A Day At the Beach In Mui Ne Vietnam

Mui Ne is located along the southern coast of Vietnam, about a 4-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City to the south or Dalat to the north. There is a small town and long stretches of road that follow along the beach, dotted with mostly small hotels all along the way. The area around Mui Ne is mostly rural, but around the beach are mostly restaurants, hotels, and various other tourism-focused businesses.

The water is a bit cool, but a perfect escape on a hot and sunny day. Looking down the beach I can see I am at the center of a small bay, with land curving out on either side. Not far offshore are many small, round fishing boats. The design is one I have not seen before visiting Vietnam. They are circular, fitting only about 1 or 2 people, and are propelled by a single large oar. Oddly enough, they all seem to be painted blue.

The waves crash very near to shore, even at low tide. I am not sure what the beach looked like in the past, but it seems to be suffering from severe erosion all along the beach. On the bright side, there are parts along the beach where palm trees hang out over the water, and at high tide you will see adventurous young locals jumping from them into the water.

There are many simple little cafes and bars along the beach, many of them with hammocks and cheap drinks. I rest for awhile in one bar with no walls, and a thatched roof. Puppies nap and play, music dances gently on the salty breeze, and a cold bottle of Bia Saigon just arrived. Life is good.

When the day is old, and the sun begins to set, Mui Ne transforms into an impressionist painting. The warm air and crashing waves beckon all to the coast, to gaze in wonder as purples, oranges, and reds paint in broad strokes across the sky. In those moments, nothing else mattered and peace was shared by all who witnessed it. I tried to take a picture, but it doesn’t do it any justice. I guess it never really does.

All photos were taken by myself. Thank you for reading! :)