A Top Asian destination: Kiteboarding Mui Ne

Another destination that has become very popular is kiteboarding Mui Ne, Vietnam. This great kiting spot is gaining in popularity like many new kiteboarding destinations in Asia that are springing up. Its great winds, warm water and sandy beach waves and being quite a cheap kiteboarding location once you're there, make it very appealing. Scott R went with to Mui Ne a couple months back and enjoyed the great kiting in strong winds, interesting culture and local Vietnamese food.

Mui Ne - Vietnam: KiteFacts
Best winds: November - April to all year
Wind Conditions: 20 - 25knots
Water Temp: boardshorts or bikini
Water Type: chop/swells and waves
Weather: Sunny - warm to hot
Nightlife: Quiet-ish - restaurants and a bit of nightlife/clubs

A number of schools have appeared on the beach and are teaching lessons along the 12 km beach stretch from the town of Phan Thiet to the village of Mui Ne. The strong sea breezes which blow between November and March and dry climate with average temperatures being 27 degrees C, make it perfect for kiteboarding Mui Ne.

The kiteboarding setup:
The Mui Ne beach is wide and makes for an easy launch, without rocks or obstacles. The sandy beach slopes off and is deep out to water so you will not be able to stand. There is not outer reef which makes the ocean swells bigger but you do not have to worry about hitting reef at any time.

Make sure you launch in areas where there are other kiters to avoid problems with people walking and swimming on the beach. Check with a kiteboarding school if you are unsure of anything before rigging and launching.

The wind generally starts off lighter in the morning -15knots, where you would want your bigger kites 12m+. In the afternoon the wind strengthens to 20knots and up so you'd need kites in the 7m-10m range. The wind can be gusty similar to winds in Maui but its still great.

The strong cross onshore wind makes for some fun swells which can break quite close to the beach but are really good fun for playing around in - riding waves, ripping the lip and boosting big jumps.

During the rest of the year April to October the wind is lighter - in the 10 - 15knots and can have some 20 knot days.

There are many beaches north of Mui Ne which have potential if you feel adventurous and want to be kiting totally uncrowded areas.


Kiteboarding Mui Ne.

Other Activities:
Mui Ne is close to the only desert in South East Asia named Bau Trang or White Sand Dunes - you can rent boards here and 'surf' the dunes too. Here you will find some lakes too. Its about a 45 minute ride to the sand dunes and a great trip to check out.

Culturally Vietnam is very rich with a long history. There are ancient temples and statues to see if you are wanting to see some of the local sites. Takou Mountain is great for a hike (or take the gondola) to see the largest reclining Buddha in Vietnam... at 49m its a long sleep!

Nightlife:
All the resorts have restaurants of sorts. Check across the street from the resorts for local restaurants offering cheaper Vietnamese and western types of foods.The night-life of Mui Ne is quiet relative to Ho chi min and Nha Trang but Mui Ne still has a good vibe.

Getting around:
Motorbikes are the best way to get around as in other parts of SE Asia. Bicycle is also an option if you want the added fitness and a more leisurely pace.

To get to Mui Ne:
Fly to Ho Chi Minh(Saigon). Tourist buses leave from Pham Ngu Lao 2-3 times a day - a 4 hour bus ride on the 210km drive or take a taxi.

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