THE COASTAL DUNE: A New Year's Sprint to Vietnam's Little Sahara

The New Year is a time for wide horizons, and nowhere in Vietnam offers a wider horizon than Mui Ne. It is a landscape of contradictions: massive red sand dunes colliding with the blue ocean, ancient Cham towers watching over modern wind farms, and fishing villages coexisting with luxury resorts.

We are embarking on a 72-hour kinetic injection into this coastal desert. We will ride Jeeps across white sands that feel like the Sahara, walk through a "Fairy Stream" of red clay, and toast the new year in a wine castle buried underground. This is not just a beach trip; it is an adventure in thermal contrasts.

The Dune, The Castle, and The Sea

DAY 1: The Mountain Buddha & The Red Sand | Saigon – Phan Thiet

Points of Interest: Ta Kou Mountain, Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda, Red Sand Dunes, Poshanu Cham Towers.

The Experience: We depart Saigon at dawn. First stop: Ta Kou Mountain. We take the cable car (optional) up to see the Reclining Buddha. At 49 meters long, it is a serene giant sleeping in the jungle. The Drive: We hit the coast. The road winds past the Poshanu Cham Towers, ancient red brick sentinels of the Champa Kingdom, and the Ong Dia Rock Beach. The Sunset: We end the day at the Red Sand Dunes. As the sun drops, the sand turns a deep, fiery orange. We slide down the dunes on plastic mats, laughing like children. Evening: Phan Thiet by night. Seafood feasts and the salty breeze.

Suggestions:

The Show: If you have time, book the Fishermen Show. It’s a theatrical spectacle with water effects that tells the story of the local fishing culture.

DAY 2: The Wine & The White Desert | Mui Ne – Bau Trang

Points of Interest: RD Wine Castle, Bikini Beach, Circus Land, Bau Trang (White Sand Dunes).

The Experience: We start with a twist: The RD Wine Castle. Deep underground, in a climate-controlled cellar, we taste Napa Valley wines. It feels like Europe, but you step outside into the tropics. The Photo Op: We visit Bikini Beach and Circus Land, a carnival of color perfect for Instagram. The Climax: The afternoon is for the Jeep Tour (Optional but essential). We race along the coastal road to Bau Trang (White Sand Dunes). This is the "Sahara of Vietnam." We ride ATVs (Quad Bikes) over the crests, the engine roaring, the sand spraying. We visit the Fairy Stream, walking barefoot in the cool red water between canyon walls. We end at the Fishing Village, watching the round basket boats bobbing in the sunset.

Suggestions:

The Jeep: Book the Jeep tour. Driving a convertible jeep along the ocean road is the defining image of Mui Ne.

The ATV: Renting an ATV at the White Dunes is pricey but worth the adrenaline.

DAY 3: The Pearl & The Return | Phan Thiet – Saigon

Points of Interest: Long Beach Pearl Museum.

The Experience: A lazy morning. Swim in the pool or the sea. We visit the Long Beach Pearl Museum to see the gems of the ocean. The Return: We drive back to Saigon, arriving in the evening with sand in our shoes and a tan on our skin.

The White Desert Run

It happens on Day 2 at Bau Trang. You are on the back of an ATV, climbing a near-vertical wall of white sand. You reach the top of the dune. Suddenly, the world opens up. To your left is a deep blue lotus lake; to your right, endless white sand; and ahead, the ocean. The wind whips your hair. For a moment, you aren't in Vietnam; you are on another planet. It is pure, unadulterated freedom.

The Mui Ne Secrets

The "Dong" Rule: At the Red Sand Dunes, kids will offer plastic slides (truot cat). Haggle. And watch your pockets—it’s crowded.

The Dragon Fruit: You will drive past miles of Dragon Fruit farms. At night, they light up with thousands of bulbs to stimulate growth. It looks like a field of stars on the ground. Ask the driver to stop for a photo.

