Located 200 km north of Ho Chi Minh city, Mui Ne has quickly been transformed from an isolated stretch of beautiful white sand to one long row of resorts. While there's still a fishing village at the east end of the beach, it's tourists that make up most of the population. The boom in top-end resorts hasn't killed the chilled surfie vibe, although it has brought an increasing number of up-market restaurants and souvenir shops. It's an unusual set up. as everything is spread along one 10km stretch of road - the accommodation is on the beach side, and the restaurants and bars mainly on the other. Mui Ne sees only about half the rainfall of nearby Phan Thiet. The sand dunes help protect its unique microclimate, and even during the wet season (from June to September) rains tend to be fairly light and sporadic. Mui Ne's developing a reputation as the action capital of the coast. There's no scuba diving or snorkelling to speak of, but when Nha Trang and Hoi An get the rains, Mui Ne gets the waves. Surfs up from August to December. For windsurfers, the gales howl as well, especially from late October to late April, when swells stir over from the Philippine ty-phoons. Kite-surfing is very popular. If this all sounds too much like hard work you can simply splash about in the clean, clear water. One major problem the area faces is the steady creep of coastal erosion. Many resorts have almost completely lost their beaches and rely on sandbagging to keep the little they have left.

Mui Ne is famous for its enormous red and white sand dunes. These have been a favourite subject matter for many a Vietnamese pho-tographer, including some who sit like camels on the blazing hot sand for hours, waiting for the winds to sculpt the dunes into that perfect Kodak moment. If you visit, be sure to try the sand-sledding. You'll need a jeep to explore these properly, but be careful to agree on an itinerary for the tour, preferably in writing. We've heard com-plaints, particularly about "sunset tours' that cut short with the sun high in the sky and the drivers getting aggressive when challenged. Also of interest is the Fairy Spring (Suoi Tien), which is really a stream that flows through a patch of dunes with interesting sand and rock formations. It's a beautiful trek wading up the stream from the sea to its source, though it might be wise to hire a local guide. You can do the trek barefoot, but if you're heading out into the big sand dunes, you'll need leather soles on your feet; sandals are even questionable during the midday sun.

Heading west, Po Shanu ChamTowers occupy a hill near Phan Thiet, with sweeping views of the town and a cemetery filled with candy like tombstones. Dating from the 9th century, this complex consists of the ruins of three towers, none of which are in very good shape. There's a small pagoda on the site, as well as a gallery and shop...

Source: lonely planet