Mui Ne travel guidebook from A to Z

A Mui Ne travel guidebook with all information and most concise, destinations and delicious food while staying in the central coastal city.

MUI NE ATTRACTION OVERVIEW

Mui Ne is a Vietnam beauty and a famous tourist attraction in Phan Thiet and is widely known for its long stretch of white sand, blue sea and curved coconut trees. Traveling to Mui Ne, not only do you visit, but can enjoy countless delicious dishes made ​​from seafood. This is also one of the proud of fisherman.

MUI NE TRANSPORTATION

By cars: currently there are many high quality types of vehicles from Saigon – Phan Thiet/Mui Ne. You can easily find transport service companies, such as: Phuong Trang, Mai Linh, Tam Hanh, Hoang Long… Ticket prices range are from VND 130,000 to VND 200,000 (depending on type of seats: seater or sleeper buses). Most high quality companies offer transit service to Mui Ne.

By train: in order to get to Phan Thiet , you can also travel by train. However, the restriction is to stop at Phan Thiet Railway Station and then you have to find the car to move to Mui Ne. Fares range is from VND 95,000 to VND 125,000.

In Mui Ne: most resorts have motor-cycles rental service.

IN MUI NE:

Swimming: There are many clean and beautiful beaches, tourist attraction in Mui Ne.

Hon Rom beach: this beach owns stunning scenery. It has a strange attraction because there are so many rocks with strange shapes opposite the sea. Particularly, in the rainy season, the mountain is covered with natural green color. In the dry season, grass is yellowish which look like a giant straw from long distance, that is why it is called Hon Rom by residents.

Suoi Tien (Fairy spring): the area of Mui Ne is lovingly named as “the fairy land” by tourists. Suoi Tien is a small water canyon located next to Hon Rom which is stream for walking with beautiful sandy valley. Next to the stream is red and white natural stalactites. Due to the erosion of time,  stalactites have naturally wonderful shapes.

Desert of Golden sand: is also called “flying sand hills” stretching several kilometers from Binh Thuan to Ninh Thuan. The color is very fancy due to the color of old iron mine mixed with yellow sand. The shape of sand layers diversely changes all time due to the erosion of wind which washes away the thin top layer. The image of gold dunes is seen as a symbol of Mui Ne tourism.

AROUND MUI NE

White Lake – Lotus Lake: is located 18km away from Hon Rom. These are two natural freshwater lakes in the middle of the vast white sand dunes. White Lake is also known as Man lake; you will admire the blooming lotus flowers between the white sand dunes in the summer. Lotus lake is called Women lake which has a big lake with deep blue water surrounded by the purely beautiful white and smooth sand  dunes.

Cham Poshanu Tower: is located about 7 km away from Phan Thiet. Being situated on Ba Nai hill, Tram tower is relatively intact and a group of remaining ruin towers of Champa Kingdom. The group had a small architecture but was refined from essence of architecture and art of the Cham people. It has a very majestic beauty and mystery, is an interesting attraction of Mui Ne tourism in particular and Binh Thuan tourism in general.

IN PHAN THIET CITY: is situated about 25km from Mui Ne, with many sightseeing area attached to history.

Ho Chi Minh Museum: Museum of Ho Chi Minh in Binh Thuan was established on May 19^th 1986, where President Ho Chi Minh had stayed and taught in 1910 before he went to Saigon to traveled abroad and saved the country.

Van Thuy Tu Palace: Being attractive destination in Mui Ne / Phan Thiet. Van Thuy Tu Palace has kept dozens of titles of the Nguyen emperors, in which the reign of Thieu Tri King had 10 titles and until now, they has been preserved intact. There is a bronze bell casted in Nham Than (1872 – Lunar calendar) which has been 140 years until now. Associated with religious which has respected and worshiped Ca Ong (whales) over hundreds years. The friendly whales usually help and assist fishermen beyond the danger on the sea… Thuy Tu Palace is the burial place which has been keeping hundreds of remains of little and big one over hundreds of years.

