Transparent pricing
One-way, with driver
2.200.000 ₫
Round-trip, with driver
4.000.000 ₫
Mui Ne — the fishing village turned resort strip on Vietnam's south-central coast — is Saigon's most popular beach weekend destination. The 10-km beach, flanked by red and white sand dunes, draws a steady mix of Russian tour groups, Western digital nomads, and Vietnamese families fleeing the HCMC heat. At 205 km from Saigon, it's close enough for a 2N3D weekend yet far enough to feel like a proper trip.
The journey takes 4.5 hours via QL1A national highway — a mix of expressway and secondary road. Most travelers drive Friday afternoon and return Sunday afternoon, aligning with Vietnamese office hours. The road is straightforward, but QL1A has heavy truck traffic and the occasional motorbike confusion; self-drive is doable for confident IDP holders, but most families opt for a driver to relax both ways.
Accommodation in Mui Ne ranges from USD 25/night guesthouses to USD 300/night oceanfront resorts. The popular strip is Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street — about 10 km of restaurants, bars, kite schools, and hotels. Driving here is easy; parking is usually free at your accommodation.
Recommended itinerary
Typical Saigon → Mui Ne drive (4.5 hours):
- 0:00 — Depart District 1 or 7. Best window is 6-8 AM or after 7 PM on Friday to avoid rush hour.
- 0:45 — Onto CT01 expressway. Fast section through Long Thanh, Dau Giay.
- 1:30 — Exit to QL1A near Long Khanh. Road narrows to 2 lanes each way.
- 3:00 — Phan Thiet suburbs. Traffic increases. Popular seafood lunch stop at Lam Tong restaurant.
- 4:00 — Enter Mui Ne strip. Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street has hotels every 100m.
- 4:30 — Hotel check-in.
Return: reverse, typically 4.5-5 hours depending on Sunday traffic back into HCMC.
What to see along the way
Mui Ne's main draws are beach-based; the route itself has optional stops:
- Fairy Stream (Suoi Tien) — 15-min walk in shallow red-and-white canyon water. Iconic Mui Ne photo.
- Red Sand Dunes — sunrise photography. Most tours leave hotels at 5 AM.
- White Sand Dunes — larger, 40 min drive from town. Jeep tours available.
- Fishing Village (Mui Ne proper) — working harbor, colorful traditional coracles.
- Kite surfing schools — Oct-April is windy season; Nov-Feb peak. Courses from USD 60.
- Ta Cu Mountain + Reclining Buddha — 20 km back toward Phan Thiet, cable car, 49m-long Buddha statue.
Road conditions & driving notes
QL1A driving considerations:
- Trucks overtaking on QL1A are common — many 20-ton trucks run this route to fishing ports. Keep right when possible.
- Speed cameras on QL1A near Phan Thiet. Limit is 60 km/h in villages, 80 km/h elsewhere. Fines are automatic.
- Evening driving is fine but watch for unlit motorbikes and pedestrian crossings in villages. Headlights mandatory after 18:00.
- Phan Thiet junction — one section requires a specific left-turn that GPS sometimes misses. Follow signs for "Mui Ne" clearly.
- Weekend traffic — Sunday afternoon return to HCMC is the single worst time. Expect 5+ hours if leaving Mui Ne after 2 PM. Either leave before noon or after 7 PM.
- Sand in vehicle — dunes attract sand into cabin. Shake out floor mats before return or pay VND 200,000 cleaning fee.
Alternative transport options
Sleeper bus (HCMC hotel pickup → Mui Ne): USD 10-15. Pro: cheapest. Con: 5-6 hours, no flexibility.
Train (Saigon station → Binh Thuan station + 20 km taxi): VND 150,000-280,000 + VND 200,000 taxi. Pro: comfortable. Con: awkward onward transfer.
Private car with driver (our service): USD 90 one-way, USD 165 round-trip (SUV). Pro: door-to-door, stops on request. Con: 2× the bus price.
Self-drive: from USD 40/day for a sedan + USD 25 fuel one-way. Requires IDP.
For a group of 3-4 with luggage, private car is almost always the winning choice.
