Phan Thiet - Mui Ne Destination Guide

The Cham Towers are Hindu Temples built during the Cham rule in Vietnam. Located on the BaNai hilltop in the PhuHai commune, the Poshanu Cham Tower temples are dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva. At a distance of about 7 km to the north east of Phan Thiet, these towers are included in most Mui Ne tour itineraries.

The area referred to as ‘the Prince's castle' by the locals consists of the Cham Towers, the beach, a group of hills, the poet Nguyen Thong's tomb, a pagoda and a large French estate. You can get a panoramic view of the city, the beach and the surrounding country from the top of the hill. Nguyen Thong's Tomb lies in the main cemetery of the city and the Cham Towers are on the hill across the street from the cemetery. The French Estate (locally called the Prince's castle) was the villa built by a French aristocrat during 1911-12 and gives the area its name.

The Thap Poshanu Cham Tower, built as the temple of God Shiva and revered by the Cham people, is located on Ong Hoang or Mr. Heaven Hill. It goes back to the late eighth century. The main tower has an altar where the Lingam (Yoni) - the symbol of God Shiva - is worshipped. An adjoining temple had been destroyed about 300 years ago. During 1990 - 2000, the towers were renovated. Today you can see the existing three towers.

Mui Ne is fast developing as Asia's kite surfing and windsurfing capital, blessed with one of the strongest winds and driest climates that makes every day perfect for these activities. The best winds are between November and April, when the entire coastline is seen dotted with riders gliding the water, attached to their kites. This newest craze has surpassed the popularity of windsurfing, which is usually best done during the five months from August to December.

Mui Ne facilities will tempt even the uninitiated to try out kite surfing and windsurfing. Aided by the best winds and waves, and guided by instructors or even book lessons, there is every possibility that you bloom into a commendable surfer. There are many schools running courses, each of which claim to be the best. The International Kiting Organisation certifies these courses and before you choose a school talk with the owners and find out if the school is certified. Always try to select a school with proper certification.

This fishing village looks like a much used palette, where the vibrant hues of the golden sand and sun, the deep clear blue of the water and the colourful boats gently swaying to the breeze all combine to create the most spectacular sights. You can just sit here and time seems to go by! The fishermen take refuge in the Mui Ne village during the storms.

Locally ‘Mui' means nose or peninsula and ‘Ne' means to duck or take shelter. You can come here on a day trip or Mui Ne tour. There is a small local market, off the main road, which may just surprise you with some local artefacts. Along the beach, fishermen will be hauling and sorting their catch, particularly during the early morning or late evening. To the southern end of the village the sand on the beach has been practically replaced by shells, as this area has been used for many years to de-shell clams.

Phan Thiet is the capital of the Binh Thuan province and is 200 km from Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon). It is located to the south of the Cam Ranh Bay, which is part of central Vietnam's southern most stretch. Once part of the Cham kingdom, the Binh Thuan province holds an important place in Vietnam's history. In 1306, King Tran Nhan Tong solemnised the marriage of Princess Huyen Chan to the Cham King Jaya Sinhavarman III because of this area. However, it was only in 1692 that it was named Binh Thuan Dinh by Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu, after he occupied the region. This area is also famous for its two illustrious patriots Phan Chu Trinh and Tran Quy Cap, who during the French Revolution made a start in this city. Han Mac Tu, the Vietnamese poet, is fabled to have spent some time in this region waiting for his lady love Mong Cam.

This old Cham town has a population of 75,000 people and is one of Vietnam's most important fishing areas. The boats bobbing in the water makes it look like a floating city at night. Though Phan Thiet has a beach that lies a few kilometres to the east, travellers are more interested in the Mui Ne Beach. The 22 km stretch to Mui Ne runs through rolling sand dunes and picturesque beaches, with swaying coconut and palm trees adding to the natural splendour.

Apart from the beaches at Mui Ne and Phan Thiet, Mui Ne's main attraction is its famed sand dunes. Formed by the play of wind on the sands, this area is a spot of natural beauty framed by the clouds, dunes and shimmering sea. Visitors can participate in dune sports such as sand boarding and in dune climbing competitions. Climbing up against a backdrop of smooth sand hills, with the sand crunching underfoot, or cresting a dune only to dive into the hollows can be an exhilarating experience for a visitor.

The dunes vary in colour - gold, red and white, though the red dunes are found further to the south, close to Mui Ne. You can take a motorbike taxi to get there or hop on to one of the many jeep tours in Mui Ne that are run by the local travel agents. For a group of 1 to 4 people, a jeep works out to 25 USD or if you're travelling alone, 5 USD per person.

The entire tour lasts for three hours and starts in the afternoon so that the shifting light on the sand dunes can be enjoyed to the fullest effect. Sunrise and sunset are particularly preferred times to visit when the light is perfect for photographs. However, ensure you bring water along with you because it's a little like a desert out there.