“The Prince’s House”: On the way to Mui Ne, you will certainly be curious to discover “the Prince’s house” because of its association with the name of poet Han Mac Tu. “The Prince’s House” used to be the dating place between Han Mac Tu and Mong Cam – lover of the poet . The poet – Han Mac Tu had many poem about the romatic scenery.

EATING: SPECIALITIES IN MUI NE TOURISM

Besides specialties of sea, Mui Ne owns a rich and attractive cuisine. Some dishes can not be ignored when traveling to Mui Ne including:

1. Steam tapioca cake: the dish has existed for a long time in Binh Thuan, visitors traveling to Binh Thuan often enjoy this cake because of its unforgettable taste.

2. Bread soup: is a simple and nutritious dish. It can be enjoy with bread and special soup. There are many breads like fried fish cake soup, bread soup steamed roll.

3. Seafood Salad: is Salad of fish, snail salad. Fish salad made ​​from fresh Ca Mai, Ca Duc served with fresh salad, noodles and a special sauce. Salad of snail includes snail meat, pork, vegetables, onions, roast peanuts … going with sweet and sour sauce.

4. Banh Can pancake: original name is the rising bread, because when being baked, bread is rising. Bread is made ​​from rice flour and put into small molds as Khot cake in the other provinces of the south, but it is not coated with oil  into the mold. Cakes are “baked” and then put onto the dishes in pair with fried chopped onions.

5. Rice paper with shrimp sauce: is a familiar snacks which can be found in the streets in Phan Thiet and Mui Ne. Rice papers are placed on the coal stove, add shrimp sauce, quail eggs and spices then being grilled and rolled.

Mui Ne travel guidebook from A to Z

Halong Bay Travel Experience

You want to choose Halong Bay as your Vietnam holidays? So don’t hesitate to see the following travel Halong Bay travel experience.

For many visitors, they may regret for a short tour. Therefore, if possible, you should book 3 days/2 nights tour to travel to further places and less touristy. If travel with a group of friends, family, you should rent a whole boat.

You will be involved in many exciting activities during the trip: team activities (team – building), kayak competition, swimming, cooking contest, visiting floating villages, caves … If you want to have unforgettable memories in your life, book a dinner in the cave, on a float, or on romantic beach, you will never regret for the choice.

Weather

European Tourists often travel to Vietnam in the winter from December to April when the weather is about 10-20 degrees because they have more free time during the period. However, the best weather for visiting is April, May or September and October as the daytime period is longer with blue sky and pleasant weather; visitors can swim, enjoy the sunrise or sunset in the late afternoon.

Registration

Currently, the Management Board of Halong Bay tightly control tour boats especially, staying overnight on boats. You can book tours through the Vietnam tour operators, and provide them the necessary information like passports, identity cards before you go. Then the company will help your to register your information with the administration of immigration department – Quang Ninh security.

Every day, the Bay authority will base on specific weather conditions to decide if cruises can leave or not. Normally, day tours overnight tours cruises will get allowance at  6:30 am. With regarding to overnight cruise on the bay, the captain will ask for license and register an overnight staying site for cruises.

There are 3 common stops: around Titop – Luon cave, Lat cave and Trong cave – Fairy Lake cave. In the case of being unable to stay overnight on cruise, you will have the option to wait until next better day for going sightseeing or being transferred to Hanoi by drivers and tour guides. In such cases, tour operators, cruise company will have appropriate schedule for you.

Itinerary

Depending on your time duration as well as budget, you can choose the various itineraries. For day cruise, you can book a cruise tour of 4, 6 or 8 hours. Most cruises depart from Bai Chay wharf and it takes about 45 minutes from Bai Chay to popular attractions such as Thien Cung, Dau Go cave and Titop island…

For overnight cruises, you have plenty of choices: If you need a private space and free itinerary, you choose 2 separate cabins cruises. Certainly, you will get the most wonderful experience as being served by the friendly staff, professional service who are trained and managed by foreigners.

