ベトナム南部、ホーチミンから車で約4時間の漁村ムイネー（Mui Ne、ラムドン省ファンティエット近郊。2025年7月の省再編でビントゥアン省・ダクノン省と統合）が、フランスのマリン専門誌Figaro Nautismeで「アジア有数のカイトサーフィンの目的地」に選ばれた。2026年6月17日付のVnExpressが報じた。赤と白の砂丘で知られ、これまでは砂丘ツアーと海辺ののんびり過ごす時間が定番だった村が、海で遊ぶことを目的にした旅行者の拠点として見直されている。ビーチで寝そべるだけではない、ベトナムの定番リゾートの新しい楽しみ方として注目したい。
Mui Ne’s real strengths, as rated by a French specialist magazine
The reasons Figaro Nautisme chose Mui Ne were three: steady wind, a warm climate, and distinctive coastal scenery. The magazine praised the steady wind that blows from November to March, the wide sandy beaches, the year-round warm sea temperatures, and the varied water conditions that suit everyone from beginners to advanced riders. A growing depth of pro-led training centers is part of the backdrop as well.
The article introduces “natural advantages, affordable costs, and an unpretentious atmosphere” as what pushed Mui Ne up to being one of Asia’s premier kitesurfing bases. In winter, enthusiasts gather from Europe, Australia, and Asia, making for an international lineup. The framing is that Vietnam is carving its name onto the water-sports map, and Mui Ne is the symbol of that.
Why does Mui Ne have such good wind
Mui Ne’s strength is that the terrain itself makes the wind. The red and white sand dunes spread along the coast are heated by the sun during the day, and that heat accelerates the wind from sea to land toward the afternoon. According to explanations from several kite schools, the morning is gentle at 10–15 knots, and the afternoon exceeds 20 knots, sometimes strengthening further depending on the day. Because the hours when the wind builds are clear-cut, it is easy to structure the rhythm of a day: practice in the morning, ride for real in the afternoon.
Seasonally, November to March—the dry season—is the most stable period for wind, with wind speeds generally 18–30 knots and days reaching 40 knots in gusts. January to March is the wind peak, and March to April is said to settle down somewhat and become easier to ride. This predictability makes ease of learning for beginners and fun for advanced riders hold true at the same time.
Basic data on season and access
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Best season | November–March (dry season) / peak is January–March |
| Wind-speed guide | 18–30 knots (around 40 knots in gusts) |
| When the wind strengthens | Afternoon (mornings are gentle at 10–15 knots) |
| Distance from Ho Chi Minh City | About 229 km, roughly 4 hours by car |
| Main highlights | Red dunes, white dunes, fishing-village culture |
| Water conditions | From calm surfaces for beginners to conditions for advanced riders |
*Wind speeds and distances are a guide compiled from the range where the descriptions of multiple local schools and travel sources agree. They vary by day and season.
Reactions from enthusiasts and locals
Tracing information from operators who run kite schools on the ground, the reason Mui Ne is chosen seems to lie, beyond the numbers, in how easy it is to keep coming back. One school’s guide explains that the calm morning wind suits beginners’ practice, and that schools operate every day during the season. Because the build-up of the wind is predictable, it ties into voices saying it’s easy to schedule lessons.
On enthusiast information sites, you also see expressions calling Mui Ne “Vietnam’s kitesurfing capital.” That the terrain-driven feature of heat-generated wind from the dunes is repeatedly cited as the reason the wind blows steadily is also a basis for the support it gets from repeat visitors.
Travel-guide media note that there are two wind seasons—southerly winds in summer (May–October) and the northeast monsoon in winter—and that both offer decent conditions. The depth that lets you play year-round is what draws enthusiasts from abroad.
A new way for Japanese travelers to enjoy it
Until now, Mui Ne has centered on ways of spending time like jeep tours on the dunes, watching the sunrise, and relaxing by the sea. This selection is significant in showing, with an outside seal of approval, that the same village holds up as a “destination to play on the water.” For Japanese travelers who want to take on a challenge or make it an active trip, it makes a fine excuse.
