Mui Neis a popular beach destination for Vietnamese and expats living in HCMC, as well as a growing number of tourists. Along a 22 km stretch of white sands from Phan Thiet to a fishing village at the tip of the Mui Ne peninsula, Mui Ne offers a wide selection of resorts, many with thatched bungalows (from luxury to basic) right along the beach.

From local restaurants with great fresh cheap seafood to a growing number of restaurants and bars catering to tourists, options exist that make it worth venturing beyond your resort, although Mui Ne is still much quieter than the more developed beach destination of Nha Trang.

What to Do?

Besides relaxing on the beach, popular activities include golf at the Ocean Dunes Golf Club, a top-notch 18-hole golf course designed by Nick Faldo or a visit to the spectacular sand dunes of Hon Rom (sand sledding available!) or to the nearby 8th century Cham architecture.

Mui Ne has also become a popular destination for kitesurfing and windsurfing, with the best wind from November to April, and is also one of the few destinations in Vietnam for surfing, with waves from August to December.

When to Go?

The weather in Phan Thiet is roughly the same all year – hot and dry with an average temperature of around 27 degrees. The rainy season begins in May and runs through October, but the rain is often light and sporadic.  The waves are best from August to December, and the wind is best from November to April, so never really a bad time to go.

How To Get There ?

Car or Bus

The most convenient way to get to Mui Ne is by car from Ho Chi Minh – the road is in good condition with a variety of resorts and restaurants along the way.  There are also a number of tourist buses that run this route, which can easily be arranged within HCMC in the Pham Ngu Lao backpacker area.  The trip is about 3 to 4 hour drive.

Train
The closest train station to Phan Thiet is in Muong Man, 12km west of Phan Thiet, and the Reunification Express train between Hanoi and HCMC stops here. From Muong Man travelers can take a car, motorbike or bus to Phan Thiet or Mui Ne.

What to Bring ?

Larger-sized people may have difficulty buying cloths in the market. Best to bring enough cloths with you, or have them tailor-made here

Electronic gadgets, battery chargers, laptop equipment. There are not a lot of shops for this in neighboring Phan Thiet.

DVDs and Audio CD””s. There are not many shops in Phan Thiet (there are a few though), that sell foreign digital media (except in VCD format).

Reading material. Only a few shops in Mui Ne have a very limited selection of foreign reading material.

Sun protection. You can buy it here but you should have it ready from the time you get off the bus.

Travel tips

Most of the hotels and resorts in Mui Ne can arrange private car transport for you from HCMC or Nha Trang, but it is generally cheaper to book the car separately.

If you are taking the open tour bus to or from Phan Thiet or Mui Ne, be sure to reconfirm your seat for the return leg, as advised on your ticket.  The bus gets crowded on weekends and if you do not reconfirm, they may give away your seat!

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Sapa	Cat Cat Village	Ta Van Village



Day 2: Sapa – Ta Van Village (B/L)
Breakfast before private jeep transfers you to Lao Chai village, a village of Black H’mong. A short walk down to the river to visit hill tribe house to see their living style and the local women making their handicraft and clothes. Further on along the road, the Ta Van village where the Dzay people live can be seen. Visit the village and learn their customs. Return to Sapa in the afternoon for a hot shower; relax before returning to Lao Cai railway station by bus for the night train back to Hanoi. Stay overnight on train.

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Day 1: Hanoi – Sapa
An early morning drive towards Sapa. The roads are bumpy at times, but changing scenic landscapes from the delta area to the Tonkinese Alps make it an interesting journey. At an elevation of 1, 500 meters, Sapa was once a hill resort of French administrators when the summer heat became uncomfortable. The remoteness and the simple lifestyle of ethnic minority people are a highlight of Sapa although conditions are basic. After checking into hotel in Sapa we can soak up the fresh air and spend time walking around the village. The ethnic people are frequently seen in this hill town and small vendors along the street sell local textiles and handicraft.

