Mui Ne

Mui Ne harbour

Beach front

Mui Ne is a nice resort area in Phan Thiet, near Ho Chi Minh City (south Vietnam).

Understand

Northeast of Phan Thiet the coastal road climbs over the slope of a Cham-Tower-topped hill and descends onto the long, sandy crescent of Mui Ne Bay. 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. The main resort strip lies between the addresses of 2 and 98 Nguyen Dinh Chieu and is actually named Ham Tien.

Given the choice, nature would move the sand around, much to the dismay of some developers. Beach sand tends to migrate up and down the coast seasonally, leaving some (but not all) spots with just a concrete breakwater rather than sandy beach. There is always a good sandy beach somewhere along this 10 km beach. Accommodations at higher addresses tend to be smaller and less expensive, somewhat removed from the main tourist section and more mixed in with local life. If a sandy beach is important to you, some research is called for before booking in that area.

A few bargain hotels have popped up on the inland side of the road, across from the beach-side resorts. If you stay on the inland side, you will need to pass though one of the resorts to reach the beach, which might or might not result in some hassle from the guards. The resorts jealously guard their lounge chairs and palapas, though the beach itself is open to everyone.

Get in

By bus

Most overseas visitors reach Mui Ne via "Open Tour" buses that run between Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang. Most depart from HCMC between 7:30 and 9AM or PM (7:30AM for Sinh Cafe in air-conditioned bus and arrive at Mui Ne at about 1PM, same for night schedule). In the opposite direction, buses typically depart from Mui Ne around 2PM or AM and arrive in HCMC at 7PM or AM~ five hours at night or in the morning. Joe's Cafe is a good place to catch an outgoing night bus as it offers full service all night and you never know how late the bus will be. Outside HCMC, the coach will stop at a petrol station with a pretty large shop and stalls selling snacks, drinks and fruit.

The buses stop in the heart of the tourist strip in Mui Ne, so there is no need to take a taxi. The cost is about 105,000 dong each way, and tickets are sold all over the tourist districts of both HCMC and Nha Trang. If you are traveling to HCMC from Mui Ne, you will most likely be put on an already full bus traveling from Nha Trang. Since you are not assigned a seat you may not be able to sit with any traveling companions, and at some of the less scrupulous travel agents you may not even get a real seat (we were put on a mat at the back of the bus with four other people).

Public buses from both destinations also travel to Mui Ne, though finding the departure stations and figuring out the schedule is difficult for visitors. It's not worth the trouble unless you have a strong need to depart at a different time of day than when the Open Tour bus leaves. Travel agencies play dumb because they don't earn anything from helping you find a public bus.

By train

A train runs daily from HCMC to Phan Thiet, departing around 6:30AM and arriving five hours later. The return trip leaves Phan Thiet around 1:30PM. The cost is quite modest at around 60,000 dong per person each way (similar to the bus). The train station in HCMC (Saigon Railway Station) is in District 3, about 3 km from the centre. The railway station in Phan Thiet is about 5 km (80,000 dong taxi ride) from the beginning of the Mui Ne resort strip, and taxis are abundant to take you there. The railway also sometimes runs a mid-sized bus from the station to Mui Ne for 25,000 dong per person. Tickets are sold on the train, though the announcement might be made in Vietnamese only, and you need to watch carefully for the ticket sellers to pass by.

The train has regular carriages operated by the state railways, and sometimes other carriages booked and operated by private companies. The latter have somewhat larger seats for a higher price, but fall short of luxury. The regular carriages are a bit cramped for the western-sized body. When the train is not full, railway staff usually pack everyone into one carriage, leaving another one empty, and then run a side business selling "upgrades" to the quiet, empty carriage. The entire train will be jammed on on holidays.

Overall, the train is probably less comfortable and convenient than the open-tour bus, though it has some advantages - you get a better view of the countryside and avoid the endless honking of horns and lunatic driving of the bus drivers.

