We started this 2nd day in Mui Ne with a restaurant on the beach. Time to observe the activity on the beach, which is already in full swing. The wind is blowing well and we understand why this corner of Vietnam attracts board sports enthusiasts.
As an aside, I didn't actually know that this is the number 1 attraction of this seaside resort, which means that in the end, the surroundings of Mui Ne are quite quiet, because they are not that visited.
The fairy spring
Once our bellies were full, we got on the bike and headed for the fairy stream (Suôi Tiên in Vietnamese or Fairy Stream in English).
I don't know where this name comes from (it's not for lack of trying...). After parking our motorbike at a shop that would keep it for us for 5.000 Dong (as is often the case), we move forward on this unpaved street overlooking this famous river.
After passing a fish and shellfish drying area that smelled as much like roses as possible (the smell stings the nostrils a little…), we arrived at this thin trickle of water tinged with brown.
This brown tint is due to the color of the sand. The water itself is, of course, clean. Even if it seems logical, we warn you that you have to take off your shoes with the option of having them kept for you (for a small fee of course), otherwise you can also take them with you (which is what we did).
Going up the river, we discover a sort of canyon. There, sometimes white, sometimes red, limestone formations resembling stalagmites, and the vegetation bordering this natural walking "path" gives an exotic, colorful, pleasant and refreshing (and free) air to the place, I recommend it!
As the walls get closer we finally turn around, normally there are supposed to be waterfalls but it must have been too dry at that time… If you are looking for the place, follow the signs “Fairy Stream”, before arriving at the area with the boats with the fishermen (see article on the previous day at Mui Ne) you will cross a small bridge spanning the stream in question.
Next “objective”, find the “white” dunes.
On the road of the white dunes
After this very quiet walk, we set off towards the unknown, with the aim of going to the white sand dunes. The road is perfect and we move forward at a good pace, taking the time to stop for a few photos, of course.
With this in mind, to find out where it was, we stopped in a village, where obviously no tourists set foot (our speciality...).
This is also the reason for our preference for motorbike rental, this freedom of travel that is dear to us. And Vietnam, like Southeast Asia in general, is an easy terrain for this mode of transport. Even if it is always necessary to be careful.
The village in question is relatively deserted, in every sense of the word, few people and the place is very arid and dusty, it gives an air of the Wild West. A small shop will allow us to restock on water, people react quite indifferently to the fact of crossing paths with foreigners in the area... We start to get used to it and do not disturb any longer. Only a few little girls will make an appearance to us all smiles.
Like a desert air: the white dunes of Mui Ne
We see the kilometers go by, certainly the landscape along the sea is magnificent but we don't really know where we are going... I was about to turn around (the clock was ticking, the distance too and we wanted to be at the fishing village from the day before for the sunset) when I finally see some dunes in the distance, white ones in fact, without knowing if they were the right ones (I didn't think it was that far because we must have traveled something like 40 km and there were no signs...) I turn onto the first road going in that direction.
We then found ourselves on this unpaved track of course, dusty and far from flat... We then saw several 4x4s and understood that this must be the right place, on the other hand we were the only ones on 2 wheels... fortunately while the track became sandy (it was slippery) we saw the parking lot (paying), located at the end of the lake, which is itself right at the foot of the dunes, a rather "African" landscape which gave a Safari feel to the trip.
From there a small pine forest borders the lake and the dunes, the locals meet there for picnics. The place is really a great playground for photography and in general it remains a truly unique environment.
Sunset at Mui Ne Harbour
After having enjoyed the place with its white dunes (in particular a photo moment, a "classic" in travel photography, where you jump to capture the moment in the air, missing a series on Jitima but with your shoe that you see gently flying in its place...).
We leave just in time to arrive as planned at Mui Ne watching the sunset by the sea. We thus ended this 3rd day in Vietnam in style, despite the numerous plastic bags that we came across on the way back, which made us feel a little sick about the carelessness and lack of education...
I know that now this road is paved...
A great way to end a beautiful day.