The Fairy Stream

Walking the Fairy Stream (Suoi Tien), I took off my shoes. The sand at the bottom of the ankle-deep water was soft as silk. On one side were bamboo forests; on the other, stalagmites of red clay carved by the rain. It felt like walking through a geological time capsule. A local told me, "The stream never dries, and it never floods. It just flows." It was a moment of Zen in the middle of a desert adventure.

The Dunes are Calling

The New Year brings the best weather to Mui Ne—cool winds and bright sun. You need to ride the dunes and taste the wine. Pack your sunglasses. The bus leaves at 05:30 AM.

Notes (Additional Information)

Children’s tour prices:

Children under 5 years old: Free of charge. Parents or accompanying adults are responsible for the child’s meals, accommodation, and entrance fees (if any). Each pair of adults may accompany one child under 5 for free; the second child and beyond must purchase 50% of the tour price.

Children from 5 to under 10 years old: 75% of the tour price. Includes meals, a seat on the bus, and shared accommodation with family. Each pair of adults may accompany one child aged 5 to under 12; for the second child, parents are advised to purchase an extra single bed.

Children 10 years old and above: 100% of the tour price and full adult services.

Payment and Cancellation Policy

After confirmation, guests must pay at least 50% deposit to secure the booking, and the full 100% tour cost must be paid no later than 10 days before departure.

If guests do not complete payment by the required full-payment deadline, they will be considered to have voluntarily canceled the tour and will forfeit all deposit(s).

Airplane / train / high-speed boat tickets are issued immediately after registration, payment, and submission of personal details (full name, date of birth, etc.). These tickets are non-changeable and non-refundable: no name changes, no refunds, no date changes, and no itinerary changes.

Cancellation penalties after registration:

After deposit or payment, or more than 15 days before departure: 30% of tour price

10 days before departure: 50% of tour price

7 days before departure: 70% of tour price

5 days before departure: 100% of tour price

All cancellations must be made directly with the Company or via fax, email, or text message and must be confirmed by the Company. Cancellations by phone are not accepted.

As this is a shared group tour, the company is responsible for gathering enough participants (minimum 20 adults). If fewer than 20 adults register, the company will notify guests at least 3 days before departure to arrange a new departure date or provide a full refund of the deposit.

Deposit dates, payment dates, cancellation dates, and tour change dates do not include Saturday and Sunday.

In force majeure cases (terrorism, riots, natural disasters, floods, etc.), depending on actual circumstances and guest safety, the company may cancel or adjust the itinerary to an alternative program of equivalent value. If the new program incurs additional costs, guests must pay the difference. Both sides must make every effort to minimize losses due to force majeure.

For changes in flight schedules or transportation delays caused by airlines, railways, or ferry operators, the company is not responsible for any additional expenses such as meals, accommodation, transport, or tour guide services.

Important Information for Tour Participants

On the departure date, guests must gather at .......... at ..........

The company is not responsible for late arrivals.

Some activity sequences and details (flight time, train time, boat schedule, etc.) may be adjusted depending on actual travel conditions (weather, traffic, etc.).

Hotel/resort check-in and check-out times: after 2:00 PM for check-in and before 12:00 PM for check-out.

The tour guide will inform guests of specific meeting times and locations on the afternoon before departure.

Please sit in the seat assigned at the time of tour registration.

Please bring light and compact luggage.

Personal documents, money, and valuables must be self-kept. The company will help search for lost items but is not responsible for compensation.

Guests are advised to bring a compact umbrella for sun and rain, and wear sports shoes or sandals with back straps for easier movement.

Please follow the tour guide’s timetable to avoid delays affecting the whole group.

For health and food safety reasons, please do not bring outside food into restaurants or hotels. Bringing beverages may require hotel/restaurant approval and may incur an additional fee.

Before leaving your seat or location (bus, restaurant, sightseeing spot, shop, hotel room, etc.), please check your belongings carefully—wallet, purse, bag, camera, camcorder, phone—to avoid loss or inconvenience during the trip.

Be cautious while walking at sightseeing areas; do not stand or climb in unsafe places. Be careful when moving on boats or ferries. When crossing the street, follow traffic laws. Families with children must supervise them closely at all times.