By taxi

You might considering coming from Saigon to Mui Ne by Taxi, instead of Open Bus. Not only the departure times of the Open Buses might not suit your schedule, they are also slow sometimes, because the driver makes various stops at rather bad restaurants where he receives commission. The ride by taxi takes 4 to 5 hours, depending of the road condition, and will cost 70-100 US-Dollar, depending on your ability to bargain. Talk with all taxi drivers in airport to get best prices.

There are few paid roads on the way to Mui Ne, so taking extra money is common way to increase the bill. Tell the driver, that you want fixed price with all fees included. Using taxi counter will usually increase the bill to more than US$110.

You also can arrange private transfer with Saigon2MuiNe.com[1] or YourLocalBooking[2]. Book and pay online via PayPal. No hidden fee.

Private transfer cost from Tan Son Nhat airport to Muine by SATSCO: US$100/trip. See their counter and book service [3]

Get around

You can't get lost in Mui Ne, since the whole place consists of one long strip along a main street, Nguyen Dinh Chieu. Motobike ta xi (xe om) are everywhere and their drivers will bug you each time you leave the hotel. Bargain hard to get appropriate prices (10,000-15,000 dong is more than enough to pay for a ride from one place to another along the main strip). Taxis are also abundant, with fares slightly higher than HCMC but still reasonable (starting at 12,000 dong and going to around 20,000 dong).

Bikes are most common way of transport in Mui Ne

You can also rent motorbikes and bicycles at many resorts and tour agencies. Since traffic is light, motorbikes or bicycles are a pleasant way to explore the surroundings. Motorbikes cost anywhere from 60,000-150,000 dong per day depending on how late in the day you start, how many hours you need, and age / type of motorbike (automatics can cost 230,000 dong). The locals say it's getting harder to rent because of bike thefts and police enforcement of Vietnamese driving license. Your hotel may rent to you, which may be a bit more convenient since they already have your passport.

By law you need to be in possession of a Vietnamese driving licence to drive a motorbike and all people on the motorbike have to wear a helmet. The police is friendly but quite straight forward in enforcing the helmet obligation. If failing to wear a helmet you will be stopped most probably. Because most tourist, besides not wearing a helmet, are also not having a Vietnamese driving licence, your personal data will be taken down, the motorbike will taken into police custody immediately for about 6 weeks along with a fine of about 1,500,000 dong (about US$75). Besides the fine, if you are renting a motorbike, the rental company or your hotel might will make you to reimburse you for the loss of the six weeks the motor bike will be in custody. Some owners claim, that they have agreement with police. So if police have taken your bike, they will get it out by themselves. If the police stop you, you should stop immediately and be cooperative and friendly - that will the best reaction. In contrast, if all people on the motorbike wear a helmet, you normally will be not stopped by the police.

Be very careful when riding a bike in Mui Ne. Traffic is light, but nobody is aware of traffic rules, so you can find yourself in bike accident in no time. Even fatalities aren't rare here, rumours are telling that up to 30 people die a month. For example, its normal and common to see Vietnamese riders turning left from right lane. Also Vietnamese riders don't stop or even look when entering main road from secondary one. If you plan to ride a bike here, investment in medical insurance will be a wise move.

Even-numbered addresses are on the sea-side of the street, and odd numbers on the inland side. Even and odd addresses do not line up closely in the main resort strip, so (for example), 39 on the odd side is several hundred meters from 40 on the even side.

See

Cham tower

• Po Sha Inu tower is a derelict remainder of the ancient Cham culture that was built in the 8th century.

Coracle fishing

• Fish Sauce Plants, where the famous nuoc mam (fish sauce) is produced. Big jars harbour the concoction that, after months in the blazing sun, is sold all over Vietnam to add some spice to the food.

