Mui Ne
ByOn a long white sandy beach fringed by tall swaying coconut palms the fishing village of Mui Ne faces south into the turquoise blue of the South China Sea. Small fat bellied wooden fishing boats and woven coracles nestle under the trees until they are hauled or carried into the surf by the local fishermen. Only recently discovered by local and international tourists the beach is still relatively unspoiled with few if any of the hawkers normally associated with tourist beaches. But already the development is underway. Resorts are being built and shops and restaurants are popping up along the coast road.
Whilst this development seems a pity in one sense it also brings employment and income to the poor local fishing community. The fishermen’s catches now command much higher prices in the resorts and restaurants. The Vietnamese people we met here were warm and friendly. There is often a smile and a wave from fishermen looking up whilst repairing their nets and the small beach restaurants excel in hospitality.
The area away from the idyllic beach is dominated by huge sand dunes, famous throughout Vietnam, for their picturesque beauty. Trekking amid the white dunes gives spectacular views of these mountains of sand. Sunset in the red sand dunes was highly recommended. Here we met Jim and Jean, a couple from Newcastle, sipping champagne on top of the highest dune, bathed in deep rosy light, whilst watching the last rays of the sun dipping into the South China Sea.
