Red and White Sand Dunes in Mui Ne

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

Sand dunes are the main reason many people come to Mui Ne. There are two dune areas, and they feel very different. The red dunes are small, close to town and easy to reach. The white dunes, also called Bau Trang, are much bigger and further away, with tall ridges of pale sand and a lake at the edge. Both look best in soft early light, before the sand gets too hot to walk on.

The red dunes near town

The red dunes sit beside the coast road a short ride north of the main beach strip. Wikivoyage puts them about 10 kilometres from the resort area. The sand is a warm orange-red colour, and the dunes are low and rounded. You can walk up from the road in a few minutes. Because they are so close, they are a good choice for a quick visit at sunset, or if you do not want a long jeep ride. They can be busy in the late afternoon. Local children rent plastic sleds at the bottom, and food stalls sell drinks near the road.

The white dunes at Bau Trang

The white dunes are about 45 kilometres from the resort strip, along the coast to the northeast. This is a much bigger landscape. The pale sand rolls on in long ridges, and on a windy day you can watch it move across the crests. A small lake with lotus plants sits near the entrance, and it makes a calm contrast with the dry sand. Quad bikes and jeeps can take you deeper into the dunes for a fee. The engines are loud, so walk away from the main track if you want quiet views and clean sand for photos.

Sunrise jeep tours

The most popular way to see the dunes is an early jeep tour. Hotels and travel desks sell them every day. Pickup is usually around 4:30 to 5:00 in the morning, so you reach the white dunes in time for sunrise. The same trip then stops at the red dunes, the Fairy Stream and the fishing village, and you are back at your hotel before lunch. A shorter sunset tour is also common. Jeeps are open, so bring a light jacket for the cool dark drive and a scarf or buff against blowing sand. Agree the stops and the end time before you pay.

Sandboarding: what to expect

You will see sandboarding in many photos of Mui Ne, but keep your hopes modest. Most boards are simple plastic sheets rented by local kids, not real boards. On the red dunes the slopes are short and the sand is soft, so the ride is slow and often stops halfway. It can still be fun, especially for children. The white dunes have steeper faces, but you must climb back up each time in deep sand. Agree the rental price before you start. Keep your phone and camera in a sealed bag, because fine sand gets into everything.

Heat, sand and safety

By late morning the sand can become very hot, and there is almost no shade on the dunes. Go early or late, carry water, and wear sunglasses, a hat and sandals or shoes you can shake out. Wind can blow sand hard into your eyes. If you ride a quad bike, ask for a helmet and stay on the marked area, because steep drops are hard to see on white sand. Take all rubbish back with you. Entry fees are small and are paid at the gate, but prices and rules can change, so check locally.

Red and White Sand Dunes at a glance

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