Things to do, places to visit, where to stay, and what to eat in Mui Ne, Vietnam.
It was my first solo backpacking trip out of the country. It was not planned. My travel buddies backed-out due to personal reasons. I was having second thought then if I am going to push this through alone.
The decision was made exactly 1 week before the trip. A big and shouting WHY NOT?! I have booked my plane ticket a year ago (thank you Cebu Pacific for the PISO fare), I already filed my 'un-paid' leave in the office 2 months before the trip. I have saved enough money. Many are travelling solo. So, WHY NOT? It's like moving the adventure and excitement to the next level.
Saturday - Monday, October 26 - 28, 2013
6 more sleeps and I will be in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) or HCMC, Vietnam, and I don't even have a draft of the itinerary. I spent the whole weekend reading Vietnam and Cambodia travel blogs, searching for places to visit, cheap accommodations to stay, recommended food to eat and crossing the Vietnam-Cambodia border.
2 days have passed and my itinerary was not yet final. I was torn between spending a day in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, or in Mui Ne, in the southern side of Vietnam. After a lot of readings, I chose Mui Ne as it offers the unspoiled nature of Vietnam.
Tuesday - Thursday, October 29 - 31, 2013
First draft of itinerary - checked! My second 'to-do' list is to reserve accommodation in Pham Ngu Lao in District 1 - the back packer’s area in Ho Chi Minh City. A street that is known for its guest houses or lodgings for budget travelers.
I first emailed Nguyen Khang Hotel since this is recommended by most Filipino bloggers. The receptionist immediately responded to my email and gave the room to at $24/night with free breakfast. Too expensive that I have to ask for the cheapest room. She said she likes Filipinos and they have lots of Filipino guests so she made it as low as $21/night with free breakfast. I was tempted to reserve it, thinking of the Filipinos that I could meet there and join with the tour. I first checked Tripadvisor and saw the 4.5 rating of the Bich Duyen Hotel. After reading the positive reviews, I asked via email for the cheapest available room and the feasibility of my itinerary.
Bich Duyen Hotel Tripadvisor Review
Chang, the receptionist at daytime in Bich Duyen Hotel was very accommodating and quick on responding to my inquiries. He gave the standard double room for $17/night without window (which I don't really mind) with free breakfast and also arranged my airport-hotel transfer, bus ticket going to Mui Ne, Cu Chi Tunnel Tour and bus ticket going to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Deposit is not needed to reserve a room either in Vietnam or Cambodia. A great relief to someone who doesn't own a credit card or Paypal account like me. Chanh also agreed that I can pay my bus tickets going to Mui Ne and Siem Reap once I arrived. Nice, isn't it?
Tip: Aside from the cheap accommodation rates in Pham Ngu Lao, it is also walking distance from the major tourist spots in District 1 like the Reunification Palace, City Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral and shopping centers such as Saigon Square and Ben Thanh Market.
Next on my list was to contact a guide and find accommodation in Mui Ne. I read about Binh Sahara Tours on different blogs. I contacted Mr. Binh and asked for his availability and he immediately booked me. He also recommended Minh Anh Garden Hotel for a place to stay, a newly-built hotel owned by his sister and very near to his place.
Mui Ne to-do lists checked! Next were accommodation and tour guide for Angkor Wat. I only have one place in mind - Bou Savy Guest House, as it consistently receives the Certificate of Excellence Award from TripAdvisor. I will only find somewhere else to stay if there were no available rooms there. I emailed Bou Savy and got their confirmation the following day.
Siem Reap Hotel Reviews
I also emailed and texted several tour guides for my Angkor Wat trip. And it was Kim Rieng whose tour guide fee fitted my budget.
Friday, November 1, 2013
I spent my whole afternoon trying to squeeze-in my 7-day outfit on a 3-day backpack. Thank God it fit! Now, I'm getting good at 'backpacking' and 'travelling light'. Wink!
Back pack...back pack...
After my 3-minute non-stop Q & A with the immigration officer, I had my dinner and bought "some" Vietnamese Dongs - I didn't know that I can be a millionaire in an instant! Haha!
I'm a millionaire!!!
Here's my simple Dong (VND) to Peso (PHP) conversion:
Drop the last 3 zeroes of your Dongs, then multiply by 2
10000 VND (drop the last 3 0s) = 10 * 2 = 20 PHP
10000 VND = 20 PHP
Tip: You don't need to change all your peso to dongs since hotels, restaurants, even shopping centers accept US dollars as payments. Just bring smaller bills like $1 and $5. The same goes in Cambodia.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
I arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport past midnight and told myself "This is it!!! Guide me Lord". I went outside the airport and looked for my service going to the hotel. The driver doesn't speak much on our way to the hotel, but he's good enough to tell me his name (which I already forgot) and instructed me to follow him when we reached a narrow pathway near the main road. When I saw Hotel Ngoc Linh on my right (where a friend of mine stayed), it was only then I realized that I was in Pham Ngu Lao - the backpacker's district.
The hotel was already closed when I arrived (I think they lock the steel gate at around 10 or 11 PM). Hue (not sure of the spelling), the receptionist at night, opened the gate for me. Though I obviously interfere her sleep, she still welcomed me with a smile, politely asked for my passport and informed me that the bus going to Mui Ne will pick me up at 8 AM.
Tip: I'm not sure if only in low-cost accommodation where you need to take-off your footwear once inside, but to make sure, just ask the receptionist.
My room was small (but good enough for 2), clean, cozy and had everything I need. Anyways, I really am not particular when it comes to accommodation as long as it is clean with own toilet and bath.
