Ho Chi Minh City has seen a boom in the tourism industry in the past few years. While the city’s colonial infrastructures, theme parks and bustling markets have bolstered Ho Chi Minh’s reputation as a tourist hub, take the road less travelled the next time you’re there and explore the nearby charming seaside town of Mui Ne.

Just a couple of hours via train or bus from Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne provides the perfect destination for a short getaway within a getaway. What’s more, this lesser-known destination will guarantee minimal crowds and stunning scenery.

Here’s why Mui Ne is a must-visit stop for your Vietnam itinerary.

What to Do

1. Experience the White Sand Dunes at Bac Bình District, Bình Thuận Province, Vietnam.
2. Witness impressive sights with deeper reddish hue at the Red Sand Dunes located in 706B, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet, Bình Thuận, Vietnam.
3. Hop into the world of fantasy and otherworldly red-rock canyon formations at the Fairy Stream located in 67 Huỳnh Thúc Kháng, Phường Hàm Tiến, Thành phố Phan Thiết, Bình Thuận, Vietnam.

Where to Stay

Mui Ne is known for being a quaint beach resort town. Palm-lined stretches of the beach and water sports activities along the shorelines are a common sight, making beach resorts one of the best options for accommodation.

Beach hotels and resorts are aplenty and available for bookings starting from about SGD 60 per night for an affordable luxury stay. Budget options are also available starting from SGD 15 per night with most options within 200 metres from the beach.

For the budget traveller, clean and fuss-free guesthouses and hostels are also available in Mui Ne.

How to Get There

By Train

Commuting by train is the fastest option in terms of public transport, taking a total of about five hours to get from Ho Chi Minh train station to Phan Thiet station and then transferring to a bus or taxi to get into the heart of Mui Ne.

Tickets can be bought directly from Ho Chi Minh train station and the train route operates once a day.

By Bus

For an even cheaper option, daytime and nighttime buses are available. Bus tickets can be bought in Ho Chi Minh city centre ranging from about SGD 6 to SGD 10, depending on whether you choose the “open buses” (normal buses) or the “sleeping buses” (with folding seats enabling a comfortable nights rest).

Each bus carrier operates on their own timetable, so you can easily choose a time that is the most convenient. The entire trip will take between five to seven hours depending on traffic.

By Car

For bigger groups of travellers, hiring a private car is the fastest and most comfortable option. The journey costs about SGD 80 onwards and takes only five hours to get to the doorstep of your Mui Ne accommodation.

By Air

With twice-daily return flights from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietjet offers flight times, allowing you to spend some time in Ho Chi Minh City before heading over to Mui Ne, or board a train upon landing to reach your accommodation just in time for a welcome dinner.

Choose from the 12:05 PM or 4:55 PM departing flights from Singapore and land in Ho Chi Minh City at 2:10 PM and 7 PM respectively.

Return flights are available departing from Ho Chi Minh City at 9 AM or 1:50 PM, arriving back in Singapore at 11:05 AM and 3:55 PM respectively (all are in local times). For those looking to travel in style, Vietjet’s SkyBoss service offers priority boarding, airport lounge access and more.

Look out for the airline’s daily promotional flight prices between 1 PM – 3 PM daily here.