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Yup, a millionaire by 22.

I arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh at around 1am. I exchanged my dollars to dong. Damn, for a moment there , I felt I was rich. Haha. I rode a cab to our place in Phan Xích Long, then finally had some decent sleep to prepare for tomorrow's Saigon city tour, and for Mui Ne on the next day.

Located right in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, The Central Post Office is one of the oldest buildings in Ho Chi Minh City. It was built around 1886 – 1891, based on the design of Gustave Eiffel – a famous French architect and has become a significant symbol of the city, just like its opposite neighbor Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral. It has long been the busiest post office of the country. The Post Office offers all kinds of traditional postal services like mailing, selling postcards or stamps (there is a big array of stamps to choose from). Foreign money exchange is also available. I was able to meet Mr. Duong Van Ngo – an old man sitting at the end of a long wooden table underneath a mural of Ho Chi Minh, behind the sign “Information and Writing Assistance”. Mr. Ngo has been working here since he was 17, as a polyglot public letter writer. Being the last letter writer in old Saigon, he’s a source of stories of how could he connect people across the planet with his fountain pen.

Bep Me In is a new Vietnamese restaurant in a small alley of Le Thanh Ton just before Ben Thanh market. Whilst downstairs captures the heart and soul of a street-food eatery, the upstairs provides the comfort of a more contemporary home dining room. Both offer the best of Mama’s home cooked dishes from the street and countryside. The food is fun, different, informal and is amazingly tasty, I found a lot of the Vietnamese food quite bland but this was tasty. They even have a rather nice IPA beer on tap! Go and you won't be disappointed but recommend going early as it soon filled up and there was a queue. the restaurant is quite small so I guess you could be waiting a while.

Airbnb is such a sweet alternative to staying in hotels. It’s relatively cheaper, and the number of options is overwhelming -- from quaint small villas to resort like accommodations. We get to interact with locals and try a part of their culture by staying in their houses. Our first airbnb is a quite a modern condo unit with touches of Vietnamese decorations. The air conditioning and the fast WiFi lures us to stay longer, but Mui Ne is waiting for us to explore.

When we first heard about the Fairy Stream, we were apprehensive about this being a tourist trap. But we were wrong!! This aptly named stream is another wonder of nature. Tucked between beaches and fishing villages, this gurgling stream is surrounded by amazing limestone formations. You can deposit your shoes at the entrance or carry them along with you to explore this muddy stream. Make your way through colorful limestone formations, warm water, and bright green trees to reach a waterfall.

We were not sure what exactly to expect here, but regardless, we were pleasantly surprised. It was a very unconventional way to start a Jeep tour and yet we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Walking up the stream was very relaxing, and the nature was exquisitely beautiful. It was both busy and calm at the same time, as there was hardly any noise as everyone seemed to talk in hushed.

Mui Ne’s chaotic early morning market provides a fascinating peek into the lives of local Vietnamese fishermen. Every morning they get their catch to the shore. Their wives and family members sort out the catch and sell it to the local traders, restaurant owners, and street food vendors on the spot. It’s like a trading floor right out of a Wall Street institution. Expect to find fishing nets full of seafood, buckets overflowing with fish, shells strewn everywhere, raucous conversation, and plenty of photo-opps.

The 'red dunes' (doi hong) are convenient to Hai Long, but the 'white dunes' (doi cat trang) 24km northeast are the more impressive – the near-constant oceanic winds sculpt the pale yellow sands into wonderful Saharaesque formations.

Bet you didn’t know that there are sand dunes in Vietnam.

A few months back, we didn’t either. The White Sand Dunes is exactly how we have always imagined a desert to be – a vast expanse of barren land. Undoubtedly more pristine and breathtaking than the Red Sand Dunes, the White Sand Dunes is also less accessible. It is an hour drive from the centre of Mui Ne, and I must say that it is most definitely worth the commute.

It is by far the larger dunes and are known by locals as White Lake. There are quite a few small stands selling food and drinks to visitors within the area along with pine trees offering much-needed shade. It was featured on Huffington Post’s list of 19 Places in South East Asia that could change your life. Having spent a day there, I can see why!

The White Sand Dunes in Mui Ne are spectacular as is – they transport one to hidden crevices of whirling sand dunes in barren deserts. But that isn’t what makes them special! Unlike the desert, where the possibility of water is but a mirage, the White Sand Dunes in Mui Ne are actually located next to a water body and really close to Vietnam’s gorgeous beaches. One could spend the day playing with shadows, frolicking barefoot on the dunes with sand between the toes, marvel at the pristine white colour of the sand, and watch a near-perfect sunset. What more could one possibly demand of a destination?

Another great place to catch a gorgeous sunset are the Red Sand Dunes of Mui Ne. It is just 20 minutes from the town centre, and the sand is really more orangey-brown than red. The gentle slopes make it easy to walk on foot (at least in comparison to the White Sand Dunes), and it is a spectacular place to be during sunset. With the strong wind blowing, the contours are changing every now and then. The walk up to the sand dune is already a challenge. But must really takes your time to enjoy the walk.

If you don’t have the time to venture out to the White Sand Dunes, the Red ones are just a couple of kilometres away and can be reached on foot as well. We still can’t get over the wonders of nature in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet – sand dunes that make you feel like you are in a desert right next to the beach. I know, right?

#travel #indochina #fairy stream #white sand dunes #red sand dunes #mui ne #photography #Vietnam

Vietnam trip 🇻🇳 - Mui Ne

Fairy stream 🌈

The colours of the sand cliffs on the walk of the "Fairy stream" in Mui Ne, Vietnam 🇻🇳 blown my mind 🤯.

For an local entry fee of 20000 Vietnamese dong, you go walking the stream up to where you want to explore. Don't forget to take off your shoes/ flip flop before you start, the feeling of the warm water and pure sand make this walk smoothly 🚶‍♂️

The sedimentation of the sand by the rainfall has sculptured the cliffs for generations and present different formation, signs of sands avalanche are on site to aware walkers it can happen any time ⌚

Don't miss this gem 💎, it is a "must see"