Beautiful Beaches and Delicious Cuisine in Phan Thiet – Mui Ne

Phan Thiet – Mui Ne is a favorite destination for many couples to take wedding photos and honeymoon because it's truly amazing beyond imagination.

Phan Thiet is a city located in Binh Thuan Province, about 200 km from Ho Chi Minh City. Phan Thiet is blessed with many beautiful landscapes, pristine beaches, and vast stretches of white and golden sand dunes that may seem arid but are actually romantic.

Timing

The weather in Phan Thiet is not too hot, with an average temperature of below 30 degrees Celsius. The ideal time to visit is from August to January, with mild weather, not too hot, and clear blue water. The rainy season falls around June and July, but it usually consists of short rain showers, so you can still enjoy your stay and beach activities comfortably.

Preparation

– Bottled water (because the weather here is quite sunny and dry)
– Camera
– Sunglasses
– Sunscreen
– Flip-flops or sandals

Transportation

Since there is no airport in Phan Thiet, the nearest airports are Tan Son Nhat or Cam Ranh (about 200 km away). Typically, you can fly from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City or Nha Trang and then choose between two options to get to Phan Thiet: by bus or by train.

If departing from HCMC, traveling by car is the easiest and cheapest option because the roads are easy to drive on, with many guesthouses and restaurants along the way. The journey takes about 4 hours. You can choose reputable bus companies like Sinh Cafe, Tam Hanh, Phuong Trang, and Mai Linh (average sleeper bus ticket price is around 180,000 VND/person)... Buses will take you directly to Mui Ne, dropping you off at the right resort or hotel you're staying at.

With the train (average ticket price is around 160,000 VND/person), if you're traveling for 3 to 4 days or more, it's advisable to bring your own bike, which will save you a lot of money. A tip when bringing a motorcycle on the train is to make sure to drain all the fuel, as fuel is often siphoned off on the train. Remember to buy the return ticket in advance as parking spaces are limited and tickets sell out quickly. You can inquire about the parking fee directly when booking the ticket.

The nearest station to Phan Thiet is Muong Man, about 12 km west of Phan Thiet. Thong Nhat trains from Hanoi to Saigon and vice versa stop here. From Muong Man, tourists can take a taxi, motorbike taxi, or bus to Phan Thiet. There are also buses from the station to Mui Ne, taking about 30-40 minutes.

In Phan Thiet, if you're not driving your own vehicle, it's best to rent a motorbike from local motorbike taxi drivers or at hotels and guesthouses in the area to explore the beautiful sights of Phan Thiet. The rental price is around 100,000 VND per day. Additionally, you can rent a Jeep (priced at 500,000 VND per day) to drive about 30 km to the white sand dunes and yellow sand dunes for sightseeing and photography.

Accommodation

Mui Ne boasts numerous beach resort areas, most of which feature beachfront thatched-roof bungalows. More upscale hotels offer outdoor swimming pools, water sports facilities, sun loungers, restaurants, bars, and spas, with prices starting from 40 USD per day.

You can find many guesthouses along Nguyen Trai, Le Loi, Nguyen Dinh Chieu streets, with average prices around 300,000 VND per room per day during regular times. Additionally, there are many hotels on Tran Hung Dao street with affordable prices, but since they are located on a main road, they can be noisy. You can also opt for beachfront hotel rooms instead of those in the city, such as Hon Rom 2 Hotel.

Camping in Mui Ne – Phan Thiet

Some people enjoy the freedom and adventure, or simply want to minimize costs. You can consider camping services in Phan Thiet. When camping, make sure to inquire about the security situation in the area. It's recommended to camp at Hon Rom 1 area or Ke Ga area. Tourist destinations in Mui Ne offering camping services include Thuy Trang Resort, Hon Rom 1-2 Resort.

Sightseeing

When in Phan Thiet, a must-visit destination is Mui Ne (25 km from Phan Thiet city), as it is the ideal resort area. In fact, you can stay in Mui Ne without necessarily staying in Phan Thiet. In Mui Ne, you can enjoy beach bathing, explore the coastal atmosphere, visit Fairy Stream (with one side being sand dunes and the other side being coconut trees), play at Red Sand Dunes (about 5-6 km from Mui Ne), visit White Sand Dunes (Bau Trang, over 30 km from Mui Ne).

