Have you ever been to a desert by the sea? If your answer is no, then you haven’t been to the Mui Ne Sand Dunes! This little coastal town draws in travellers from around the world to experience an unforgettable sunrise over the Saharaesque landscape.
WHERE ARE THE MUI NE SAND DUNES & HOW TO GET THERE
Mui Ne is located on the Southeast coast of Vietnam. From Ho Chi Minh city, you can take a bus directly to Mui Ne which costs 160,000 Dong ($7) and the journey takes 4.5 hours. You will have to book a bus to Mui Ne the day before you plan to travel. This can be done directly through your hotel or hostel. The white sand dunes of Mui Ne are approximately a 20-minute drive from the centre of town.
MAP OF THE WHITE SAND DUNES MUI NE
WHERE TO BOOK A MUI NE SAND DUNES TOUR
The best place to book a Mui Ne Sand Dunes tour is with a very reputable company called Mui Ne Go. They offer half-day Mui Ne sand dune tours starting from as little as $5.
You can book a tour via the Mui Ne Go website in advance or you can book in person at the Mui Ne Go tourist office upon arrival. The Mui Ne Go tourist office is located in the heart of town and they also offer affordable accommodation at Thanh Duy Guesthouse, click HERE to check their rates and availability.
A tour operator from Mui Ne Go will pick you up from the front of the guesthouse at 4:30 am to begin the sunrise Jeep adventure to the white sand dunes of Mui Ne.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT MUI NE SAND DUNES
After a 20 minute drive in the safari Jeep, you will arrive at the white sand dunes of Mui Ne just in time for an unforgettable sunrise over the dunes. As Mui Ne is most famous for these oceanic wind-sculpted dunes, it is unfortunately flooded with tourists. But please don’t be put off by this as there are more than enough dunes to wander around on. We veered off the beaten path a little and managed to find an epic spot all to ourselves while everyone else crowded around on one of the higher Mui Ne dune peaks for sunrise.
After the sunrise, it is time for the ultimate 4WD sand dunes bash in the safari Jeep up, over and around the epic white sand dunes of Mui Ne. This was the most exhilarating experience and the highlight of the Mui Ne sand dunes tour!
If you want to take it to the extreme on your adventure at the Mu Nie sand dunes, there is the option to rent an ATV to thrash around in the desert dunes.
Additional Cost for ATV:
Drive by yourself – 20 mins = 600,000 Dong, or 30 mins = 850,000 Dong
Drive with operator – 45 mins = 200,000 Dong
MUI NE RED SAND DUNES
The Jeep adventure continues to the Mui Ne red sand dunes, approximately a 15-minute drive back towards the main town. The red sand dunes are not as impressive as the white sand dunes but it is still worth a visit. You can also rent a plastic sled for 20,000 Dong to surf the dunes from top to bottom!
The Mui Ne red sand dunes are packed with mobile vendors offering cold ice creams, traditional Pho (noodle soup) and refreshing drinks. Also, be prepared to be approached by the friendly locals who will more than likely want to take a selfie or ten with you!
MUI NE SAND DUNES – THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Although I visited Mui Ne sand dunes in July, they say the best time to visit is between November and March for optimum temperatures and great beach conditions.
I recommend being prepared with some snacks and drinking water before taking the early morning Mui Ne Jeep tour as you won’t get a chance to eat until after the sunrise adventure.
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST NEAR MUI NE SAND DUNES VIETNAM
Vietnam Itinerary – 4 Week Adventure Guide
Fairy Stream – Grand Canyon of Vietnam
Vinh Hy Binh Tien – Scenic Coast Road
Top 3 Things To Do In Nha Trang
I hope you enjoyed reading this article, and if you did please share it. Feel free to drop me a comment below if you have any questions at all about the Mui Ne sand dunes tour!
Happy Adventuring 🙂