Dunes

• The famous Sand Dunes (Doi Cat), on the main coastal road a short distance north of the fishing town at the north end of Mui Ne bay, about 10 km from the main resort strip. The whole region is fairly sandy, with orange sand threatening to blow onto the coastal road in some spots. The dunes that visitors visit are about 50ha (1/2km²) of open sand on a hillside with ten-meter undulations, staffed by dusty children with plastic slides, who will offer instruction and assistance if you want to slide on the sand. Avoid these children at all costs. The plastic slides that they offer are simply an excuse to steal your belongings when you are not looking. They will offer to carry your bag for you as you go sliding, then steal your phone of wallet, and there are so many boys that you wont be able to tell who did it. The dunes also offer nice views of the sea coast to the north. In all, it's worth a half-hour visit, especially if you have rented your own motorbike for the day. On the opposite side of the road are a series of small cafes, where you can park your motorbike for a small fee if you ride there on your own. Most day tours sold by local tour operators include a stop at the dunes. The trip by taxi from the main resort strip would be about 150,000 dong each way, and less by xe om. It is reachable by bicycle in 30-45 minutes, passing the Fairy Stream on the way.

• Mui Ne market and fishing harbour (Lang chai Mui Ne). Don't miss out on an excursion to this quiet little village, at the north end of Mui Ne bay. The coastal road leads straight into the town (with a left turn required to continue up the coast). At the entrance to town is an overlook with a splendid view of hundreds of colourful fishing boats moored in the bay. Further along into town, just off the main road, there is a small but colourful market. If you take your transport just down to the water, you will reach the fishing harbour, where you can purchase fresh seafood (if you have any means to cook it) or purchase steamed crabs, shellfish, etc. to eat on the spot from local vendors. Walking along the beach, you'll pass by fishermen sorting out their catch, ship-wharfs and, at the southern end of town, a section where clams have been ridded of their shells for many years, so the sand on the beach is by now substituted with littered shells.

• The Fairy Stream (Suoi Tien) is a little river that winds its way through bamboo forests, boulders and the dunes behind the village, in parts resembling a miniature version of the Grand Canyon. Local kids will want to accompany you to show you the way (and of course earn a dollar or so), but since you're just following the stream, there's little need. For the most part, the stream is about ankle-deep and no more than knee-deep even at its deepest. It is sandy with few stones and can be walked comfortably barefooted. You can climb up the red sand hills overlooking the river valley and even walk there parallel to the river, however, the sand may be hot on a sunny day, so bring some footwear. Walking upstream for about 20 minutes, you will reach a small waterfall into at most waist-deep water, great to take a refreshing bath before heading back! To reach the stream, head along the main road towards the east until you cross a small bridge. The stream is underneath, you will see a sign pointing towards a path to the left, go that way to reach an easy place to enter the stream. By bicycle it's about 15 minutes from the main resort strip and shouldn't be more than 20,000 by xe om.

Do

Kitesurfing

Kitesurfing is offered by many outfitters and hotels. Kite surfing instruction is available, starting at US$60/hour, beginners package of 7 lessons start at US$350. From November till March you generally will have strong winds every day. The Winds in Mui Ne emerge by thermal movements, after the shores got warmed by the sun. You will have perfect wind everyday from 11AM on until the late evening. Gusty winds are seldom. With strong winds, the sometimes choppy waves can be as high as 4 m and more. The water is free of rocks, which makes it relatively safe to kite. However in the peak season there up to 300 kiters in the water at the same time. Beginners and Students, who mainly practice close to the beach front makes things a bit more dangerous. So watch out for other kitersurfers and swimmers and control the speed, in particularly because swimmers are difficult to see when waves are high. Accidents between kitesurfers or between kitesurfers and Swimmers happen from time to time and medical facilities are limited in terms of their equipment and abilities.

There are several kitesurfing Schools along the beach, which all employ Beach Boys who will help you to start and launch the kite. It is widely common to tip the Beach Boys with US$1/day. If you bring your own equipment and don´t want to carry it from and to your hotel every day, you can store it at one of the Kitesurfing Schools for US$20/week or US$60/month, including usage of their compressors and shower facilities.

If you are a beginner but already can practice independent without an instructor, you might avoid the area around Sunshine Beach Hotel/Sakara/Wax, because there are too many Kite Surfers and swimmers which may lead to accidents, particularly if you can not fully control the kite. Try the western part of beach front around the Kitesurfing School Windchimes. Here Kiters are not the much and you can practice without bringing you and others into danger.

