Vietnam: Leaving Mui Ne, returning to Ho Chi Minh City

Date: 29 October 2019

After waking up very early for the sunrise tour of Mui Ne’s sand dunes, and then visiting a fishing harbour and the Fairy Stream, I was dropped back at my hotel by noon.

After unloading my camera gear and washing up, I stepped out to have an early lunch as I barely had much for breakfast.

Seaside restaurants Mui Ne Vietnam — I sat down at a seafood restaurant just across from my hotel

It was one of those places where fresh seafood was on display, customers pick what they want, and ask the restaurant to cook it the way you want.

Grilled prawns french fries Mui Ne Vietnam — I had a slow, heavy meal of grilled prawns, fries, a small plate of cheese oysters and a beer

For 500gms of prawns, 1 x cheese oyster, 1 Saigon beer, and plate of french fries, I paid 230,000 VND (₹750/$10/€9).

I ate a hearty meal to the soothing sound of waves crashing. It was a relaxing lunch and I began to feel sleepy. I went back to my room, slept well, and only got up in the evening. There wasn’t much to do as this would be my last night in Mui Ne. So I stepped out to get a massage. I wanted to try a Vietnamese massage.

I got one at a spa nearby and it was great! The masseuse massaged me from head to toe and cost just 100,000 VND (₹320/$4.4/€3.9) for an hour.

I had a light dinner and tried a fish-shaped ice cream for dessert.

Celano taiyaki icecream Vietnam — Taiyaki is a traditional Japanese fish-shaped cake. But this is an ice cream version of it; with red-bean paste filling. It was… okay.

After doing some work, I went to sleep.

Date: 30 October 2019

I woke up early (again) and checked out of my room. It was time to leave Mui Ne and head back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Mui Ne Vietnam shops morning — I headed to the bus office

Mui Ne Saigon bus timings Vietnam — These were the (pre-pandemic) hours. Even though Ho Chi Minh City is the official name now, everywhere, I mostly saw Sai Gon (the old name) being used.

I booked the 8:30am trip and it was a similar double-decker bus as the type I took to get to Mui Ne.

Mui Ne beach morning Vietnam — Mui Ne was a good visit and I highly recommend it to anyone who drops by Ho Chi Minh City!

Phan Thiet monument Vietnam — A monument in Phan Thiet, a city we passed through as we exited Mui Ne

On the way, we would only stop once for a rest break.

Korean Taiyaki icecream Vietnam — I tried a Korean brand of Taiyaki ice cream. This cost more… but was still… just okay.

Banh Mi Obama Vietnam stall — Vietnamese are proud that Obama liked Banh Mi sandwich during his 2015 visit to Hanoi… so much so this photo is used at so many vendors across the country now

We rode along the highway to Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City taxi Vietnam — The bus reached Ho Chi Minh City past 1pm, and I took a taxi to get to my hotel

Bitexco tower from taxi view — That’s Bitexco tower. I will be going there tomorrow.

Kim Dung hotel Ho Chi Minh City — I would be staying here. Kim Dung hotel is a pretty basic hotel in the Tan Dinh area of District 1

Kim Dung hotel Saigon Vietnam — While the hotel may not be fancy from the outside, the rooms were much better than the first hotel I stayed in Ho Chi Minh City

Kim Dung hotel was much quieter than the first hotel despite being right by a busy street. I paid 730,400 VND (₹2400/$32/€28) for two nights. At ₹1200 per night, that’s a lot less than the ₹2000 per night I paid for Dinh Phat hotel. Granted, Dinh Phat hotel is walking distance to many of Ho Chi Minh city’s key attractions, but I was done with all that. I just needed a comfortable hotel to spend my last two nights in Saigon.