Relaxing in Mui Ne after Ho Chi Minh

Unspoiled Vietnam Region Soothes Tourists

To the unsuspecting tourist, the first impression of Vietnam can be that of a dirty, overcrowded, suffocating hellhole.

Ho Chi Minh City is not kind to the uninitiated. The treacherous traffic, unscrupulous vendors and constant cacophony of its 8 million residents can often leave new visitors to the country thinking "get me outta here!"

Relaxing in Mui Ne

This is where Mui Ne comes in. A mere five-hour bus ride from Ho Chi Minh, Mui Ne wraps its visitors in an aura of calm from the moment they step off the dusty, ancient coach.

Mui Ne's main strip consists of one quiet street lined with palm trees, restaurants, guesthouses and a few bars running parallel to the long, sweeping beach.

Accommodation in Mui Ne ranges from shabby beach huts to fabulous five star resorts, but low budget doesn't necessarily mean grotty. Hiep Hoa is a lovely little resort situated right on the beach. The apartments and cottages are simple and clean, and cost as little as $15US a night. There are many other resorts around within the same price range, but when booking accommodation in Mui Ne, the most important requirement is staying on the beach side of the street. Falling asleep with the balcony doors open listening to the sound of the sea is pure bliss. Could Mui Ne be the most relaxing place on earth?

Eating in Mui Ne

The food doesn't disappoint either. Vietnamese food can often be indeterminable (is this chicken, pork, what?!), but Mui Ne's proximity to the sea results in some of the tastiest dishes around. The seafood barbecue is a big favourite, with many of the restaurants offering a seafood smorgasbord which is barbecued on the table in front of you. There's nothing quite like juicy king prawns straight off the coals, washed down with some local beer.

Mui Ne Attractions

Mui Ne is certainly a place to go to unwind, but there's much more to do there than just laze on the beach. Once you're tired of watching the kite surfers master the waves, head back up to the main strip and hire a motorbike or scooter from one of the many roadside vendors. The main attractions around Mui Ne are all some distance away, and the quiet open roads are the perfect place for novice riders to perfect their biking skills. As long as the beautiful coastline, and wild, tundra-like interior doesn't distract you too much…

The incredible red sand dunes are only a 20-minute motorbike ride away, and best visited at sunrise or sunset when their colour is at its most breathtaking. The white sand dunes are more than an hours' drive away, but what a drive it is. And if that doesn't thrill you, the majestic white peaks, surrounded by an aqua blue lake surely will. This is one of Vietnam's most special places.

Mui Ne is so unspoilt because not many people know about it. It barely features in the travel guides to Vietnam, and many travellers only go there after hearing Chinese whispers about its greatness. But this anonymity won't last for long. The tranquility of Mui Ne is all part of its charm, so try to go before it becomes too popular and turns into another Ko Pha-Ngan.