There is a place called "wave spot" or "Malibu beach" (10.92676, 108.29500). It is suitable only for intermediate/advanced kiters, but its much less crowded there.

Others

• All-terrain vehicle. You can ride one on White sand dunes.

• Cooking classes, 400,000 dong/hr. If you want to learn to cook Vietnamese food, check cooking classes near C2SKY kitesurfing school (opposite Kim Shop). You will learn to cook pancakes, Pho Bo soup, shrimp salad and fresh spring rolls. All ingredients are ready, you'll just mix them under supervision of Vietnamese cook.

• Day Tours, US$10-13. Travel agents and restaurants abound with day tour offerings. The standard half day tour takes in the fishing village, fairy stream, and the red and while sand dunes. Tours normally start at either 5AM or 2:30PM so you can watch the sunrise/sunset over the sand dunes.

• Sailing, 108 Huynh Thuc Khang. Manta Sail Training Centre was newly founded in 2010 and water sport has been gaining popularity since then. Classes are available at US$50/hour for individuals with certified international and local instructors. The sailing area is safe, quiet, with no swimmers and only a few advanced kitesurfers.

• Surfing. Sometimes you get good waves in mornings of windy season. Lessons, day trips and rentals are available, don't hesitate to ask around. While Mui Ne is not the best destination for surfing, it can be good place to give it a try.

• Swimming. The sea is wonderfully warm, but it can be quite rough, with large waves and a strong rip tide. When the tide is in, there is not much of a beach to speak of. When wind is blowing it can be quite chilly to even think of swimming. The area between kilometre markers 11 and 13 has the largest stretch of enduring sandy beach. Since large waves normally emerge after 11AM you might prefer to swim in the early morning hours, when the water is flat and free of Kitesurfers. Most mid-range and top-end resorts have swimming pools for their guests. Some are open for day users starting at 80,000 dong per day. But you can always behave as guest from this hotel and buy a few drinks for these 80,000 dong.

• Water Sports. Most outfitters offer a host of water sports including kayaking, paddle surfing, and jet ski rental.

• Windsurfing. If you like to do some windsurfing, go to eastern part of Mui Ne. Starting from Hai Au resort, there are some hotels that are offering good place to water start, rent or store your gear.

Buy

Along the Mui Ne strip are several small nameless shops; all selling the same sundries and souvenirs. You can find packaged snacks (Oreos, cakes, biscuits, ice cream, etc), liquor, clothing, and souvenirs.

Anything beyond very basic neccessities should be brought with you. There is a small pharmacy, but it would be wise to bring your own first aid kit.

Standard souvenirs offered include wooden and lacquered bowls, wooden statues, snake whiskey, and pearl necklaces. Compared with Ho Chi Minh City, souvenirs are almost five times more expensive in Mui Ne. The same small wooden bowl selling for US$3 in HCMC is priced at US$14 in Mui Ne.

Several travel agencies along the strip also double as used book stores. Most have a few shelves of English books, along with a small selection in German and French. Books cost 80,000-100,000 dong and most shops will cut the cost in half if you trade in a book.

• Coop Mart, Phan Thiet (corner of Nguyen Tat Thanh and Tran Hung Dao), ☎ 3835440 or 3835455. 8AM - 9:30PM. A large, Western-style grocery store that also sells books, jewellery, and necessities.

Eat

Every resort area is surrounded by restaurants specializing in seafood. The food is invariably fresh, well-prepared, and served in friendly and interesting surroundings. By all means get out of your hotel and try one of the local restaurants. The best restaurants are a moto ride away, found outside of the tourist/resort district on the ocean.

• Bo Ke Street (go to fishing village after Tien Dat hotel, you will see many small cafes near seashore). This is a street full of local cafes, that making seafood BBQ of all kinds. Prices are very cheap and choice is wide. Scallops with onion and garlic sauce are must-to-have here. Exterior is modest, so if you can be shocked of cockroaches or rats running by, don't go here.