Apart from famous landmarks like Mui Ne, Hon Rom, Fairy Stream, Poshanu Tower, you can also explore other equally interesting destinations such as Ta Ku Mountain, Phu Quy Island, Ke Ga Lighthouse, Ong Dia Rock Beach, Hong Stream, visit the Whale Temple with a 22-meter-long whale skeleton, visit Duc Thanh School where Uncle Ho used to teach...

Here, you can combine sightseeing and relaxation, even camping. It's not only suitable for adventurous souls but also a wonderful retreat for peace and tranquility.

Dining

Soft rice paper rolls

Served alongside roadside stalls selling grilled shrimp paste with rice paper, this dish is simple yet delicious, consisting of soft rice paper, shrimp paste, pork fat, and quail eggs all rolled up to perfection. It's typically sold in the evening.

- Intersection of Tran Hung Dao and Thu Khoa Huan (near Hoa Nang Cafe)
- Tam Bien Intersection, near Tieng Xua Cafe

Banh canh

You can use bread to dip into banh canh broth, which comes in various styles like banh canh with fish cakes or steamed pork cakes. Especially in Phan Thiet, this dish tends to be slightly sweet, which might be unusual for some, but give it a try. Besides banh canh, you can also enjoy bread dipped in delicious meatball sauce.

- Xiu Banh Canh Restaurant (small but delicious): 1 HA Street, Kim Dong District - alley between Tran Quoc Toan Bookstore and BiTi Store, 30 meters deep. The restaurant offers banh canh with fish cakes, fried pork cakes, steamed pork cakes, floating dumplings, meatball bread, and sugarcane juice. Service hours: 2 PM - 10 PM
- Mrs. Ly's Banh Canh with Fish Cake (spacious and easy to find): 566 Tran Hung Dao Street, Phan Thiet. The restaurant serves banh canh with fish cakes, meatball bread with fish cakes, and spring rolls. Service hours: from 4 PM until evening.
- Banh Canh Restaurant on Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street. Service hours: 4 PM - 7 PM.

Fish salad

You can't miss trying the salad when you visit Phan Thiet - Mui Ne. It's available at eateries along the Ca Ty River embankment or at Vietnam Home restaurant (125 Nguyen Dinh Chieu - Mui Ne).

Phan Thiet Quang-style noodles

Give it a try to taste the difference between Quang-style noodles and those of Phan Thiet. Phan Thiet noodles are quite sweet, so squeezing some lime juice in can make them easier to eat.

- No. 129 Tran Phu, open all day.
- Opposite Tuyen Quang School - Mrs. Phuong's Quang-style noodles are a bit pricey but quite decent.
- Quang-style noodles near Phan Boi Chau School, only available in the morning.

Sizzling pancake

Sold abundantly on Tuyen Quang Street, Phan Thiet City. The most famous are two places: Cay Xoai and Cay Phuong. If you don't like it sweet, then choose Cay Phuong.

Phan Thiet mini pancakes

This dish is sold in many places in Phan Thiet, especially on Thu Khoa Huan Street, usually in the evening. Or at mini pancake stall number 8 on Hai Thuong Street, with elegant seating.

Phan Thiet crispy cake

This is a sweet cake, which can be preserved for a long time. Its aroma and color are very attractive. You can buy this dish at Phan Thiet market or specialty shops along the Ca Ty River and in Mui Ne.

Fried mackerel with fat

This dish wrapped in rice paper is as delicious as mackerel salad. If you visit Phan Thiet without trying this dish, you'll regret it.

- Xuân Vàng Restaurant: Pham Van Dong Street - Phan Thiet and eateries along Mui Tau area (Riverbank) near Tran Hung Dao Bridge. (If you visit Phan Thiet at noon, you should eat at this restaurant).
- Thu Ty Restaurant, Tu Minh Restaurant: also located along the Ca Ty Riverbank area, if you want to eat this dish in the evening.

Stewed sweet potatoes

This is a very rustic dish, similar to various sticky rice dishes. Stewed sweet potatoes are closely associated with the childhood memories of many people in Phan Thiet - Binh Thuan. Stewed sweet potatoes are usually sold every morning.

- Near the train station, at the intersection of Cao Thang and Le Hong Phong streets, there is a lady selling sticky rice and stewed sweet potatoes.
- Phuong Market, in front of the alley opposite Thuy Khoa Huan Street.

