 40-55$ , two-day - 110-150$ per person
- Mount Taco - group 30$ per person
- Group Taku - Bin Chau Springs - Crocodile Farm - 60$
- White dunes - 10$ for one
Prices for the same excursion in different agencies may vary greatly. For example, on the Dima tour you will be offered to go to the Mekong Delta for $ 120, and on the Lena Tour for the same excursion they may ask for $ 150.
In general, if you do not want to rent a bike and ride it yourself, go to the agencies and ask who offers what. In addition to the standard "farm, crocodile, stream, dunes, Saigon", you can find something really interesting and uninterrupted.
How to get to Mui Ne?
The nearest airport is located in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
From the center of Ho Chi Minh City by bus to Mui Ne to go 5-7 hours. The ticket costs 7-10$ , but to get on the bus, you first need to come from Saigon airport to the city center on Phan Ngu Lao, find a ticket office and buy a bus ticket there, or you can view the schedule in advance and buy a bus ticket on the Internet.
You can use the search form below. When the list of tickets opens, you can change the currency (rubles, Vietnamese dongs, dollars) in the upper right corner. It is a local Asian search engine that shows all available options - from expensive to cheapest ↓↓
Bus from Saigon to Mui Ne
Should you go on vacation in Mui Ne?
Thus, if you, like me, prefer not very tourist places for life or rest and in every country you are looking first of all for local flavor, then a vacation in Mui Ne will definitely not suit you. Better consider Nha Trang as an alternative.
Firstly, you don't have to travel that far to eat seafood and chat with compatriots. Secondly, if you need a quality beach holiday, then the Phan Thiet coast cannot boast of paradise beaches. The sea is dirty, waves.
If you, as a famous baby mammoth, are not afraid of waves, wind, rats, or drunken kitesurfers (or maybe you are a drunken kiter yourself), then congratulations. Muinya suits you! But you already know this without me and most likely you will not read this article.
If you have been to those places several years ago, do not rush to argue with me and say how cool it is. Since then, the resort has deteriorated and continues to deteriorate.
An unforgettable holiday in Vietnam! Sincerely,
23 reasons not to go on holiday in Phan Thiet and Mui Ne, Vietnam
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- water tower;
- crocodile farm;
- the prince's castle.
- it is better to buy fruits and vegetables, as well as freshly caught marine life at the Hàm Tiến market early in the morning (Mui Ne), as in the shops the price tags are twice as high, especially in the evening;
- more or less fresh food can be bought at Phan Thiet's supermarket chain Coop Mart and Lotte Mart. But be sure to check the expiration dates!
- There is no public transport on Phan Thiet and MUI ne. To services of tourists - bikes and mopeds. The vehicle is rented with a helmet, which must be returned later. Watch your helmets and don't leave them on the bike! Helmets are often stolen. If you don't know how to ride a motorcycle, you will have to buy excursions.
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In a series of exotic resorts in South Asia, Vietnamese Phan Thiet stands out for its tranquility, white sand and, oddly enough, pine trees. This place is suitable for families with children, because the sea here is warm, the waves are small, and the entry into the water is gentle and even. So, we invite you to visit exotic Phan Thiet - a popular resort, the attractions of which are primarily in the incredible beauty of the landscapes.
Where is Phan Thiet
On the map of Vietnam, Phan Thiet can be found in the south of the country. It is washed by the warm South China Sea, geographically it belongs to the Binhuang province. The nearest city of Ho Chi Minh City is 240 km away. Climatic conditions in the south of Vietnam are difficult - from May to October is the rainy season. Due to the high humidity, unbearable stuffiness reigns in the resort at this time.
You should take this fact into account and, in order not to spoil your vacation, plan a visit to Phan Thiet during the winter months. In winter, this region has a comfortable air temperature of + 26 ° С. On the sea coast of the south of Vietnam, the resorts of Phan Thiet and MUI ne flow smoothly from one another, their beaches stretch for 15 km. On the map below, you can see both resorts.
Phan Thiet attractions and interesting places
First of all, Phan Thiet is a popular resort. The entire infrastructure is built on pleasing tourists as the city's main source of income. There is an abundance of entertainment and a variety of food. There are dozens of kitesurfing and surfing instructors in the town who are happy to teach everyone the basics of surfing the waves.
It is worth noting that it is better not to study this difficult sport in Mui Ne, as there are often more waves on its beaches, the sand strip is rather narrow, and the depth begins right after the entrance to the sea.
Phan Thiet today has become essentially an inexpensive resort for the Russian-speaking public. On the main street of Nguyen Dinh Chieu, which stretches along the beaches, signs in Russian are everywhere. The service staff in cafes, hotels, eateries speaks Russian, the cheerful voices of Baskov, Kirkorov and Pugacheva can be heard from the speakers. But curious tourists will also be able to taste aesthetic pleasure. What interesting things can be seen in the resort of Phan Thiet and its surroundings, what entertainments await tourists?
