Kitesurfing In Mui Ne

Mui Ne is quickly becoming a South East Asian Mecca for kiteboarding and windsurfing. Mui Ne has the best conditions in all of Asia for water sports because it has Asia's strongest and most consistent cross-onshore winds and the lowest rainfall in Vietnam. Every day is a perfect day. You may ask why you haven't heard of it, if it's so great? The reason is the tourism industry has only existed for about 10 years in this province. The development is new, and this best-kept secret has only just been discovered.



The area is often referred to by the water sports industry as "Mui Ne Bay," although the bay is more correctly the "Bay of Phan Thiet" (Phan Thiet is the provincial capital of Binh Thuan Province and lies in the center of the bay). Depths in the bay are irregular, and a bank with depths of less than 5.5m, extends 1.5 miles west of Mui Ne. The true name of Mui Ne Beach is actually "Rang" but the tourist industry refers to it as Mui Ne, after the village on the point.

Mui Ni Resort Overview

Mui Ne and the surrounding Binh Thuan provice have everything to offer. There are beautiful tropical beaches lined with groves of swaying palm trees and also immense Saharan dunes meandering through kilometers of red, yellow and white sands. There are winding rivers teeming with fresh fish and crabs and tall mountains with bamboo rainforests and marvelous waterfalls. You’ll find deep, red canyons parted by twisting streams and echoed by sounds of tropical birds…there is everything you could ever want!

The beach itself is yellow sand with semi-fine grain. While the central stretch of the beach through to the northern end is poorer quality and dominated by fishing industry, the southern stretch is better suited to swimming and sun-baking.

Mui Ne, which is located in the southeast of Vietnam, has becoming known as the kiteboarding and windsurfing capital of Vietnam. In season, the winds are as reliable as clockwork. Away from the beach, the key attraction of Mui Ne are its sand dunes, of which there are three sets which can easily be visited, either independently by bicycle or motorbike or by motorbike taxi or jeep. Much of the resort areas of Mui Ne are less than 10 years old. It‘s a relatively new community and it’s one of the friendliest spots in the country.

The Spot

Spots around Mui Ne



Full Moon Beach:

Best in the dry season: 18 to 30 knots, some times up to 40knots!!! SideShore wind, gear available for rent at the windsurf centre all year round. Great for slalom and free-ride, hosting the Vietnam Fun Cup every year.

Rainy season: 14 knots cruising to Mui Ne and back is fun (8km one way). Security boat available soon, anemometer always on the beach, when 15 knots on the beach often 20 knots 200m from the shore.



Suoi Nuoc:

Radical on shore condition mast-high wave every windy day. Future home to new windsurf centre & Full Moon Villas. Many unexplored beaches have never had any windsurfers so far, still great for daily exploration trip with jeeps. There is an old army truck to carry the gear anywhere.



Hom Ron Beach:

Best in dry season: November to end of April, regular on shore 30 knots, shore break no coral.

Access: follow Sand Dune Direction, then continue to Hom Ron Beach (1.5 km). The further you go east the smaller the waves, with bigger waves to the west. The spot is called the Cemetery!



Ke Ga:

The Light House, the tallest light house in Vietnam (French built 1897), is still operating. Dry season: good waves to the left of the lighthouse. Rigs 4 sqm to 5.5 sqm.

Wet season: cruising rigs 5.7sqm up to 7sqm. Located 30km south west of Phan Thiet bumpy road but great trip. You can drive on the abandoned airfield.



Phu Quy Island:

You'll find everything there: waves, flat water, lagoon, clear water, white sandy beaches – very picturesque! About 125km offshore from Phan Thiet.

The Wind

Vietnam has 230 days over 12 knots!

The dry season running from November to April sees pretty gusty and regular winds blowing over this region, until 40 knots (wind from north-east). In summer winds are not so strong and the waves are gentle and with the light side-on shore winds blowing in the mornings, the windsurfing conditions are ideal for the novice to try out their skills in the waters.

July and August are rainy season, and the weather can be refreshingly cool. But there are also winds and the region has the lowest rainfall in Vietnam.

The stretch of time from September to December sees some high waves hitting the shores and it is not really advisable for the beginners to head out for the surf during this time. Otherwise, the waves are gentle and with the light side-on shore winds blowing in the mornings, the windsurfing conditions are ideal for the novice to try out their skills in the waters.

Activities

In Vietnam, recreation choices in terms of water sports span an extensive gamut. Windsurfing in Vietnam is just one of the many choices and favored by many who wish to spend a few quiet moments amidst the winds and the waters.

Kitesurfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and surfing are other popular activities offered at Mui Ne Beach. Other activities include overland visits to historical and cultural heritage sites.

Nightlife

Mui Ne, as you would expect, is all about seafood. There are some great restaurants that will cook up the catch of the day right as you watch.
Mui Ne is a laid-back resort and nightlife tends to be low key as most people are knackered after spending all day on the water. Trends change, so have a walk along the beach and see where the night will take you!

Entry

A valid passport and a visa are required of all foreigners visiting Vietnam.
Visas are issued by Vietnamese embassies and consulates. Arranging a visa remains essential before arrival in Vietnam, but these are easy to obtain from embassies worldwide or through Vietnamese travel agents in advance.
Tourist visas are valid for a single 30-day stay. Processing a tourist-visa application typically takes four or five working days and can be obtained in person at the Vietnamese consulate or processed via post by sending your passport into the Vietnamese embassy.

Health

The only vaccine required by international regulations is yellow fever.

Proof of vaccination will only be required if you have visited a country in the yellow-fever zone within the six days prior to entering Vietnam. If you are travelling to Vietnam from Africa or South America you should check to see if you require proof of vaccination.

Flight Time

13 hours from London or Manchester with one stop.

Transfer Time

4 hours by road from Ho Chi Minh or approximately 5 hours from Nha Trang or Da Lat.