Mui Ne and Phan Thiet

Mui Ne is perhaps best known for its Martian-red sand dunes where humans get their thrills while sandboarding and where iguanas get their chills lounging lethargically in the sun. Then there’s the local seafood, renowned for its excellent quality, as well as the quaint fishing villages fronting glassy waters that lie littered with ramshackle vessels. On top of this, you’ll find swathes of superb coastline bordered by swaying palm trees. Six kilometres west of Mui Ne stand the centuries-old Po Shanu Cham Towers, beautiful examples of Vietnam’s Hindu architecture that date to the 9th century.

West of Mui Ne, Phan Thiet offers a charming blend of traditional Vietnamese and French colonial architecture along with a rocky coastline that is fast becoming a favourite amongst tourists. Come here for more superb seafood and stop off at the harbour to watch the local fishing fleet undergo its regular repairs. Catch a sunset from the beachfront and watch as this already enchanting seascape undergoes a spellbinding transformation as the setting sun tinges the horizon with fiery colour.