Cham towers
Cham towers
They are considered an important attraction of the Phan Thiet resort. The Cham towers were erected in the 9th century by the ancient people inhabiting these places - the Chams. They professed Hinduism and had their own original writing and culture. Up to the 50s of the XX century. the nation existed in isolation from the rest of the Vietnamese until the government launched a program to preserve and popularize the ancient Cham crafts and culture for tourism purposes.
Cham towers - a complex of three towers, which are Hindu temples. The largest of them is dedicated to Princess Poshan. All the temple towers are in operation, chams perform prayers in them. Interestingly, they pray while lying down. There are souvenir shops near the towers, where you can inexpensively buy clay crafts made by the Cham, and photos of the sights and holidays of Phan Thiet.
Kega lighthouse
The structure is the tallest lighthouse in all of Southeast Asia. It rises above a rocky island opposite the sand dunes. From the former fishing village of Mui Ne, now a resort, you can drive to the lighthouse in an hour, you have to go south, and from Phan Thiet to the lighthouse is only 4 km. The lighthouse was built in 1897 by the architect Shenawat. The height of the structure is 35 m, and the height of the rock on which the lighthouse stands is 30 m. Thus, the Kega lighthouse rises 65 m above sea level.
An interesting fact: each stone of the structure was precisely calculated and took its place in the scheme of the lighthouse; therefore, the work of the lighthouse builders was extremely facilitated.
Previously, a powerful lamp played the role of a searchlight, spreading the light of the lighthouse over a radius of 40 km. An internal spiral staircase ran up to the top of the lighthouse, you have to overcome 182 steps. All components of the lighthouse were imported from France.
Red canyon (red dunes)
Not far from the resort of Phan Thiet along the coast of Mounier, there is a strip of extraordinary beauty. This is the so-called Red Canyon, as if painted in different colors at the whim of an impressionist artist. The rich hues of the terrain red are bestowed with a mixture of metals. A particularly mesmerizing sight opens to the eyes of tourists at sunset, when the canyon seems to be on fire. The swirling wind creates whimsical sand dunes, and this place opens up in a new way every time.
Red Canyon is included in the mandatory excursion program of any tour of Phan Thiet and MUI ne. Hiking along the stream to a picturesque waterfall is organized here. In the canyon, against the backdrop of red dunes, newlyweds love to take photos.
White dunes
This natural attraction, coupled with the Lotus Lake, is the most beautiful in the vicinity of Phan Thiet and MUI ne resorts. You can go on an organized excursion (cost $ 10) or hit the road on your own on a rented bike. The approximate travel time is 40 minutes and the distance is 35 km from Phan Thiet north along the coast.
The white dunes are white sand hills and cover an area of 10 square meters. km. The average height of the hills is about 70 m. From the place of disembarkation of passengers to the dunes, the path leads through picturesque surroundings, including past Lake Lotosov. By the lake, you can admire the beautiful flowers and take amazing photos. It is pleasant to ride on the white dunes on an ATV rented right there ($ 20 for 20 minutes). Popular entertainment also includes flying a kite, which is sold at the foot, and riding the ice on the slopes of the sand dunes.
Do not forget to bring water, sunglasses, and a hat. The sand is very hot during the day, so it will be uncomfortable in the slates, it is better to wear sneakers.
Phan Thiet harbor
The port is located at the mouth of the Ca-Ty River in Phan Thiet and is absolutely charming! A lot of fishing boats and brightly colored boats just ask for a shot.
Mount Taku
25 km west of Phan Thiet, there is a very picturesque lonely mountain with a mountain pagoda on top. Be sure to trek Taku through an exotic rain forest full of outlandish birds and animals. If you don't feel like walking, you can take the funicular, which runs continuously, and in the absence of tourists - about every half hour.
At the top of the mountain you will find a huge statue of the Buddha lying in nirvana, and the expression on his face is absolutely mesmerizing - there is so much bliss on him.
Wang Tuy Tu Temple
In this old temple (built in 1762) skeletons of more than a hundred whales are kept. The locals worship the remains of the magnificent marine animals because they believe in the legend that whales took anglers to the shore during a storm. When the whales were thrown ashore for unexplained reasons, their carcasses were dragged to the temple. In honor of the whales in Phan Thiet, they even hold holidays dedicated to them.
The sights of the Phan Thiet resort are not limited to the named ones. Also interesting for acquaintance:
A stay on Phan Thiet can bring a lot of positive impressions if you behave carefully and know some of the nuances:
So, we got acquainted with the main attractions of the Vietnamese resort of Phan Thiet, which washes the not always calm South China Sea. If you are not in the rainy season, a pleasant and varied vacation awaits you, acquaintance with the ancient culture and captivating natural wonders.
