VietNamNet Bridge - If you’re getting restless while sunning yourself in Mui Ne and looking for some idle distraction, Xuan Hoa has the perfect antidote – sand skiing!

Just half-hour by xe om or taxi from Phan Thiet you find yourself winding along the rugged coastline and breathing in the fresh air by Mui Ne beach.

For the more active tourist you could also hire a bicycle, but – ok, call me lazy – I prefer to feel the salty breeze in my hair as I snake through the seaside town.

With the abundance of resorts along the shoreline it’s clear Mui Ne is no secret anymore but there’s still a sleepy fishing village feel to it.

Strolling along the stunning beach under clear blue skies, feasting on great seafood you can easily see why this one of the best places to get away from it all in Vietnam.

In the early morning and late afternoon, fishermen go about their business, with their long sleeved shirts and rolled up trousers, hauling up their bulging nets filled with shellfish.

Seafood restaurants here are awash with the most delicious and affordable soft shell crabs, rock lobster, fresh squid and prawns.

As I wander along the beach, a few local kids, wide eyed with wonder, come running over to “check out” the tourists. One small boy hands me an orange seashell and with a big, bright smile says, “A gift for you”. Then, he scampers away.

We discover more smiles dotted around Doi Cat (the sand dunes), later on, as we drive a little bit north from the beach.

At first you might wonder what you could do in such a place but it happens to be my favourite spot in Mui Ne. It is a dazzling sight at either dawn or sunset. Depending on the time or the weather, the sand can appear red, white or yellow.

As you traipse through the dunes, you still might wonder what you’re doing here. But after a hard slog through the sand you will be rewarded as amongst the dunes you’re sure to find a gang of local kids.

You didn’t know it but these kids have been waiting for you with nothing but cardboard under their arms.
For a mere VND5,000 these kids will rent out their “sand sledge” for as long as you want it. They’ll also show you how to ‘ski’ down the dunes.

The kids might be trying to earn a living but they make sure they’re enjoying themselves too. They chat, laugh and frolick around as we are led to a steepish, smooth slope. From there, well its all downhill, but in a good way.

Besides hot sand going down your pants, it’s great fun. However it’s recommended to head there in the early morning or late afternoon. This way you avoid the beating sun when the sands can be burning hot.

One of my more romantically inclined companions claims the best time to go would be when there’s a full moon. Sand skiing under the bright moonlight on a cool evening. sounds tempting but I’m sure we’d have to bring our own cardboard. It would be way past the kids’ bedtime.

(Source: Time-out)