• Joe's - The Art Cafe, 139B Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Ham Tien (across from Shades Resort), ☎ +84 62 3743447. 24 hr daily. Drinks 10,000 - 60,000 dong, meals 50,000 - 120,000 dong. Joe's is the only place open 24/7 in Mui Ne. It's a cozy old farmhouse cafe offering Western fare. A Canadian developed the menu, and the pancakes with maple syrup (50,000 dong including coffee) are great. The sandwiches with home cut fries and salad (60,000 dong) are also recommended. Two movies are shown each evening in the pillow-filled loft. Free WI-FI, exhibits and live performances. A great place to have your bus pick you up at 2AM when you head out and great for a chill spot for after party breakfast or a romantic glass of wine.

• Lâm Tòng, 92 Nguyễn Đinh Chiêu, ☎ +84 62 3847598. Right on the beach next to Jibes under some shady palms. You can even sit at tables in the sand. There's a little hut with hammocks strung. Try one of the pancakes (bánh xèo) with condensed milk (sữa đặc), the fried fish with lemon, and the chicken fried in fish sauce.

• Ocean`s Republic, 120 Nguyen Dinh Chieu (look for the orange sunshades in front). 8AM-1AM. Full bar and a series of theme nights: Mo, We, Th & Su: Mongolian BBQ night; Tu & Sa: German schnitzel night; Fr: Suckling pig with salad buffet. It's also a vocational training facility supporting local youth.

• Pho Bo and sandwiches, Bo Ke St (go by Bo Ke street in Pogo direction, small pavilion on the right). The only place to have food in the nights (since Joe's don't serve food at night anymore). They serve nice sandwiches with chicken and scrambled eggs (30,000 dong). Also you can have Pho Bo here.

• Santimatti pizzeria, 83 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St. Classic Italian cousine. Place is nice looking, with good atmosphere. Locals and long stayers enjoy 10% discount with membership card. Owner is often in place, so expect fast and enjoyable service.

• Sindbad kebap, Nguyen Dinh Chieu (opposite Pogo club). You can find good beef/chicken/veggie kebabs, shawarma and tsatsiki here.

• Smoky House, 125 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St. Offers large, high-quality meals, and offers all customers free ice cream.

• Snow Restaurant, Club and Sushi Bar, 109 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St. 10AM-2AM. Famous for its coolness air-conditioned hall that is unique in Mui Ne. European, Japanese, Russian and Vietnamese cuisines, including exotic dishes such as filet of crocodile. Lounge still open after 10PM, cinema-sessions in the evening! Free WiFi, free pool and free transfer from Taxi Malin to the restaurant and back to the hotel.

Drink

If you're in the middle of the Mui Ne strand and want to wring out as much of the day and night as you can then you might consider the Wax Bar if you're a beach party type or The Club if you like casino, disco, karaoke, billiards etc. For after you party~ Joe's Cafe is a quiet stop open 24 hours a day and good for late drinks even in low season.

• Deja Vu restaurant & shisha bar, 21 Nguyen Dinh Chieu (on the opposite Anantara resort), ☎ +84 62 3741160. Live music & show, seafood, shisha, free internet.

• DJ Station (El Vagabundo), 120C Nguyen Dinh Chieu (300 m right when facing Sinh Cafe). 9AM-3AM. Ocean view terrace area, dining area and large dancefloor. Happy hour between 6PM-9PM means selected cocktails are 30,000 dong, and regular priced cocktails are all buy one get one free. It's a popular backpacker place and usually very crowded at weekend nights.

• Fun Key Bar, 124 Nguyen Dinh Chieu. Tu-Su 4PM-3AM. Easy to recognise with is illuminated palm tree, great place to chill at the end of the afternoon, and later on to have party. Crepes, waffles and sandwiches available. Free WiFi, swinging hammocks on the sea side.

• Pogo Bar, 138 Nguyen Dinh Chieu. Popular place once, in 2012 it was almost empty. You can expect surfers and expats here. Cocktails and buckets are cheap and not very tasty.

• Snow Club, 109 Nguyen Dinh Chieu. 10AM-2AM. Lounge and cocktail bar with evening cinema-sessions. Free WI-FI, free pool and free transfer from Taxi Malin to the bar and back to the hotel.

