Mui Ne fishing village: The taste of the sea in the heart of Phan Thiet

Mui Ne fishing village is an unmissable destination on your journey to explore Phan Thiet. Not only attracting visitors with its azure beaches and vast sand dunes, the fishing village also reveals the simple, rustic beauty of fishermen who make their living from the sea. A visit here, immersing yourself in the everyday atmosphere of this coastal fishing village, will surely leave you with unforgettable memories.

1. Overview of Mui Ne fishing village

Mui Ne fishing village is located on Huynh Thuc Khang Street, in Mui Ne Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province. This place is only about 200m from Mui Ne bus station, 1km from Mui Ne market, and about 23km from the city center heading north. Thanks to its convenient location, the fishing village is very convenient for you to visit, explore and fully experience the coastal atmosphere.

Mui Ne fishing village is a favorite destination for many tourists when coming to Phan Thiet (Source: Internet).

Mui Ne fishing village is one of the long-standing traditional fishing villages in the Central Vietnam region. The local people mainly live by fishing and processing sea products such as dried fish, dried squid, and traditional fish sauce.

Stretching along the coastline for about 1km, Mui Ne fishing village stands out with colorful round basket boats lined up on the fine white sand beach, along with countless boats anchored after fishing trips.

Every morning, when the sun just rises, the fishing village becomes bustling with the scene of fishermen returning after their sea trips, fresh catches being brought ashore and sold right at the seaside fish market. This is a great opportunity for visitors to feel the simple and intimate beauty of a traditional fishing village, completely different from the hustle and bustle of modern tourist attractions.

Mui Ne fishing village carries peaceful, rustic beauty (Source: Internet).

2. How to get from Phan Thiet center to Mui Ne fishing village

Mui Ne fishing village is about 23km from Phan Thiet city center, taking about 30-45 minutes to travel. Depending on your personal needs and preferences, you can choose to travel to the fishing village by one of the following means of transport:

• Motorbike rental: Visitors can rent bikes at homestays or hotels for 120,000 - 150,000 VND/day. Following the Nguyen Dinh Chieu - Huynh Thuc Khang route is quite easy, with beautiful coastal scenery.
  
• Taxi: About 250,000 - 300,000 VND/trip, suitable for groups of 2-4 people.
  
• Provincial bus: Take route 1 or 9. Buses operate from 05:00 to 20:00 daily, with frequency of 25-30 minutes/trip. Ticket prices range from 8,000 to 16,000 VND.
  

Notes:

• You should leave early to catch the fishing village at dawn, when fishing and seafood trading activities are most bustling.
• If traveling by motorbike, bring water and sun protection, as after 8am it can be very sunny.
• For buses, visitors can stand along the route and wave to catch the bus, not necessarily having to go to the bus stop.

Mui Ne fishing village is only 23km from the city center (Source: Internet).

Currently, Phan Thiet does not have an operating airport, so for visitors from distant provinces, you can choose flights to Lien Khuong Airport (Da Lat), 160km from Phan Thiet, or Cam Ranh Airport (Nha Trang), Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City), etc.

To check schedules, ticket prices and flights, you can visit the official website of Vietnam Airlines to choose the most suitable flight for your journey.

3. Ideal time to visit the fishing village

According to Phan Thiet travel experience, the most ideal time to explore Mui Ne fishing village is from June to August. This is the dry season, with clear blue skies, beautiful sunshine and calm seas, very suitable for strolling along the coast, taking photos or experiencing fishermen's life. On the contrary, from September to November is the rainy season, the sea often has big waves and strong winds, easily affecting outdoor activities. Therefore, you should consider when planning your itinerary during this time.

Note: You should visit the fishing village early in the morning to fully feel the fishing village atmosphere. The afternoon will be suitable for watching the sunset and peaceful atmosphere.

You should visit the fishing village in the morning to witness the bustling trading scene (Source: Internet).

4. Experience buying fresh seafood at Mui Ne fishing village

Depending on the type and quantity, seafood will be divided into small basins such as fish, squid, snails, crabs separately or mixed, with prices ranging from about 100,000 VND upwards. High-end seafood such as lobsters are usually sold in basins of 3-5 pieces, with prices around 400,000 - 800,000 VND depending on the time.

4.1. Choose the "golden" time to go to the fishing village

To catch the freshest seafood at "soft" prices, you should go to the market as early as possible, around 5am - 7am. Although the market still operates until about 10am, the later in the day, the amount of goods decreases, seafood is no longer abundant and may have passed through traders' hands.

Going to the market in the morning you will choose the freshest seafood (Source: Internet).

4.2. Tips for choosing each type of live seafood

To buy fresh seafood at Mui Ne fishing village, you not only need to go early but also know how to recognize the freshness of each type. Here are some simple but very useful tips to help you choose fresh seafood:

• Sea fish: Prioritize those with slightly protruding clear eyes, fresh pink-red fish gills, firm fish body, good elasticity when pressed lightly, shiny skin, tightly attached scales.
  
• Shrimp: Choose ones with shiny shells, firm bodies, intact legs. Tiger shrimp usually have blue-black shells, while white shrimp have white-green bodies with clear back lines.
  
• Squid: Choose ones with white opaque bodies, silver-glossy skin, soft tentacles and not slimy. Holding squid feels heavy, easy to peel the outer membrane is a sign of freshness.
  
• Crab: Choose ones with large, firm claws, tapping lightly on the shell makes a muffled sound, healthy crabs still react strongly when held on the back.
  
• Clams, oysters: Heavy to hold, shells still tightly closed means still alive. Avoid those that sound hollow when tapped or have open shells, which are signs of death.
  

