Fishing Village and Seafood in Mui Ne

Part of the Mui Ne travel guide — see every topic in All Mui Ne Guides.

Mui Ne is still a working fishing town, not only a resort. At the north end of the bay, hundreds of boats rest in the harbour. Early each morning the fishing crews come back and sell their catch on the beach. Later in the day, the same seafood appears on grills in small restaurants along the coast. Fresh seafood is one of the best parts of a stay here.

The harbour at dawn

The fishing harbour sits at the northeast end of Mui Ne bay. From a viewpoint on the road above, you can see the whole bay full of blue and red boats. The best time is early morning, about 5:00 to 7:00. Boats arrive after a night at sea, and workers carry baskets of fish, squid, crab and shellfish onto the sand. Buyers check the catch and bargain loudly. It is busy, wet and full of life. Watch your step, ask before taking close photos of people, and keep out of the way of those working.

Round basket boats

The most famous sight in the harbour is the round basket boat, called thung chai in Vietnamese. These small round boats are woven from bamboo and sealed so they float. Fishers use them to move between the big boats and the beach. They paddle them with one oar, and the boats often spin in slow circles. You may also see them stacked on the sand or drying in the sun. In some places along the coast, locals offer short basket boat rides to visitors. Agree the price before you get in.

Where and what to eat

Along the coast road you will find many simple seafood restaurants with tanks of live seafood at the front. You choose what you want, they weigh it, and the kitchen grills, steams or stir-fries it as you ask. Popular choices are grilled scallops with spring onion and peanuts, squid, prawns, crab, clams and whole fish. Prices are usually by weight, so ask for the price first and check the weight. Many places are open to the sea breeze. Busy restaurants full of local families are often a good sign.

Local flavours to try

Phan Thiet, the city next to Mui Ne, is well known in Vietnam for its fish sauce, nuoc mam. You may see the big wooden barrels where it is made, and you will taste it in almost every meal. Look for banh can, small round rice cakes cooked in clay moulds and served with dipping sauce. Fresh fish salad with herbs and rice paper is another local favourite. Fruit stalls sell dragon fruit, which grows on large farms in the dry land around Phan Thiet. Try a fresh coconut on the beach.

Fishing Village and Seafood at a glance

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