Ha Long Bay in the future

Being twice recognized by the UNESCO as a world natural heritage with highlighting of global value of the natural landscape in 1994 and the value of science in geology, geomorphology 2000, Halong Bay has been an attraction, a leading tourist destination in the country. Since 2011, Halong has been one of seven new natural wonders, which has been advertising, promoting the unique value of Halong Bay as well as the image of the Vietnam – a Vietnam beauty to international friends.

It has been attracting a large number of tourists to Ha Long in particular and Vietnam in general to increase the amount of foreign currency, attract tourism investment, make great opportunities for tourism development of Halong Bay as well as Quang Ninh tourism.

Halong Bay Travel Experience

Hanoi Discovery - a quintessential beauty

(Hanoi Discovery) – Hanoi capital has always been a symbol of culture and is a proud history of Vietnamese. Hanoi is a strangely beautiful capital, a friendly and safe city with thoughtful old quarter.
Hanoi is a city of elegance containing the Vietnam beauty, a city of thousand years of history and civilization, with many ancient temples and crisscrossed streets. City looks both ancient with old quarter and modern with bustling streets and shopping centers. The small streets with old houses and friendly people are typical of Vietnamese people making a peace of the city.

Hanoi capital is voted as one of five ideal destinations to explore Vietnam by the world leading travel magazine Lonely Plannet Traveller (UK ). Beside to Hanoi, 4 other cities are Sa Pa – the best walking tour; Halong Bay – the most beautiful coastline; Hoi An – the best place for experience the cuisine and Delta Mekong River – the place for river of life experience.

Hanoi is a strangely beautiful capital. Ha Noi is very famous with sidewalks restaurants, and vendors with all kinds of goods from fresh fruit to souvenirs; especially with streets named by traditional villages making a strange attraction to Hanoi.

From southern gateway, traveling along Hue street to the end of Hang Bai, you can see the hiding Guom Lake (Sword Lake). Guom Lake is a historical witness  which saw the ups and downs of Vietnam. Speaking about Guom Lake, people will think of the legend of Le King who gave back the precious sword to a Golden Turtle…Besides, Hanoi is a place attracting lots of craftsmen all over the country making Ha Noi with various cultures and 36 streets.

Hanoi is the capital and the center of the country, but Guom Lake is the center in Hanoi, then many Hanoian travel to the place to enjoy the feeling of serenity, stillness.
From vendors to engineers, from the toddling kids to old people, all of them like traveling to Guom Lake to rest, play and catch air.

Hanoi Discovery - a quintessential beauty

Quang Ninh discounts Ha Long Bay sightseeing tickets

Ha Long Bay fares transportation service for hourly contracts are reduced an average of VND 100,000.

Department of Finance of Quang Ninh province has issued fares-related documents, freight services and accommodation for tourists to Ha Long Bay in 2014. Accordingly, the prices of transport services for package contracts are from VND 250,000 to VND 280,000 per hour for standard boats, from VND 280,000 to VND 400,000 for 4^th class boats, from VND 400,000 to VND 500,000 for 3^rd class boats, from VND 500,000 to VND 600,000 for 2^nd class boats.

While this fare was applied in 2013 for 2^nd class  boats from VND 600,000 to VND 700,000, from VND 500,000 to VND 600,000 for 3^rd class boats in an hour… 

Halong Bay is always attractive to tourists every year.

On peak days like Saturday and Sunday, Halong festivals and summer, licensed enterprises can increase no more than 30 % compared to the listed prices and must be published on boat and on media at the harbor.

Fares of individuals for round trips from the pier to Van Canh Park is VND 100,000 per passenger; VND 150,000 for the route from the pier to Caves Parks; VND 300,000 for the route from the pier to Center of Cultural Marine Conservation, from the pier to Beach Entertainment Center and from the pier to Gia Luan. On the “peak” day, fares of individuals are remained.

Small boats waiting for tourists to visiting fishing villages

With regarding to the overnight on boat services on Halong Bay, a tourist will be charged from VND 700,000 to VND 1.2 millions per person for a 24 hours 4^th class boat; it is from VND 1.2 millions to VND 2 millions and VND 2 millions to VND 3 millions for 3^rd and 2^nd class boat, respectively. The 1^st class boat charges over VND 5 millions. The fares do not include meals, drinks and other services of 4^th class boat from VND 4 millions to VND 6 millions per trip.