• The Club, 56-97 Nguyen Dinh Chieu (across from Saigon Mui Ne Resort). For the casino, discothèque, billiard, karaoke suite type. Has all the casual elegance. The casino uses computerised tables, meaning there are no live dealers. The touch-screens are, by admission of the manager, "very sensitive." If you make bets, even accidental (such as accidentally pressing the 'repeat bet' button), they are binding. Gambling here, particularly more so than any other casino, is done at your own risk. Vietnam has no regulations governing these sorts of enterprises, and ultimately a dispute will come down to who can bribe the police more.

• Wax Bar, 68 Nguyen Dinh Chieu (beside Rach Dua Tropico Resort, take the alley on the NE side to the beach, pool on your right, bar on your left). By day, it's a fairly empty spot for hanging out in the shade, watching the kite surfers, playing a little sand soccer or beach ultimate. It's a delightful spot at sundown, with pleasant breeze and pastel sky and your choice of beach-side tables, since the cool crowd does not arrive until late. Mats, pillows and torches are set out on the beach below with a pleasant mix of music coming from above. As for 2012 only locals are here.

Sleep

Mui Ne has dozens of properties to choose from, in every price category (US$5-200), along the main ocean strip.

Accommodations at higher addresses tend to be smaller and less expensive, somewhat removed from the main tourist section and more mixed in more with local life. If a sandy beach is important to you, some research is called for before booking in that area. Many "beach side" resorts are actually against a sloping cement wall that leads into the sea. The sand itself migrates up and down the long coast seasonally leaving some areas with expansive beaches and others with little at any given time.

A few bargain hotels have popped up on the inland side of the road, across from the beach-side resorts. If you stay on the inland side, you will need to pass though one of the resorts to reach the beach, which might or might not result in some hassle from the guards. The resorts jealously guard their lounge chairs and palapas, though the beach itself is open to everyone. If all else fails, you can always access a nice sandy stretch of beach via the Wax Bar at 68 Nguyen Dinh Chieu.

Remember that during Tet (Vietnamese New Year), hotels are booked way in advance.

Budget

Go after Pogo bar in fishing village direction to find best budget offers (as low as US$5 a day for double room with AC).

• Bao Trang, Nguyen Dinh Chieu (turn right when exiting from Sinh Cafe office). From US$10. Small bungalows with a beach frontage.

• Guest House 20, 20 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, ☎ +84 62 3741440, e-mail: guesthouse20@yahoo.com.vn. From US$15. Very nice guest house on main strip with beach access. Also organising tours and transport for you. Very friendly staff, family owned and run.

• Hon Di Bungalows, 70 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, ☎ +84 62 847014, e-mail: hdhongdi@yahoo.com. Has simple but nice bungalows with fan and attached bath for US$10-12. There is a shady courtyard strung with hammocks, and four of the bungalows are directly facing the beachfront. A small restaurant and Internet-access cater for your needs.

• Keng Guesthouse, 185 Nguyen Dinh Chieu (About 100 m east of Phuoc Thien Pagoda), ☎ +84 62 3743312, e-mail: yongkeng999@yahoo.com. Dorm 100,000, rooms from 160,000. Simple and clean guest house with all the usual facilities on the quiet end of the main strip. About 15min walk to the bar and restaurant area. Friendly and well English speaking owner.

• Lan Anh, Huynh Tân Phát (coming from Phan Thiet, turn left when entering the village, in the corner where there's a business called Nhà Tho). Local guesthouse in the village, a couple of kilometers far from the resorts and beaches but close to shops, market and street food stalls. Perfect for experiencing local life. Owner family can barely understand english but are nice. Room with 2 double beds, fan, fridge, toilet and TV. Free WiFi. 150.000 dong.

• Mai Am Guesthouse, 148 Nguyen Dinh Chieu. US$10-15. Beachfront bungalows with AC, working shower, and mosquito net - which is needed - and nothing more. Clean pool. Beach seating with chairs and mats, although some of furniture is falling apart. Can hear next door bar to 3AM nightly which may bother some. Also, they have these monkey cages in the courtyard for some reason.