Note: Fresh seafood usually only has a light fishy smell, characteristic of seawater. If you smell sour, strong or strange odors, no matter how attractive they look, you should not buy them.

Choose carefully to buy fresh seafood (Source: Internet).

4.3. Negotiating fish prices

If you are a first-time tourist to Phan Thiet or Mui Ne, when going to the seafood market, you must remember one thing: ask for prices first and don't be afraid to bargain. If you don't ask carefully or bargain, you will easily be "ripped off". You can bargain down about 20% from the original price, for example, if dried squid is offered at about 800,000 VND, boldly counter-offer 600,000 - 700,000 VND.

Don't rush to buy at the first stall you see, but try to walk around once, look at several places for reference before deciding. Just taking the trouble to compare prices a bit, you can buy delicious seafood at much more reasonable prices.

In particular, you should also pay attention to the sellers to avoid fraud and product swapping, especially when you buy seafood and bring it to a restaurant for processing.

Don't forget to bargain to avoid being "challenged" (Source: Internet).

4.4. How to preserve live seafood after purchase

After buying seafood, you can ask the seller to marinate with ice or pack in foam boxes for convenient carrying. It's best to inform them in advance so they can prepare additional ice to keep freshness longer. Some boats also offer cleaning seafood on the spot, very convenient if you don't have time to process or want to bring it to another restaurant for cooking.

5. Other experience activities not to miss at Mui Ne fishing village

5.1. Eating seafood cooked on the spot

Coming to Mui Ne fishing village, you cannot miss the opportunity to enjoy fresh seafood cooked right on the spot. Along the coast there are small eateries with delicious dishes such as grilled squid, steamed shrimp, scallops grilled with scallion oil, etc. Enjoying seafood while watching the sunset on the sea is an unforgettable experience.

Enjoy fresh seafood right on the spot (Source: Internet).

5.2. Paddling round basket boats around the beach

Fishermen will take you offshore, enjoying the sea view while breathing the salty, cool morning air. In the distance are large boats sailing out to sea, the bustling atmosphere in the morning with cheerful laughter and chatter from the locals makes you feel like you're blending into life here.

Note: Round basket boats usually dock near the end of the market beach, so go early to avoid long waits. You should wear life jackets and avoid standing on the basket when taking photos to ensure safety.

Paddling boats on the sea is an unmissable experience when visiting Mui Ne fishing village (Source: Internet).

5.3. Watching beautiful sunrise over the sea

When dawn breaks, Mui Ne fishing village begins to bustle. From offshore, sunlight filters through the sails, reflecting on the water surface in a golden color. You can walk on the sand, swim in the sea or simply sit and relax, watching the sun gradually rise from the horizon. It would be wonderful if you could witness this beautiful moment on the beach and don't forget to bring a camera to capture these images!

The beautiful scenery of Mui Ne fishing village at dawn (Source: Internet).

5.4. Taking "virtual living" photos at the boat beach

The boat beach area is the check-in coordinate that creates millions of likes famous photos across the internet. Hundreds of round basket boats and small boats of various colors are neatly lined up on the fine white sand beach, creating a vivid and colorful picture. From here, you can look far into the distance, admiring the panoramic view of the fishing village with anchored boats, rows of green coconut trees and blue skies.

Check-in virtual living at the boat beach (Source: Internet).

5.5. Enjoying other local specialties

On Huynh Thuc Khang Street, you will easily find many seaside eateries and local restaurants with rich menus and clean spaces. This is an opportunity for you to enjoy "authentic" delicious dishes such as:

• Phan Thiet hot pot: A characteristic hot pot with fresh seafood, vegetables and rich broth.
• Grilled squid teeth: A popular snack, squid teeth grilled crispy and fragrant.
• Banh quai vac: Cake made from tapioca flour with shrimp and meat filling, eaten with sweet and sour fish sauce.
• Fried catfish with lard: Catfish fried crispy, drizzled with scallion oil, eaten with raw vegetables and sweet and sour fish sauce.

Mui Ne fishing village also has many other attractive specialties you should try (Source: Internet).

6. Suggestions for expanding Phan Thiet travel itinerary

Besides Mui Ne fishing village, Phan Thiet owns many other interesting destinations waiting for you to explore. If you still have time, you definitely shouldn't miss the following prominent landmarks:

• Fairy Stream: About 6km from the fishing village with very convenient roads. This is a small stream flowing through rock crevices and brilliant red-orange sand dunes, creating a natural landscape that is both wild and poetic. Visitors should wear flip-flops or sandals as they will have to move in the stream.
  
• Red Sand Dunes: About 3km from the fishing village, only takes about 10-15 minutes by motorbike. This is one of Mui Ne's tourism symbols, outstanding with smooth, fine sand dunes whose shapes constantly change with the wind direction.
  
• Ong Dia Rock Beach: About 11km from the fishing village, with large rocks stretching into the sea, creating unique shapes. This is also one of the most beautiful sunset viewing spots in Phan Thiet.
  
• Hon Rom: Located on the beautiful coastal road extending from Mui Ne. Although there aren't many accompanying tourism services, this is an ideal destination for camping or relaxation. Visitors should prepare snacks and drinks when coming here.
  

Fairy Stream (Source: Internet).

Mui Ne flying sand dunes (Source: Internet).

Ong Dia Rock Beach (Source: Internet).

Hon Rom (Source: Internet).

Traveling to Mui Ne fishing village is not just a destination, but a journey touching the most simple and authentic aspects of coastal life. Feel the rhythm of life here for yourself, listen to the stories of waves and wind, and let those rustic experiences linger long in your memory. And don't forget to book early on the official website of Vietnam Airlines to enjoy many attractive offers for your Phan Thiet trip.