Rough Guide to Vietnam - Jan Dodd [160]
The south–central coast | The coastal road to Nha Trang | Mui Ne |
Arrival and information
Daily open-tour buses operated by companies such as Sinh Café and Hanh Café arrive at their offices in central Mui Ne from Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City, usually at around lunchtime. For getting around, the best bet is to rent a bicycle (about $2 a day) or motorbike ($6–7 a day) from your resort or guesthouse, but first check details like the brakes to avoid unnecessary accidents. Alternatively, there’s a shuttle bus that trundles back and forth between Mui Ne and Phan Thiet, supposedly every 15 minutes (8000đ). Internet access and wi-fi is available at many resorts, though rates can be high: try the Coco Café, at 121 Nguyen Dinh Chu, which currently charges 7000đ per hour. There are several ATMs along the strip, including in front of the big resorts.
With a seemingly-captive audience sprawled on the beach and lounging in cafes, local tour operators offer day tours of the region taking in the sand dunes, Fairy Spring, the Po Shanu Towers, and Ta Cu Mountain (see "On to Mui Ne"). However, it has to be said that Mui Ne’s local attractions are limited, and these tours often include missable destinations such as the guide’s uncle’s dragon fruit orchard. For more in-depth information on the local area, visit www.muinebeach.net.
The south–central coast | The coastal road to Nha Trang | Mui Ne |
Accommodation
Since the main activity in Mui Ne is lazing on the beach, choosing where to stay is the biggest decision to make while here. Budget options are limited, as the resort’s upmarket image means that many places which previously offered cheap rooms have now upgraded their facilities and prices, though this means more choice in the moderate and expensive categories. Bear in mind that many places bump their prices up at weekends. Not all places along the beach have street numbers; in these cases places are identified by kilometre distance along the road from Phan Thiet.
The south–central coast | The coastal road to Nha Trang | Mui Ne | Accommodation |
Budget
Hiep Hoa 80 Nguyen Dinh Chieu 062/384 7262, www.muinebeach.net/hiephoa. Just fifteen basic but smart rooms, some with fans and others a/c, in this tiny, friendly compound facing a fine stretch of beach. US$11–30
Small Garden 48 Nguyen Dinh Chieu 062/384 7012. The small, thatched bungalows here are nothing fancy but are quite adequate and set in a quiet compound. US$11–30
Thai Hoa 56 Huynh Thuc Khang 062/384 7320, www.thaihoaresort.com. The simple, concrete rooms lack character, but are clean and offer a choice of fan or a/c: all have small balconies and are set around a well-tended garden. US$11–30
Thien Son 102 Nguyen Dinh Chieu 062/384 7187. Just half a dozen rooms in one of the few remaining havens for budget travellers. There are no sea views from the rooms, but the beach is just a few steps away. US$11–20
The south–central coast | The coastal road to Nha Trang | Mui Ne | Accommodation |
Moderate
Dynasty 140A Nguyen Dinh Chieu 062/384 7816, www.dynastyresorts.com. The elegantly furnished rooms, attentive staff and filling buffet breakfasts make this a comfortable place to stay. US$51–150
Full Moon Resort 84 Nguyen Dinh Chieu 062/384 7008, fullmoon@windsurf-vietnam.com. Attractive and sturdy, thatched bamboo huts with verandas and spacious rooms, some on stilts and with attached bathrooms; rates include breakfast. US$31–150
Little Mui Ne Cottages 10b Huynh Thuc Khang 062/384 7550-1, www.littlemuine.com. Large bungalows and cosy rooms with bamboo furnishings in a tidy compound with a good-size pool, free internet access and bikes. The attention to detail makes this place very appealing. US$51–150
Mai Khanh 86 Nguyen Dinh Chieu 062/384 7177. The attractively designed rooms, each with its own balcony,