How to Reach Mui Ne: Best Ways to Get to Vietnam's Beach Hotspot

Although flying in might appear to be the easiest way to reach Mui Ne, it's important to understand that both Mui Ne and its neighbouring city Phan Thiet do not have international or domestic airports. This means tourists will have to fly to a city close to Mui Ne and travel the remainder of the way by bus, taxi or train. The airport that's located closest to Mui Ne is found in Da Lat and is called the Lien Khuong Airport.  While it may be 130km away from your final destination, it is 60km closer than the Cam Ranh International Airport located 191km from the beach capital. Ho Chi Minh City's main airport, Tan Son Nhat International is just 200km away so the Lien Khuong Airport is the nearest outpost for those intent on using a domestic or international flight to reach Mui Ne.

Travellers who prefer to take the scenic route from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne can always hop on a train bound for Phant Thiet. As Mui Ne does not have its own train station, Phan Thiet, which lies around 26km away is the nearest train station for those travelling from all corners of Vietnam. Unlike neighbouring Thailand, trains bound for Phan Thiet are not frequent and are only accessible once a day. The train leaving from Ho Chi Minh City departs from the nation's capital at 6.40 am and reaches Phan Thiet before noon. The return train departs a little after 1 pm and arrives in Ho Chi Minh City before 6.30 pm. Those who disembark at Phan Thiet train station can hop on red local buses to get to their resort in Mui Ne while taxis are also available at the train station for travellers with reservations at Anantara Mui Ne Resort.

Located over 1500km away from Hanoi, travelling to Mui Ne via bus can be a lengthy and time-consuming journey. Although it would take a rental car around 27 hours to travel 1510km, express bus services in Vietnam are far more efficient. Considered the most budget-friendly way to travel to Mui Ne from Hoi An, popular bus operators including Hoang Long and Mai Linh Express provide affordable transfers to Mui Ne. Bus services also connect Ho Chi Minh City with Mui Ne and cover the distance in no more than 4 hours.

Those who prefer to enjoy a road trip across Vietnam can always rent a motorbike or a car from either Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh City. While this is an option that's only available to tourists in possession of an international driving license, don't be surprised to find local car rental companies that ignore this prerequisite in their hurry to cash in on tourist dollars. Those without an international driving license, however, should refrain from renting or driving vehicles and motorbikes in Vietnam as the likelihood of running into traffic police officers along the route is quite high. There are two routes drivers can take to reach Mui Ne from Ho Chi Minh City and both are scenic highways that allow visitors a rare chance to witness rural Vietnam. The first route is the longest and is 242km in length but it travels through vibrant areas such as Mui Ke Ga, La Gi and Binh Lau before entering Binh Thuan Province. The 209km long second route, on the other hand, sticks to the 1A National Road.