Mui Ne Sand Dunes: My Experience Visiting These Surreal Dunes in Vietnam

Bet you didn’t know that there are sand dunes in Vietnam!

A few months ago, while browsing online, I stumbled upon breathtaking photos of a desert landscape. To my astonishment, these photos were taken in Vietnam! Suddenly, my dream of exploring a desert landscape seemed much more attainable. Instead of planning a trip to the Middle East or Africa, I realized I could experience this unique terrain much closer to home.

The sandy paradise awaits in Mui Ne, a picturesque resort town stretching 15 kilometres along Vietnam’s southern coast, just a four-hour journey from Ho Chi Minh City. Here, you’ll find two captivating sand dunes: the vibrant Red Sand Dunes and the ethereal White Sand Dunes. Exploring these dunes was undoubtedly the highlight of my 10-day Vietnamese adventure, and I’m confident you’ll understand why once you see the photos!

Also Read: 10 Stunning Airbnbs in Sapa, Vietnam With Million-Dollar Vistas

Sandy attractions in Mui Ne

White Sand Dunes

The White Sand Dunes is exactly how I have always imagined a desert to be – a vast expanse of barren land. Undoubtedly more pristine and breathtaking than the Red Sand Dunes, the White Sand Dunes are also less accessible. It is an hour’s drive from the centre of Mui Ne, and I must say that it is most definitely worth the commute. The only thing I didn’t like about the White Sand Dunes were the noisy ATVs speeding around, which tainted the otherwise peaceful atmosphere.

Red Sand Dunes

The Red Sand Dunes is just 20 minutes from the town centre, and the sand is really more orangey-brown than red. The gentle slopes make it easy to walk on foot (at least in comparison to the White Sand Dunes), and it is a spectacular place to be during sunset.

Fairy Stream

The Fairy Stream is one of Mui Ne’s main attractions, alongside the Red and White Sand Dunes. I didn’t expect to see hills of sand along the Fairy Stream at all. In fact, I didn’t even know what to expect – I didn’t do any research on this attraction at all! A stream with fluttering fairies, maybe?

It was a pleasant surprise when the Fairy Stream led me into a photographer’s paradise. The ankle-deep stream is flanked by lush greenery on one side and a sand dune on the other. The landscape is absolutely surreal – a miniature mix of Cappadocia and the Grand Canyon. It was too inviting. I trudged up to the top of the sand dune like a little kid, and good thing I did too because soon after, the midday sun heated the sand to an unbearable temperature.

How to get to Mui Ne

Now that you know about it, I bet you’re already itching to make your way to Mui Ne. Here is some essential transport information about getting to the sand dunes in Mui Ne for a little taste of the desert.

Flying into Ho Chi Minh City

There are plenty of flights available from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City and you can choose from Jetstar, AirAsia, Vietnam Airlines and Singapore Airlines, just to name a few. Budget travellers will be happy to know that return flight tickets can cost as little as SGD 100 if they either book in advance or grab the tickets when there are flight promotions.

Getting from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne

From Ho Chi Minh City, you can either take the bus, train or taxi to get to Mui Ne.

By bus: Getting from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne by bus will take about 5 hours or more, depending on the road conditions. The two recommended bus companies are Phuong Trang and The Sinh Tourist. I highly recommend booking the sleeper bus, just for the experience. Think bunk seats on a bus! You’ll either love it or hate it, and this will probably depend on the seat you are assigned and the bus driver. Some seats have a few more inches of legroom than others, and this makes a huge difference to your level of comfort.

By train: The train is a bit more expensive than the bus, but it is also faster, taking about 4 hours. There is only one train company that runs this route, Vietnam Railways. You can refer to the Vietnam Railways for more details on timing and prices. Also, do note that the train station in Ho Chi Minh (also referred to as Saigon Railway Station) is slightly out of the city centre in District 3.

By taxi: This is the most expensive option, but it is also the most comfortable and convenient. Taxis can take anywhere from 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic. The cost of a taxi will vary depending on the type of taxi you choose, the hours, and the distance you are travelling.

Where to stay in Mui Ne

Navigating around Mui Ne is very simple because all the shops, restaurants and accommodations are lined up along Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street. Some accommodations will suit every budget, and booking a hostel, guesthouse, resort or hotel anywhere along this stretch of road will be convenient. I stayed at the budget-friendly Diem Lien Guesthouse, which is slightly further away from the main hub of the street, but is within walking distance to the Fairy Stream.

Getting to the dunes in Mui Ne

To get to the Fairy Stream, Red Sand Dunes and White Sand Dunes in Mui Ne, you can go by a jeep tour, motorbike or taxi.

The half-day jeep tour is very affordable, priced at USD 7 (SGD 9.50), and you can book it from your accommodation. Typical departure times are at 4:30 AM for sunrise tours and 12:45 PM for sunset tours. The jeep I was on carried 7 passengers, and it brought us to the Fairy Stream, Mui Ne fishing village, the White Sand Dunes and the Red Sand Dunes.

The downside of this tour, as expected, is the limited time we get to spend at each stop, especially the Fairy Stream. The 20 minutes given to explore the Fairy Stream was highly insufficient and thankfully I had already visited this attraction outside of the jeep tour. Further, the Fairy Stream has an official entry fee of 15,000 VND for adults and 6,000 VND for children. However, some visitors have reported being charged different amounts or encountering unofficial entrances with varying fees. That said, I will still recommend the Jeep tour if you’re on a budget and are not keen to ride a motorbike.

In Mui Ne, motorbike rentals are widely available along the main tourist strip, with daily rates typically ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 VND (approximately SGD 6 to 12), depending on the model and rental duration. A point to note is that the dirt road is really bumpy for the last few kilometres towards the White Sand Dunes, and it can be quite dangerous for those on motorbikes. You can rent a bicycle to get to the Fairy Stream and the Red Sand Dunes, but don’t attempt to get to the White Sand Dunes on a bicycle as it requires you to brave the combination of wind and sand for 30 kilometres.

Taking a taxi to the Fairy Stream and the Read Sand Dunes is quite affordable as they are close to the town centre. If you take a taxi to the White Sand Dunes, be prepared for a one-hour ride each way. Also, it is best to settle on a price with the taxi driver beforehand.

Also Read: 12 Hidden Gems in Vietnam for Your Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventure

That’s about it, folks! Have a good trip to Vietnam and don’t forget to trick your friends on Instagram into believing that you’re on a vacation in the Sahara Desert!