Over past years, Quang Ninh has enhanced tourism promotion through the event promotion activities in foreign countries, as well as organizing many unique and  interesting cultural, sports and tourism events to attract tourists. A number of new tourism packages has released for visitors such as culture tours – visiting some tourist spots in Quang Yen town or extend the route to Bai Tu Long Bay…

By the end of October, Quang Ninh tourism industry has welcomed over 6.5 million visitors, over 10% compared to the same period in 2012, in which international tourists have reached 2 millions.

Quang Ninh discounts Ha Long Bay sightseeing tickets

The famous destinations for honeymoon holidays in Vietnam

1- Sapa – Lao Cai

Sapa is one of  the most famous destinations for honeymoon holidays in Vietnam in any seasons of the year, not only for its rolling mountain scenery, illusion hiding in trees, in white clouds, but also for its cool and pleasant climate, making people to be closer.

You will have a lot to learn about this highland, hand in hand to explore the beautiful town, climb up to Ham Rong Mountain together, and see firsthand the beauty of Orchid Garden, Con Coc stone, Heaven Gate and Cloud garden. Next, visit Silver Fall; you can take some wonderful photos together. A trip in Sapa will more memorable if you are interested to visit the minorities villages, such as, visit Cat village of the H’Mong to explore the lives and cultures of indigenous locals. Or go shopping together in Sapa markets to get some souvenirs mountain specialties such as chayote, peaches, pears and plums…

Trip duration should last about 5 days to really explore all destinations in Sapa and enjoy the romantic space with your partner.

The great accommodation for newly married couples may include Victoria hotel located near the center with beautiful scenery, or Sunny Mountain Hotel is some steps away from the center and is easy to access other locations in the town.

2. Mui Ne- Binh Thuan

Being voted the best beach in Southeast Asia, Mui Ne was chosen by Skyscanner travel website as a love paradise for couples who love to go on their honeymoon. In the current time, Mui Ne is the center of the classic resorts located on the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam with the long lines coconut trees and golden sands in the sunshine.

Mui Ne sea and red and white sand dunes are the familiar places to Vietnamese and international tourists. It is endowed by four seasons with sun and wind, being very convenient for the resort. Having sea and sand dunes as well, Mui Ne is more beautiful and interesting with the vast sand dunes and changing scenery.

Time for trip should be at least 3 days.

Some hotels, resorts for your Vietnam honeymoon trip should be Anantara resort with modern architecture in Western style combined with classical culture of Vietnam or Pandanus Resort and Spa located on the Mui Ne gulf, or Bamboo Village Resort with green trees, centrally located in Mui Ne.

3. Da Lat – Lam Dong

Da Lat is s famous land of dreams in Vietnam in Lam Dong in which has the cool temperate climate all around the year. It is suitable for all couples looking for romance. You can walk around the night market, enjoy the chill of Da Lat, or rent a twin bike to stroll around Xuan Huong Lake.

City of magnificence, romance or love valley in Da Lat will make attach you. You can climb up the mountain Langbiang, discover wonderful natural landscapes of this place and see girls weaving brocade; in the evening, gather beside the wooden burn stove and organize outdoor party with wine and traditional dances. Dalat is also quiet and deeper with Truc Lam Zen monastery next to Tuyen Lan Lake, 5km away from Dalat, this is the largest monastery in Vietnam, built in the architecture of modern and ancient in harmony.

Some addresses for your stay are recommended, such as side Edensee Dalat Lake Resort and Spa, Ana Mandara Villas Dalat resort and spa.

You should spend at least 4 days of stay for discovery.

Let package your languages and travel to Vietnam to discover a stunning Vietnam beauty.

The famous destinations for honeymoon holidays in Vietnam

The best destinations in the Christmas and New Year

On New Year and Christmas occasion, you can organize a trip with relatives and friends to Sapa , Da Lat , Da Nang…which are one of the best destinations for Vietnam holidays.