Rice dumpling cake

This is a very common dish, but the flavor is very rich. Many street vendors sell this dish at Doi Duong Beach, or you can enjoy it at the food stall area in the middle of Phan Thiet Market.

- Xiu noodle soup stall (selling both noodle soup and rice dumpling cake): Kim Dong Street - alley between Tran Quoc Toan Bookstore and BiTi Store, 30 meters deep.
- Anh Minh rice dumpling cake kiosk at Phan Thiet Market, where they pack it in boxes for you to take away, very clean and hygienic.

My Hong broken rice

In Phan Thiet, My Hong broken rice is well-known for its delicious marinated meat and tasty fish sauce. Especially here, there is a delicious broken rice dish with grilled pork belly that you cannot miss. Usually, in Phan Thiet, people often eat broken rice in the morning. Address: 198 Tran Hung Dao - Phan Thiet.

Sea snail salad

This dish is both a favorite snack and a popular dish among students. However, now sea snails are very rare so people often substitute with periwinkle snails. Sold at the Health Department area near Phan Thiet station from 3 pm to 7 pm. This area also sells many other snail dishes.

Phan Thiet beef noodle soup

When it comes to beef noodle soup, you immediately think of Hue-style beef noodle soup, but did you know that Phan Thiet also has its own unique beef noodle soup? With a completely different flavor, especially the small vermicelli instead of the large vermicelli like in Hue-style beef noodle soup in Saigon.

- Nguyet beef noodle soup stall at 134 Thu Khoa Huan Street (serving from 4 pm till evening)
- Beef noodle soup stall near Phan Thiet station (near the sea snail salad stall).

Phan Thiet chicken rice

- Chicken rice stalls on Tuyen Quang Street
- Chicken rice stall on Le Hong Phong Street (in front of Phan Boi Chau school football field)

Various dong dishes

Dong is a famous specialty dish in Phan Thiet – Mui Ne and is processed into various delicious dishes, known by many discerning tourists. You can enjoy this dish at Vietnam Home Restaurant (125AB Nguyen Dinh Chieu). This is a very famous restaurant in the Nguyen Dinh Chieu Western Quarter and is known by many domestic and foreign diners.

Phu Long's pork intestine rice vermicelli

Located 7 kilometers from Phan Thiet, Phu Long boasts nearly 10 eateries lining both sides of National Highway 1A. Travellers passing by in both directions rarely miss the chance to indulge in its offerings every morning. On Saturdays, Sundays, and major holidays, the place is packed with diners, sometimes even running out of seating. If you can't make it to Phu Long, you can try number 40 Tran Phu (only open in the mornings).

Floating pot hotpot

Apart from the famous barracuda hotpot, floating pot hotpot is the second specialty hotpot in Phan Thiet – Mui Ne. If you've ever been to Phan Thiet, you can't miss out on this dish, which even impressed Yan Can Cook when he visited Mui Ne. Floating pot hotpot is available at Seahorse Bistro, Km 11 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ham Tien, Mui Ne.

Boiled squid teeth

Alongside grilled squid teeth, boiled squid teeth are a simpler dish in terms of preparation. Not too complicated, the eating method is simple: dip in salt, pepper, chili + pickles, simple yet you'll be impressed by this rustic dish.

Grilled squid tooth eateries near Phan Thiet Railway Station (open around 3pm until evening).
– Various grilled squid tooth eateries along Nguyen Tat Thanh Street (the road to Doi Duong beach).

Seafood

If you're into seafood, it's best to head to the coast early in the morning to catch the fishing boats returning from their overnight trips. The seafood will be fresher compared to dining at restaurants. But if you're looking for convenience, you can choose seafood restaurants along Nguyen Tat Thanh Boulevard, which offer spacious and airy spaces. For budget travelers, the Phan Thiet Market is the place to go for delicious and affordable eats. In Phan Thiet, there's a delicious and affordable grilled squid tooth dish on Vo Thi Sau Street, near the mouth of the Ca Ty River.

Specialties for gifts

Phan Thiet offers specialties such as sun-dried squid, dragon fruit, fish sauce, and milk rice cakes (available in two types: for tourists and for locals). Cheap seafood like tube squid and fresh squid eggs are widely available at Mui Ne tourist area or processing facilities near the Hai Bridge (on the way from Mui Ne back to Phan Thiet city).

According to Ngôi Sao

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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour