
Mui Ne Fishing Village
Mui Ne is located to the east of Phan Thiet City. Despite being dubbed the “resort capital,” this place is not only home to luxurious beach resorts. In Mui Ne, there is also a fishing village that still retains its authentic coastal charm—the Mui Ne Fishing Village. Travelers who have had the opportunity to visit here often suggest, “When traveling to Mui Ne, remember to visit the fishing village!”
Mui Ne Fishing Village – A Village Purely Sea-Inspired
Mui Ne Fishing Village is located on Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan. It is approximately 23km from the center of Phan Thiet, about 1km from Mui Ne Market, and only about 200m from Mui Ne Bus Station. Nestled along the coastline, this fishing village stretches for 1km. The sea here remains calm with gentle breezes throughout the year, making it an ideal anchoring and trading place for fishing boats and seafood commerce since ancient times.
For generations, this humble fishing village has nestled modestly amidst towering coconut palms. The fishermen’s lives unfold with the ebb and flow of the sea, venturing out on fishing trips and returning to the calm seas on some days and stormy tempests on others. It is precisely the raw, simple, and authentic essence of the coastal fishermen’s lives that holds a peculiar allure for travelers.
The small houses of the fishermen in Mui Ne Fishing Village.
To get to Mui Ne Fishing Village
Travelers from northern provinces will need to purchase a flight ticket to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), and then travel to Binh Thuan. From Saigon to Phan Thiet, you will need an additional approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes by road. Starting from Saigon, you can rent a private car or take a passenger bus to save costs.
If you choose to take a passenger bus, you can opt for two well-known bus companies operating on the Saigon – Mui Ne route: Phuong Trang or Sinh Cafe. The bus journeys typically have a stop at Mui Ne Bus Station, which is only 200 meters away from the fishing village. Once you arrive at the bus station, you can take a motorbike taxi or rent a bicycle or motorbike to reach the fishing village.
For adventurous individuals with a passion for motorbike journeys, you can embark on a motorbike trip from Saigon to Mui Ne Fishing Village. This way, you’ll have the opportunity to travel through and witness numerous famous landmarks and natural beauty along the way. Starting from Saigon, follow National Highway 1A towards Binh Thuan. When you reach the Suoi Cat intersection, turn left to enter the city of Phan Thiet. Continue riding along Provincial Road 706 from Phan Thiet City, and you will reach Mui Ne.
Map for traveling from Phan Thiet city to Mui Ne Fishing Village.
When is the best time to visit Mui Ne Fishing Village?
Travelers can visit Phan Thiet in general and Mui Ne Fishing Village in particular at any time of the year. However, as the fishing village is situated by the sea, it may be inconvenient to visit during heavy rain or storms. To ensure favorable weather conditions and avoid disrupting your itinerary, it is recommended to visit during the dry season in Phan Thiet. The ideal time to explore the fishing village is considered to be from June to August. During this period, the sea is calm, the waves are gentle, and the sky is clear, providing an opportunity to witness the daily seafood harvesting activities of the local fishermen.
Visiting the fishing village at any time of the day can offer interesting discoveries. However, if you want to truly experience the life of the fishermen in the village and enjoy the full range of gifts that the fishing village has to offer, try to be there early in the morning!
Sunrise over the sea in the fishing village.
What makes Mui Ne Fishing Village appealing to tourists?
Check-in the tranquil scenery of the fishing village.
In Mui Ne Fishing Village, you won’t find towering buildings, luxurious hotels, or enticing entertainment services. What awaits you here is a serene natural landscape, filled with the breath of life. It’s the coastline with fishing boats returning from the sea, and small houses nestled under the shade of green coconut trees.
The tranquil scenery of the pristine and peaceful fishing village becomes a virtual living background that no app can recreate. The blue of the sea, the golden sand, the green hues, and the red of the boats, along with the colors of makeshift canvas structures along the coastline, are enough to capture vibrant snapshots of life.
Explore the fishing village fish market.
From the road, there are staircases leading down to the fish market below the beach. This is where the fishing boats gather their catch after a night of sailing offshore. Fish, shrimp, and seafood are brought ashore using small basket boats. Buyers and sellers bustlingly engage in transactions, and the market is active every day from 5:30 AM to 10 AM.
The fish market here primarily serves the needs of the local residents. However, many tourists find joy in the lively buying and selling scene, surrounded by a sea of fresh and affordable seafood. From squid, fish, shrimp, crabs, clams, to snails… there is a wide variety. Unable to resist the freshness, everyone wants to select a batch of seafood for the locals to prepare and enjoy on the spot. Travelers looking to buy seafood as gifts can hire a service to boil the seafood on the spot at a cost of 10,000 – 20,000 VND per batch. Pre-boiling the fresh seafood before taking it home helps preserve its inherent sweetness and flavor.
The scene of the fish market in the early morning.
Savoring fresh seafood by the beach.
Visiting Mui Ne Fishing Village without indulging in delicious seafood is like neglecting the sea. Enjoying fresh seafood while admiring the sea and sky is truly an unforgettable experience. Every evening, along the coastline, dozens of makeshift tents are set up. This is the ideal place for you to savor seafood by the beach. The seafood is carefully prepared and much more affordable than dining in restaurants.
Savoring seafood by the sea.
Exploring local cuisine.
Not only can you enjoy delicious seafood, but when you visit the fishing village, you’ll also have the opportunity to savor a variety of Mui Ne delicacies. Huynh Thuc Khang Street is lined with many restaurants and eateries offering diverse menus and clean premises. Travelers can choose a favorite restaurant and don’t forget to taste some local specialties such as:
Phan Thiet Hot Pot: The name comes from the way of releasing various ingredients including meat, seafood, and vegetables into a pot of boiling broth. The hot pot here is similar to hot pots in other regions, but the proximity to the sea ensures that the seafood in the hot pot is always fresh and abundant.
Grilled squid teeth are also a delightful snack worth trying. From the teeth of squid, people prepare various dishes such as stir-fried and deep-fried squid. However, the most beloved dish is probably these grilled squid teeth skewers.
Grilled squid teeth, Phan Thiet style.
Banh quai vac features a translucent rice flour outer layer filled with a savory mixture of pork belly, fresh and sweet sea shrimp, or mung bean. The taste of banh quai vac is somewhat similar to the banh beo or banh bot loc of Hue. Enjoying these dumplings with the Mui Ne fishing village fish sauce guarantees an unforgettable experience.
Fatty beltfish dish.
Exploring the professions of fish drying and fish sauce production.
According to travel experience in Mui Ne, if you venture deep into the fishing village, the residential area of fishermen, you will have the opportunity to learn about the professions of fish drying, squid drying, and traditional fish sauce production. One notable aspect is that the fishing activities are predominantly carried out by men, while the preparation of various dried seafood products is done by women.
The seafood undergoes a preliminary process, marination, and then is left to sun-dry. Under the Mui Ne sun, various types of naturally dried seafood retain the full flavor and saltiness of the sea. These make for suitable gifts that you can purchase to give to your family and friends.
Dried fish being sun-dried in Mui Ne Fishing Village.