The people in the South only experience two seasons – dry and wet. If you want to see the snow, just go to the Sapa town. Every year, foreigners and Vietnamese visit the town to learn the unique cultural values ​​of the uplands. In the winter nights, you can enjoy the “Thắng Cố” with unique sweet, visit “love market” to feel the winter next to the wood burning stove with delicious grilled dishes like, sweet potatoes, corns and eggs. You can only find the mystery when visiting Sapa. The town is covered by huge streaks of faded white color stretching across the sky which only leave little space for sunshine making beautiful moments.

Sapa has the summit of Ham Rong, Cat Cat waterfall throws up massive white foam while Da Lat is the destination of couples and family tour who want to find the romantic moments together. This year, Da Lat This is going to celebrate 120 year founding anniversary with flower Festival and National Tourism Year event in Highland – Dalat 2014. This is a chance to experience the indelible moments at Chicken Cathedral, City Garden, Da Lat Railway Station – Trai Mat, Xuan Huong Lake, Love Valley and the intact remaining France villas. Until now, Da Lat has still remained the character of “city in a forest” and Xuan Huong Lake is like a cool green pearl in the heart of the city. You can also explore the misty Liangbang peaks and walk around Da Lat market with delicious dishes in the mountain town.

Travel to the Center to visit the peak of Ba Na, which is still considered as Dalat in the Center with a temperate and cool climate all around the year. This is an ideal space for relaxing in the sun and wind center. If look for spacious space, you can choose Nha Trang , Phu Quoc with smooth white sand beaches, unspoiled scenery and delicious local seafood.

 

The best destinations in the Christmas and New Year

Hash house harriers – New adventure tour in Nha Trang

In order to participate in this unique – new adventure tour, the simple criterion is that you must love traveling, love nature and love…running.

Hash House Harriers (abbreviated to HHH, H3, or referred to simply as hashing) established in Dec 1938 by British and Spanish invading Singapore and Malaysia, and then spread out the other parts of the world.

In Vietnam, H3 had the first occurrence in Hanoi in 1991 and expanded to other provinces such as Vung Tau, Can Tho, Da Nang and Lam Dong. 2013. “Hash House Harriers” landed in Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa) and has made a unique trend: sport and ecotourism.

The purpose of the H3

The original purpose of this kind of adventure tour 3H in first days which was inscribed on the registration card in 1950 is to enhance the fitness, avoid alcoholic gathering at the weekend; instead of that, members would take tonic beverages such as beer. The most important thing was to make all members think that the age could not stop the enthusiastic people.

In Vietnam, the H3 was established to relieve pressure of life, work of members, to interact with the new people. Taking part in the program, foreigners have great chance to discover culture, beauty of Vietnam and get fitness to boost the energy for next working days. At Nha Trang, the H3 also targets on charity, helping difficult people.

Members with odd nicknames

Joining group, every member has a different nickname and will not call each other by real names. The nicknames are weird, funny, reflecting exactly their personalities. They get to know, chat, and play with each other on an equal basis, regardless of hierarchy, color, religion.

Great unexpectation on the way

The interest of H3 is unknown destination exception to guide members. Criteria of destination selection are closeness to nature, peace, fresh air. Discovering new sceneries is an interesting point for members.

On every trip, when reaching at a new secret destination, H3 members must follow the rules “run and play”. If see a pinch of white powder, the leader would shout “On On”, it means keep going. Meet the X symbol; they would shout “Go back” (run back). Then, the last one will become the leader. They run continuously until seeing “Stop beer” signal, it is time to have some beers, exchange, and participate in fun games.

In H3, members are encouraged to express entire personality. They prefer spontaneous moments with free laughter not only at the rest but also on the way of running.

Hash house harriers are considered as a new highlight of Vietnam tourism.

Hash house harriers – New adventure tour in Nha Trang

Thien Ha Cave in the ancient capital – new destination of Vietnam tourism

Thien Ha – a new destination of Vietnam tourism is not known as Trang An, Bich Dong, but when step on the cave, you will be engrossed in the illusory and mysterious space.