If it’s your first time trying kitesurfing, it’s better not to set mastering it as your goal right away. Typical schools offer stages from a roughly two-hour trial lesson to a basics course of around six hours. Going in with the mindset of “getting used to the wind and gear and learning the feel of playing on the water,” rather than “being able to stand up” in a single trip, brings more satisfaction. Scheduling lessons in the calm morning and turning to dune sightseeing in the afternoon fits the local rhythm.
Here is one example of an experience plan. On day one, leave Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon, arrive in the evening, and stay one night by the sea. On day two morning, take a trial lesson, and in the afternoon do a jeep tour and watch the sunset at the white dunes. On day three, head out to sea once more in the morning and return to Ho Chi Minh City on an afternoon service. Even in three days and two nights, you can be greedy and have both the sea and the dunes. Even if you have no interest in kiting, just watching the colorful kites dancing like a child’s kite over the windswept beach makes a picture. There’s nothing to lose by visiting just to watch.
If you’d like to enjoy water activities in a slightly calmer form, an itinerary that combines a different kind of water play in another region—such asthe bioluminescent kayaking of Lan Ha Bayin northern Vietnam—is also interesting. Reconsidering Vietnam around the axis of playing on the water widens the range of destinations considerably.
Ripple effects on experiential tourism
Mui Ne’s reappraisal can be read as one example of the trend in Vietnamese tourism shifting its weight from “see, buy, eat” to “try it, get moving.” Resorts where you simply spend time on the beach exist all over the world, but places people return to for a specific experience tend to generate repeat visits and longer stays. Travelers who stay several nights for kitesurfing also spend more money in the region than travelers who stay one night on the beach.
The same pattern is advancing in other parts of Vietnam. As withNha Trang’s new staying experiences, in the seaside resort known for the sea, andDa Lat’s go-karting, playing in the highland town, moves to put forward experiences unique to each place are happening everywhere. Mui Ne’s selection is an event where the backing of a specialist medium’s evaluation was added to that current.
Practical information: how to get there, the best season, and schools
From Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne is basically about four hours by car. The distance is roughly 229 km, and tourist-oriented shared buses run hourly from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., many of them dropping you right in front of your hotel. The bus takes about five to six hours. If you take the train, it’s about four hours to Phan Thiet station, and from there you head to the village by taxi. If your schedule allows, staying two or more nights in Mui Ne is realistic to ease the burden of travel.
As for when to visit, if you’re after the wind, the dry season from November to March is the safe bet. Among those months, January to March has strong, stable wind, while March to April is somewhat calmer and easier to ride. Since you’ll be in the water, bring plenty of sun protection and changes of clothes. Schools mainly operate in English, so it’s reassuring to be ready for simple English exchanges. Fees and durations vary by school, so check the difference between the trial course and the basics course before booking.
Summary
Mui Ne, which had a strong image as a dune village, has stepped into the spotlight as “one of Asia’s premier kitesurfing spots” with a specialist magazine’s seal of approval. The steady wind, warm sea, and a distance of about four hours by car from Ho Chi Minh City are plenty appealing for anyone thinking of a trip to play on the water. Even if you can’t ride, just watching the kites dance in the strong wind is worth it. As a new way to enjoy a classic beach, it’s well worth putting on the shortlist for your next Vietnam trip.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enjoy Mui Ne even with no kitesurfing experience?
Yes. The morning wind is gentle and suits beginners’ practice, and schools operate every day during the season. There are stages from a roughly two-hour trial lesson to a basics course of around six hours, so setting the goal of first getting used to the wind and gear keeps it manageable. Even if you can’t ride, just watching the colorful kites on the beach is enjoyable.
When is the best season to go to Mui Ne?
If you’re after the wind, November to March—the dry season—is best. Among those months, January to March has strong, stable wind, while March to April becomes somewhat calmer and easier to ride. Wind speeds are generally 18–30 knots, strengthening toward the afternoon.
What is the access and travel time from Ho Chi Minh City?
The distance is about 229 km, with around four hours by car as a guide. Shared buses run hourly from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., many dropping you in front of your hotel (the bus takes about five to six hours). By train, it’s about four hours to Phan Thiet station, and from there you head to the village by taxi.
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