Thanks to the expressway, Saigon – Mui Ne now takes only about 3.5 – 4.5 hours by car. A weekend 2-day, 1-night trip is enough for sand dunes, the beach and seafood. Here's a suggested plan.
Day 1: Saigon – Mui Ne, red dunes and sunset
- 6:30 – 7:00am: door pickup in Saigon. Leave early to beat city traffic.
- 10:30 – 11:30am: arrive in Mui Ne, drop your bags, have lunch.
- Afternoon: check in, swim at the beach or resort pool.
- 4:30 – 6:00pm: the red sand dunes for sunset — just a few minutes' drive from the centre.
- Evening: seafood at a beachside restaurant and a stroll along Nguyen Dinh Chieu street.
Day 2: White dunes at sunrise – Fairy Stream – fishing village – back to Saigon
- 4:30 – 5:00am: head to the white sand dunes (Bau Trang) for sunrise — the best light of the day and the sand is still cool. The easiest way is a Mui Ne jeep tour, which also covers the stops below.
- Morning: the Mui Ne fishing village with its basket boats, then wade up the Fairy Stream between red and white cliffs.
- Noon: check out and have lunch.
- 1:00 – 2:00pm: pickup at your hotel back to Saigon, arriving around 5:30 – 6:30pm.
Transport cost
Private car Saigon – Mui Ne: 4-seat 1,200,000 VND, 7-seat 1,300,000 VND each way, all-inclusive and never shared. Book both ways to control your return time. See the Saigon – Mui Ne price list.
Tips
- In the windy season (about November – April) the sea is choppy — but it's peak kitesurfing season.
- The dunes are very hot at midday — go early morning or late afternoon.
- Bring sunglasses and a scarf for windy days on the dunes.
- Extra night? Add Ke Ga lighthouse – Ta Cu mountain or continue to Da Lat by Mui Ne – Da Lat car.
Cover photo: Hưng Hồ Bá · CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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