• Thien Son, 102 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, ☎ +84 62 3847187 or +84 918 610727. From US$12. Guest house just down the road from Joe's cafe with clean, large rooms. Can get breakfast for about US$1. Very friendly people though English is limited. Also organising tours to sand dunes (depends on size of group, but from US$4-9) as well as buses to Saigon and Nha Trang.

Mid-range

• Ngoc Suong Marina Hotel, Nguyen Dinh Chieu (directly across the road from TM Brothers Cafe, beside Tien Dat Resort). On the beach, with an excellent swimming pool. Rooms have mosquito nets, A/C, satellite TV, and ensuite bathroom. Seaside room with private balcony is US$40 including breakfast.

Luxury

• Blue Ocean Resort, 54 Nguyen Dinh Chieu. US$80-256. Has different rooms and bungalows. Only meters from many of the kitesurfing schools, particularly Windchimes, which is directly outside the property.

• Cham Villas Boutique Luxury Resort, 32 Nguyen Dinh Chieu. Has 6 Villas with beach front view and 12 villas with garden view. Each villa has a king size bed, bathtub overlooking a small private garden and a large private patio with comfortable club chairs and a day bed.

• Grace Boutique Resort, 144A Nguyen Dinh Chieu. Has the looks of a mediterranean Villa. There are only 14 rooms, all with sea views. Well-trained staff, a beautiful garden and a charming pool. Rates include daily breakfasts. Discounts are offered during the low season and for long term stays. It is advisable to book well ahead during the holidays.

• Shades Resort, 98A Nguyen Dinh Chieu (across from Joe's Cafe). US$45-200. Has 8 studios/apartments with kitchens, jaccuzzi or rainshower, preloaded computers, 42 inch flatscreen TVs and a lovely view. The site includes a swimming pool and a bar with Bon Cafe coffees made with fresh milk from Dalat. Rates include daily breakfast, bottled water and laundry service.

Connect

Free WI-FI connections can be found in most resorts and restaurants. There are a few Internet Cafes along the strip with ASDL connections and charging 5,000 dong/hour. If you are staying for long time, upgrading your ADSL plan at VNPT office could be a good idea.

Cope

Mosquitoes are a big nuisance in Mui Ne. So bring or buy either insect repellent or long-sleeved shirts and pants for the evening. You may also consider bringing/buying the fun mosquito-killing racket (maybe 50,000 dong) to "sanitise" your room before sleeping soundly to the break of ocean waves, all available in Muine.

Laundry services are offered by several restaurants and hotels. Upscale hotels charge 1,000-5,000 dong per piece of clothing. Budget hotels and restaurants charge 15,000 dong/kg. Confirm they will machine wash and dry your clothes (and if not, go elsewhere). Be sure to check your clothes immediately when you pick them up: T-shirts have gone missing and if you don't realise until the next day it is almost pointless to go back and ask.

There are a couple ATM machines along the strip. Vietcombank has a 24 hr ATM near 12.3 km marker, with another ATM located just past it. "BIDV" ATM opposite Kim Shop will give you maximum 3,000,000 dong at once (others will limit to 2,000,000 dong only).

Sand flies on beach can cause allergic reaction on your legs. If you experience this, just use anti-mosquito spray all over your legs before you enter the beach, it will minimise amount of bites you'll have.

Go next

There are dozens of small travel agencies along the Mui Ne strip that sell daily excursions around Mui Ne, as well as airline, rail, or open tour bus tickets to other cities. Be sure to shop around since some unscrupulous agents will often overcharge the unwary buyer.

Note of Warning on one tour company: Victor Tourist Company (part of Victor Cafe) charges cheap 300,000-340,000 dong to Hoi An, however, the overnight bus could be severely overloaded with people sleeping on the floors and make shift beds placed over the bathroom. Not what you get from other tourist companies.

The bus journey to Nha Trang takes about 5 hours. Departure for Nha Trang is at about 1 PM and 1AM.