Vietnam 4 Days 3 Nights: Day 1 Mui Ne

Vietnam 4 Days 3 Nights

Total trip cost: 8,400 baht

• Roundtrip flight Bangkok - Ho Chi Minh City: 3,590 baht
• Expenses in Vietnam: 4,810 baht

Breakdown of expenses:

• To be provided in a separate post.

Trip origin:

This trip began with the desire to find travel companions. I found one fellow traveler, and we decided to discuss our desired destinations. I wanted to visit Hoi An, while my travel companion wanted to see the desert in Mui Ne. These two cities are quite far apart, and we only had four days. We loosely planned our itinerary and realized it was possible, but it would require some effort. My travel companion agreed, and we were ready to embark on our adventure.

The journey began early in the morning from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City. My flight was on AirAsia, departing at 7:30 AM and arriving in Ho Chi Minh City at 9:15 AM. Upon arrival in Vietnam, the first thing I did was to find a shop to buy a phone SIM card. From reading various reviews, I was told that if I walked out of the airport gate, I would find many SIM card shops. The recommended shop was the one at the southernmost end of the stairs, where the SIM card was very cheap at only 105,000 VND (145 baht). However, there was a long queue, and with limited time, I opted for the shop next door, where I agreed on a price of 180,000 VND (250 baht). Once I got the SIM card, I immediately opened the Grab app (Grab prices in Vietnam are much cheaper than taxis, and there is no need to worry about being cheated, but there is a bit of a language barrier). I called for a ride to Hanh Cafe, where I would transfer to the bus. The total cost of the Grab Car (Airport - Hanh Cafe) was 80,000 VND (112 baht). There was also an airport entry fee of 10,000 VND (14 baht).

I arrived at Hanh Café just five minutes before 11:00 AM, catching the last morning bus by a hair. Otherwise, I would have had to wait for the afternoon bus, which would have disrupted my travel plans. The ticket price was 110,000 VND, and I purchased a round-trip ticket from Mui Ne, departing at midnight, for a total of 220,000 VND (306 baht).

The car is in good condition, comfortable, and clean.

This bus does not have seats, but it is a very comfortable sleeper bus. I got the lower bunk at the front. The only thing I didn't like about this bus was that after sitting for a while, the person behind me put their feet almost on my head, and the smell of their feet was quite strong. I had to endure it for 4 and a half hours.

During the journey, there will be one stop for passengers to use the restroom and stretch their legs. I took the opportunity to try Vietnamese iced coffee (cà phê đá), which cost 30,000 VND (42 baht). The coffee was very strong. If you visit Vietnam, be sure to try the coffee from a street vendor.

Upon arriving in Mui Ne, with limited time (only 8 hours), I opted for a motorbike as my mode of transportation. Conveniently, there were rental shops near the bus station offering affordable rates. I rented a motorbike for 120,000 VND (approximately 167 Baht) and filled the tank with 25,000 VND (approximately 35 Baht) worth of fuel. My first stop was Mui Ne Beach, which, while beautiful, was unfortunately littered with a significant amount of garbage.

I then drove to the fishing village. It was quite beautiful and I saw many strange fishing boats shaped like basins.

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Let's take a look at another angle, this time from the street side of the property.

We drove to Red Sand in Mui Ne. Before going up to take pictures, I sat down to eat at a nearby restaurant. The prices at this restaurant were quite high. I ordered plain rice with fried pork and plain water. The total price was 119,000 VND (165 baht). After finishing eating, we went for a walk in the desert.

For me, the most beautiful time in the desert is between 4 pm and 6 pm, when the sun sets over the sand dunes.

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After the sun set, I drove along the Mui Ne coastline.

The area is mostly made up of pubs, bars, hotels, and a variety of shops, creating an atmosphere that reminded me of Pattaya in the old days.

For dinner, I opted for a simple roadside eatery that offered surprisingly delicious food. The beef pho cost 40,000 VND (approximately 56 baht), while a bottle of Tiger beer was 15,000 VND (approximately 21 baht).

After finishing my meal, I stopped by Katie's Coffee House to wait for my midnight bus and charge my phone. The cafe is quite nice, with two distinct zones. I'll provide a more detailed review of the cafe later. The prices are reasonable, with my coffee costing 55,000 VND (approximately 77 Thai baht).

As the departure time approached, I hurried back to the bus stop to wait. There, I met a lovely young child who kept me company. However, as the wait for the bus to Laa was nearly two hours long, the staff at the bus stop invited me to join them in a game of poker to pass the time. It was a great way to spend the time waiting.

The car has arrived. This time I got to sit on the top floor. The top floor is much better, but the air conditioning is a bit too cold. Well, it's time to relax. Goodbye Mui Ne, see you tomorrow morning in Ho Chi Minh City.

Expenses Summary for Day 1

Vietnam Sim 4G: 180,000 VND Grab Car (Airport - Hanh Cafe): 80,000 VND Airport Fee: 10,000 VND Hanh Cafe Roundtrip (Ho Chi Minh - Mui Ne): 220,000 VND Coffee at Rest Stop: 30,000 VND Motorbike Rental: 120,000 VND Gasoline: 25,000 VND Rice and Fried Pork: 99,000 VND Bottled Water: 20,000 VND Pho at Streetside Restaurant: 40,000 VND Coffee at Katie's Coffee House: 55,000 VND Tiger Beer: 15,000 VND Bottled Water: 5,000 VND

First Day Summary

• Personal Payment: 664,000 VND
• Shared Payment with Sibling: 235,000 VND / 2 = 117,500 VND
• Total: 781,500 VND (approximately 1,070 Baht)

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