Seaside relaxation and fishing culture at Mui Ne

The gorgeous beaches of Mui Ne are a great break after the bustle of Saigon, but they're only a part of the story here. You can also take day tours to the magnificent White Dunes, and get a first-hand look at how fish are processed at Mui Ne's picturesque and friendly Fishing Village.

Beach bungalows run from luxurious to Spartan, but all bungalows at midrange pricing ($25 USD per day) have clean beaches and good food. These establishments make a real attempt to keep their beaches spotless, and are relatively uncrowded. You may also rent bungalows overlooking rustic beachscapes, where sunbathing spots are few, but scenery is spectacular.

We strongly recommended you take a tour to the White Dunes, 40 km outside of Mui Ne. Here, these dunes, the inspiration of Vietnamese painters and photographers for generations, stretch out as far as you can see, and are bordered by a lake populated by lotus. Here, you'll also find fishermen who catch their prey with two long electrical prods, powered by a battery backpack.

Along the way to the dunes, your driver will also take you to the Red Canyon, where erosion has created a minuscule Petra of dynamic, delicate spires of sand.

The unspoiled Fishing Village offers you the rare opportunity to see the time-old manner of processing fish along the South China Sea coast. After you walk along the shore and observe boats returning and nets repaired, visit the small processing room, where fish are first washed, then set upon racks. They're first sent to a wood-fired steam bath, then racks are stacked and carried to the levee, where they're laid out in the sun to dry.

Fishing people are ready with a smile, and enjoy seeing Westerners (they like watching us much as we, them). As Vietnam gears up to doing business in the contemporary world, we may see these small fishing establishments being eventually automated. Visit the village now, while you still can.