M
ui Ne is a popular destination for a quick, weekend getaway for the population in and around Ho Chi Minh City. I had been told about the area of Mui Ne ever since I arrived in Saigon, and with a weekend to spare, decided to hit the coastal location with a few friends, and tick off the ‘must-do’ activities. Traveling northeast to Mui Ne there are many options. Train, taxi, bus and car are all viable modes of transport, but we decided to travel by sleeper bus. Wanting to experience the two-tiered beds, and amusement of clambering up to the top bunk, it seemed like a fun way to reach the destination. Setting off at 8am and arriving at 12pm, the four-hour journey sped past, with a quick pit stop for snacks and the bathroom mid-way through, we were very much on our way. After arriving and checking into our guesthouse, we grabbed our cameras and hurried to a nearby shop to buy waterproof ponchos. Whilst you can plan a trip away, you definitely can’t plan the weather ... as 32 AsiaLIFE HCMC
we discovered. Picked up by a bright green jeep, we sped down the road to our first stop; the Fairy Stream. The stream is a slowly meandering creek, coloured by the red and orange clay and limestone particles that make up the surrounding rock formations. As the stream winds through the sand dunes of Rom Island, weaving its way between coconut trees, bamboo forests and the occasional boulder, it provides the most picturesque views, likened to parts of the Grand Canyon by some. We walked through the soft, sandy creek-bed, whilst sipping on fresh coconut water from one of the stalls that lines the stream. Heading back to the jeep, we were curious as to what the next stop would hold. Whilst originally planning to head to the popular fishing village next, we were warned that the heavy storm would have made the location rather wet and it would have an incredibly pungent fish smell. Scrapped from the afternoon itinerary, the fishing village is best visited in the morning, when you can watch as the local fishermen arrive, and haul in their catches
of shellfish and fresh fish from the early morning. Heading to the white sand dunes next, we arrived to see the most spectacular rolling hills of sand, held together by the occasional shrub. If you want to head to the top of the sand dunes, you can hire a quad bike to take you up. With experienced drivers, you can either hop on the back of one, or drive your own, with a guide sat behind you to direct your steering, and help you up the large slopes. We opted for the latter, and jumped into the driver’s seat of a hot and snarling quad bike. Speeding along the dunes, and reaching the top for some spectacular views, we took hundreds of photos, including the must-have photo running down a dune. Driving to our next location in our trusty jeep, we arrived at the red sand dunes just in time for sunset. The red dunes, a similar colour to the red rock of the Fairy Stream overlook the sea and surrounding hills. As we arrived, we were offered what seemed to be a long, thin sheet of linoleum