Day 2: Sapa market – Easy Trek to Lao Chai – Ta Van Village (B)
The range of Phan Xi Pang boasts Vietnam’s highest mountain and lends an alpine feel to the area surrounding this hill station. Today we have enough time to visit the bustling Sapa Market where the Red Dao, Black Hmong, Tay and Xa Pho ethnic minorities converge from the nearby mountainsides and valleys to trade their goods and buy provisions. We then get well off the beaten track as we embark on a walk to explore this beautiful mountain region. Along the way we traverse several rustic villages and see many mountain villagers doing their daily works such as logging, herding buffalo and tilling the field. The blend of the mountain backdrop and colourful population makes facinating views.

Day 3: Sapa – Bac Ha (B)
Upon leaving Sapa we set off on our scenic drive through the border town of Lao Cai to the colourful Sunday Market at Bac Ha. This market also attracts a wide variety of ethnic minority groups including the Variegated Hmong, Dao, Phu La, La Chi and Tay. They still retain their old age cultural traditions and are recognisably distinct from each other by their dress. The experience of this congregation is colorful and unique. After the market we enjoy a walk around the area, visiting the Hmong King’s former residence and Ban Pho where the villagers make the potent local maize alcohol.

Day 4: Bac Ha – Hanoi
The return journey begins as we depart Bac Ha Town and pass through the green and rugged mountain scenery to Hanoi. These back roads are a great way to explore the real Vietnam. We see very few other travelers, mostly rural dwellers who are just as interested in finding out about our lives as we are of theirs. The drive is quite long, but we can make many stops at our pleasure, to stretch our legs and take some wonderful photographs.

Trip includes:

• All transfer & transport
• Accommodation at Sapa
• Meals as mention at the itinerary (B- breakfast, L- Lunch, D- dinner)
• Return train ticket Hanoi- Lao Cai- Hanoi (soft sleeper with air- condition, 4 berths)
• Local English speaking tour guide
• Entrance fee & permission to visit the hill tribe village

Trip excludes:

• Travel insurance
• Pre-post accommodation in Hanoi
• Other meals & drinks
• Admission fees during free time
• Personal expenses such as shopping; telephone, laundry and bar bills etc.
• Tips and gratuities
• All other service not made on the written form

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The bay is bordered on the south and southeast by the Gulf of Tonkin, on the north by China and on the west and southwest by Cát Bà Island and encompasses an immense area of 1553 square kilometers.

According to local legend, long ago when the Vietnamese people were fighting foreign invaders, the Gods sent a family of dragons to help them defend the land. The dragons spat out jewels and jade, which transformed into the islands and islets dotting the bay. Their miraculous handiwork formed a great wall blocking the invaders path.

With the invaders repelled and the people safe again, the family of dragons became interested in more peaceful endeavors and decided to stay to enjoy their stunning creation. Hence the name Ha Long (Ha: descending, Long: dragon). The island where the dragon children attended to their mother was named Bai Tu Long (Bai: attend to, Tu: children, Long: dragon) and the place where the dragon children wriggled their tails as they frolicked in the sea was called Bach Long Vi (Bach: white – the color of the foam from the wriggling tails, Long: dragon, Vy: tail).

Whether or not you are a believer of legends you will be lulled into a sense of peace and contentment by the magical and surrealistic seascape of Halong Bay.

The tranquil emerald green waters and the captivating vistas of the seemingly countless jutting limestone mountainous islands will soothe the soul and stimulate the senses. Few places in the world offer a more breath-taking glimpse of the awesome creativity of Mother Nature.

The Halong Bay World Heritage Site is universally recognized for the significance of its exceptional geology and distinctive biodiversity, and the rich culture of the local people adds to the charm and enchantment of cruising the bay.

Halong Bay cruises have been a fovourite pastime for the Vietnamese for centuries. Now it’s your turn. What better way to enjoy this unrivalled destination than aboard an Lotus Sails junk.

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