Phan Thiet is a city located in the southern part on the coast of the South China Sea. The name of the city Phan Thiết is written and pronounced in different ways: Phan Thiet, Phan Thiet, Phan Thiet.
Climate features and geographical location
The city is located at a distance of 183 km from. The relief is flat, there are a lot of good beaches. A river flows through the city. The climate is considered favorable for recreation; even during the rainy season, there is not much rainfall.
Tourists are attracted not by the city itself, but by the resorts located in its vicinity. There are a lot of hotels on Phantete of different levels and price categories. Some of them have their own beaches and spa centers, offer free Wi-Fi. But not all of them. Conditions need to be clarified in advance.
How to get to Phan Thiet
The most convenient starting point is Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, you need to choose this particular airport for arrival. Further, there are three ways: taxi, bus or train.
The bus is the most convenient and budgetary option, but there are also disadvantages - the trip will be long, the conditions are not the most comfortable. First you need to get out of the airport, buses (# 152) only run until 19-30, at a later time you will have to take a taxi. After you have arrived in the center of Ho Chi Minh, you need to walk to the bus station.
Buses from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet leave every two hours. The latter leaves at 23-00. The journey will take about four hours. Buses go to the tourist area.
The second way is to call a taxi. It is recommended to book a car at the airport near special counters, this will avoid fraud and make your trip safer.
It is not advised to travel by train. The tourist area is located far from the train station, so you will have to additionally call a taxi.
Phan Thiet and MUI ne
Despite the fact that Phan Thiet has good places to stay, it is not so popular with tourists. The place of attraction is the famous village located 20 km away. This resort is popular not only in the southern part of Vietnam, but throughout the country. Mui Ne is unique in that the climatic conditions are favorable all year round. Even in the rainy season, it is quite comfortable here.
Mui Ne has gained the greatest popularity as a place where surfers are concentrated. There are especially many skiers here from November to May. At this time, you can forget about a quiet rest. The village becomes very noisy, cheerful, with a vibrant nightlife. In the rest of the months, there are noticeably fewer people.
There are many surf schools in Mui Ne, there are stations where you can rent equipment. Banana rides, parasailing over the sea, aqua bikes are also popular.
There are a lot of hotels, bars, restaurants and shops here. The popularity of the place had a negative impact on the pricing policy. Holidays in Mui Ne are more expensive than other resorts in Vietnam. Also, this place is the most Russified. On the one hand, there is no language barrier, on the other hand, someone perceives such an abundance of Russian tourists as a disadvantage.
If you want to go shopping, then it is better to go to the city of Phan Thiet. There is a large shopping and entertainment center Co.op Mart here, prices are much lower than in Mui Ne. There is also a Lotte Mart, but it is not so conveniently located.
Major attractions
Phan Thiet is the focus of anglers, there are a lot of bridges and harbors with colorful boats and noisy colorful markets.
The Fisherman's Temple of the Whale is interesting. Whales are revered as sacred animals in Vietnam. In the temple you can see a huge skeleton of this animal, 24 meters long.
On the outskirts of the city you can admire the ancient Cham towers of Pashau (7th century AD). These places are considered cult among people who practice Hinduism. These are active churches, chams come to pray there.
On Mount Taku, you can visit the largest statue in Vietnam - the Reclining Buddha. The sculpture is 49 meters long and 11 meters high. In addition to its size, the statue is also famous for the fact that it was built only by the efforts of believers and on their donations. On the way to the statue, you can see the temple, sacred tombs, statues of Buddhist saints and houses where monks live.
On the way to the mountain there is a plantation with one of the most famous fruits of Vietnam - "dragon heart". You can climb the mountain by cable car.
The next attraction is the Kega lighthouse. It is famous for being the tallest and oldest lighthouse in Southeast Asia. It is located on a hill and rises 65 meters above sea level. You can climb to the lighthouse by a steel spiral staircase to admire the magnificent panorama.
There is a tower of a water treatment plant here, it is unique in that the prince of Laos worked on its design. The city museum is also interesting to visit.
In Phan Thiet, there is a very old and popular even outside the country plant for the production of a special sauce - nyok mam. There are several markets. The most interesting for tourists are the carpet market and the fish market. The markets sell clothes, jewelry, fruits and seafood.
Excursions
If you have chosen Phan Thiet for your vacation, this does not mean at all that you need to limit yourself to attractions only on its territory. Where do experienced tourists advise to go on an excursion?
Also, do not miss the chance and visit the neighboring countries: Laos and Cambodia. Of course, both of these countries are worth devoting a separate vacation to each of them, but if this is not possible, then why not take advantage of the geographical proximity and take an excursion there or go for a couple of days on your own.