My room for 3 nights in HCMC
I headed downstairs around 7 AM and heard someone shouting "Good morning! Good morning! Good morning!', followed by "how are you...?". It was Chanh. The very energetic, welcoming and approachable receptionist. Most of the tables were occupied with other foreign guests, good thing there's an empty one for me. Breakfast was limited to baguette, egg or jam, coffee or tea and juice, enough to fill my tummy.
Bich Duyen Hotel Breakfast
Exactly 8 AM when my service for Mui Ne arrived.
Bus going to Mui Ne
Only 1 seat is left, and it’s on the back row, so it’s safe to assume that I was the last passenger on the bus.
It was also my first time to ride on a sleeper bus :)
Tip: You also need to take off your footwear once you entered the bus and put it in a plastic they provide.
There were 2 complimentary bottled waters and facial wipes. It was a 5-6-looooong hour journey, but I was not able to sleep because I was in a middle of 2 smelly armpits....pity me.
Tip: If it is possible to request a window-seat once you book or purchase the bus ticket, then do so.
It was 2 PM when I arrived in Minh Anh Garden Hotel. My room is good enough for 4 pax (if my 3 travel buddies didn't back out, then this room was enough for us).
Minh Anh Garden Hotel
After discussing the itinerary with my tour guide, Phat, Mr. Binh's son, we immediately began the trip via motorcycle.
Back-riding once more
Places I visited in Mui Ne:
Fisherman's Village. You are nearing the area if the air smells like fish sauce and if you see small shrimps being dried at the edge of the highway.
Small shrimps being dried on the highway
hundreds of fishing boats moored on the sea
Stop-over for photo op - with view of Hon nghe island
The White Sand Dunes. I haven't seen the Paoay Sand Dunes in Ilocos Norte (a province in the Philippines) and biased as you may call it, I once told myself that PH sand dunes have a lot to offer than the sand dunes in Vietnam. But that didn't last until I saw how beautiful the sand dunes of Mui Ne is. Perfecting it with the view of a lake.
The White Sand Dunes
What more...I was not able to resist the temptation and I hired an ATV so I could reach the top faster (nasira ang budget). But it was all worth it.
Little Grand Canyon. Said to be the miniature version of the Grand Canyon of USA but haven't been there so I do not know the resemblance. There's nothing much about this place. I just spent several minutes exploring and taking pictures then proceed to our last stop for that day.
1. Most of the tourists are Russians.
2. Mui Ne is pronounced as 'Muni'.
3. Binh Sahara Tours has more than 10 tour guides - one of those is Mr. Binh, the owner, and Phat, his son / my tour guide.
4. Sahara Tours got their name from the 'Sahara' desert of Africa.
5. There are lots of places to explore in Mui Ne but you need at least 2-3 whole days (now I have reason to go back).
Phat and I agreed to have dinner together on his aunt's restaurants, just few steps away from to the hotel, or just next to Mr. Binh's.
I requested for the best dishes they have and served me these:
Ca Bop Nuong (BBQ Cobia Fish)
Pho Bo (Beef Noodle Soup)
Tom Nurong (Grilled Shrimp)
They said I looked like a Vietnamese, so, I belong :)
These might not be the local dishes I'm looking for but definitely made my tummy happy. I'm not a beer fan either, but their beer tastes good.
And of course, my meal is not complete without coffee as dessert. So, Phat and I went to a nearby coffee shop serving authentic Hanoi coffee.
When I returned to the hotel, I requested Muoi, the hotel owner, to book my bus ticket going back to HCMC.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
I woke up early so I could visit the Fairy Stream before heading back to HCMC. It was supposed to be included on yesterday's itinerary, but time doesn't permit. Path said it is best to visit during morning or early noon when the wind is not too strong. I went alone since Path is scheduled to go to Dallat (where I will be going next time I visit Vietnam).
Fairy Stream is walking distance from my the hotel. There were also signs that will guide you to the stream.
I didn't go any further since for me, it's just a river surrounded by bamboo trees.
Mui Ne is also known for their beaches, so I visited one that is just across my hotel after the Fairy Stream.
The shoreline is wide, the sand is fine gray. I was not impressed since there are lots of astounding beaches in PH.
Early morning scene
Food Vendor at the beach
Fresh catch and baby octopus trying to escape
She sells seashells by the seashore
After several shots, I went back to the hotel for my breakfast where I met Muoi's siblings in Mr. Binh’s office.
Muoi and her siblings waiting for me
I didn't know that I have to ride a motorbike for my breakfast. I thought it will be delivered to my room or Muoi will set up a table in her store.
Breakfast with Muoi, owner of Minh Anh Garden Hotel
Before the bus to HCMC arrived, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Binh (owner of Binh Sahara Tour). He too will be going to Dalat with Phat.
Mr. Binh
Now, I'm the first passenger on the bus. It's not a sleeper bus that's why it's cheaper.
Bus picking up the reserved passengers
I arrived HCMC at 2 PM so this is where my Mui Ne travel diary ends :).
On this trip, it’s hanging out with the locals which I enjoyed the most and the warmth of their hospitality. It was also here I realized that it is expensive to travel alone since you do not have anyone to share with the expenses :).
Next stop, Ho Chih Minh City.
To summarize my expenses (excluding airfare):
Currency conversion on Nov 1, 2013:
$ to PHP = 43.80
$ to VND = 21,130
Contacts:
Chanh of Bich Duyen Hotel, Ho Chih Minh City, Vietnam
bichduyenhotel@yahoo.com
Mr. Binh or Phat of Binh Sahara Tours
muinesahara@hotmail.com
mrbinhsahara@hotmail.com
http://muine-easy-rider.blogspot.com/
Muoi, Owner of Minh Anh Garden Hotel
ngocsuong81a@gmail.com
nhanghisanvuonminhanh@gmail.com
http://www.nhanghiminhanh.com
