Escape to paradise

Often referred to as the “Hawaii” of Vietnam, Mui Ne is a little slice of beach heaven.

For those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the big cities, Mui Ne beach in the town of Phan Thiet is the perfect retreat.

With its stunning white-sand beaches and swaying coconut palms, Mui Ne is often referred to as the “Hawaii” of Vietnam – and it’s easy to see why.

Only 180 kilometers from the southern hub of Ho Chi Minh City in Binh Thuan Province, Mui Ne can be readily reached by car, train or bus.

Accommodation ranges from budget guesthouses to luxurious resorts including a 15 km strip of high-end hotels that line up like pearls along the seafront.

The area surrounding Mui Ne is home to picturesque landscapes of clean, sublime beaches and sweeping sand dunes.

Visitors can try the popular activity of sand-sledding or take a scenic walking tour along the Fairy Stream – a unique spring that winds its way through bamboo forests, boulders and dunes.

With Asia’s strongest and most consistent wind patterns and the lowest rainfall in Vietnam, Mui Ne is fast becoming a hotspot for kite-boarding and windsurfing among other aquatic sports.

The cape is also known for its fishing harbor, market and fish sauce plants where the distinct nuoc mam (fish sauce) is produced.

Atop a hill stands Po Shanu tower – built in the 8th century by the ancient Cham – that offers panoramic views of Phan Thiet.

In addition, Mui Ne is a cheaper alternative than many other beach resorts which is why it is quickly becoming one of the top tourist destinations in 2009, say tourism experts.

Promoted internationally and throughout Vietnam, Phan Thiet and Mui Ne are seeing increasing numbers of tourists from China, India, Russia, Germany and the Netherlands.

According to Vietnam’s Department of Tourism, Russians are especially enamored with Vietnam’s coastline with two out of three visitors choosing Mui Ne as a vacation destination.

Russian travelers are coming in such huge numbers that some resorts have even had to recruit interpreters from as far north as Hanoi to accommodate the influx.

Saigontourist, one of Ho Chi Minh City’s premier travel companies, reports that over 8,000 foreign tourists visited the coastal area in 2006.

In comparison, 2009 saw the same number visit within the first eight months of the year alone.

The Vietnam National Administration for Tourism has said that Mui Ne is an ideal place for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions due to its well-maintained security, wholesome environs and services offered.

“People flock to Mui Ne/Phan Thiet not only to enjoy nuoc mam (fish sauce) and seafood but also to relish the healthful environs at Mui Ne’s resorts,” said Ha Kim Vong, director of Khoi Viet Vocational School in HCMC at a recent tourism workshop held by the provincial Department of Tourism.

Reported by Que Ha