Located in Son Ha commune (Nho Quan , Ninh Binh), Thien Ha Cave and Dang Pier are attractive tourist routes in the landscape complex of Trang An – Tam Coc. The cave is not really huge, but located right in the Tuong mountain range which is part of a natural wall firmly covering and protecting Hoa Lu citadel in the 10th century, thus Thien Ha attract tourists to find out more about the ancient capital.

Thien Ha not big but very nice with all types the stalactites

The attraction of journey is not really different with other visits, discoveries in Ninh Binh; because of the feeling of boat excursions. From the Muong Tho Ha village, boat will smoothly surf on a small canal in the Dang Pier river system. With a length of about one kilometer, but it is enough for you to look at picturesque and peaceful countryside on both sides.
When reaching the pier, you continue to go on the rocky path with the length of the 500 m along foothills of Tuong Mountain to the East gate. Not being vast, overwhelming, but Thien Ha cave is still attracting visitors’ gaze with masterpieces arts molded by the hands of Mother of Nature.

Going through the door with the tall of 3-4 m is a 700 m long cave including dry one and the water one. Dry cave is not very big, only about 200 meters long, but step inside you will feel like silver and gold inlaid palace with stalactites sparkling.

Light shining down from the roof to ground of cave

Be fascinated before the dim space, you will have great opportunity to freely imagine at various types of rocks. From the fox hunting bait, to the elephant or tiger preying or monkey climbing trees…All are lively as an illusory stone castle.

Be pleased with the dry cave, you continue to cruise downstream. Stone layers reflect the beautiful sunshine making water colors look to be silver as constellations glittering in the night which makes customers to feel like sailing smoothly between a glittering galaxy.

According to experts, the stalactites system in Thien Ha cave is still remaining and in the process of development. Especially it almost seems to keep intact the wildness with thousands of bats living. Here archaeologists also found traces of the ancient Vietnamese with raw pottery, animal bones, turtle shell and breastplate.

Thien Ha is ideally a new destination for Vietnam tourism which not only is fascinating to Vietnamese tourists but also foreigners traveling to Vietnam.

Thien Ha Cave in the ancient capital – new destination of Vietnam tourism

Ta Chi Nhu – the Ocean in the cloud

With an altitude of 2,979 m, Ta’s peak in Tram Tau District (Yen Bai) have severe climate but is ideal for “cloud hunting” in the beautiful day.

Ta Chi Nhu is also known as Phu Song Sung in the language of the Thai ethnic group or Chung Chua in the Hmong ethnic group community and located in the massif of Pu Luong in Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Ta Chi Nhu is the sixth highest mountain in Vietnam and is like an ocean in the clouds which attract photo lovers and trekking takers come to discover.

Traveling from Hanoi to the top Ta Chi Nhu, we have to go through Nghia Lo, Tram Tau, and Xa Ho village. From the town center, we can only travel by car in 6-7 km, then we have to leave the car behind and start to climb with full of challenge. Comparing with Fansipan peak, Ta Chi Nhu is lower, but the rood to the peak is fairly much difficult.

There is only one trail to the summit which is steeply sometimes like walking on the edge. From the foothill, mist covers densely; so mountaineering teams have to follow each other slowly, going through a translucent white mist. Not to mention that wind will be stronger when we go up; sometimes, we have to slump down to avoid the wind as thrash in the face, whooshing in rushes of sound.

The path is steep and very long up to the top as if there is no stop on that, so it discourages people. But if we do not try to climb above 2,000 m to camp overnight, we will not be able to admire the most beautiful moments in the clouds at sunset and sunrise.

The tiredness and pant will follow us on every step; we do not know where to stop when two sides are very deep valleys. But just go out of the jungle, we will reach the bamboo forest. The green of the leaves, the yellow of stalk mixing with opaque fog hiding in the clouds will strengthen you on the way to conquer nature.

That is really a sea of ​​clouds when being at the top. On the way to the top of the mountain, you will see the carpets of green grass and trees halfway up the mountain with green leaves,

Ta Chi Nhu – the Ocean in the cloud