Best time to travel
Mui Ne has two distinct seasons:
- Nov-Apr (dry): windy kite-surf season, cool evenings (22°C). Best weather Dec-Feb. Peak: Dec-Jan with Russian/European tourism.
- May-Oct (wet): humid, short afternoon rains, calmer ocean for swimming. Fewer tourists, prices drop 15-30%. Good for families who want pool/beach without the kite crowd.
Tết (Jan 29-Feb 4 in 2026): Vietnamese domestic tourism surge. Book 3-4 weeks ahead for waterfront hotels. Prices up 40-80%.
30/4-1/5 long weekend: 4-day domestic holiday spike, often higher prices than Tết.
Explore Ho Chi Minh City & Mui Ne
Ho Chi Minh City — still called Saigon by locals — is Vietnam's economic engine and the most-visited gateway for…
Read Ho Chi Minh City guideMui Ne is a former fishing village turned resort strip along Vietnam's south-central coast. The 10 km of beach, backed…
Read Mui Ne guideFrequently asked questions
Can foreigners legally drive in Vietnam?+
Yes, foreigners can legally drive in Vietnam with an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention plus your original home-country driver's license. Both documents must be carried while driving.
IDPs issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention (common in the US, Canada, Australia) are technically not recognized by Vietnamese law, but are accepted in practice by most police checkpoints and rental companies for short-term visitors. If you're staying more than 3 months, you should convert to a Vietnamese license.
For complete safety — especially if your IDP is Geneva-only — we recommend our car-with-driver service, which sidesteps the licensing question entirely.
Is insurance included in the rental price?+
Yes. Every Rocket Car Rentals vehicle includes:
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) with a maximum deductible of VND 5,000,000 (~USD 200)
- Third-party liability up to VND 150,000,000 (~USD 6,000)
- Passenger accident insurance up to VND 50,000,000 per seat
The policy does not cover: tire damage on sharp objects, undercarriage damage from flooding, damage caused under the influence of alcohol, or damage during unauthorized driver use.
For extra peace of mind, we offer zero-deductible CDW upgrade at USD 5/day.
What is the fuel policy?+
"Same level in, same level out" — you receive the car with a full (or specified) fuel level and return it at the same level. If returned with less fuel, we charge the difference plus a VND 100,000 refuel service fee.
Most of our fleet runs on RON 95 gasoline (~VND 24,000/L). Diesel vehicles are available on request. Electric vehicles (Tesla Model 3, VinFast VF8) are available in HCMC and Hanoi only — charging is included in the rental rate.
Is there a mileage limit?+
Self-drive rentals: 300 km/day included; excess is charged VND 5,000/km (~USD 0.20/km).
With-driver rentals: 80 km/day included within the assigned city; beyond that or for intercity routes, pricing is calculated as a flat route price (see our Routes page or request a quote).
Long-term rentals (7+ days): 2,000 km/week included, excess VND 4,000/km.
Mileage is tracked via odometer photos at pickup and return. No GPS spying — we only check at endpoints.
How much is the security deposit?+
Self-drive deposits (refunded at return):
- Compact sedan: USD 300
- Mid-size SUV: USD 400
- 7-seater / luxury: USD 500
- Electric vehicles: USD 600
Payment methods for deposit:
- Credit card hold (most popular — no cash movement; released automatically at return)
- Bank transfer in VND
- Cash in USD or VND (receipt provided)
With-driver rentals: no deposit required.
What is the cancellation policy?+
- Cancel 24+ hours before pickup: full refund.
- Cancel 12-24 hours before: 50% refund.
- Cancel less than 12 hours before: no refund (we've already blocked the vehicle and driver).
- No-show at pickup: no refund.
Exception: weather emergencies (typhoon, flood closing roads) are handled case-by-case — typically full refund or free reschedule.
Rescheduling within 24 hours is free if the new dates have availability.
What are the age requirements?+
Self-drive: minimum age 21, maximum age 70. Drivers aged 21-24 pay a young-driver surcharge of USD 5/day.
With-driver rentals: no passenger age requirement — infants welcome with our provided child seats (complimentary).
Driver must hold: valid IDP (1968 Vienna) + original license held for 1+ year.
What payment methods do you accept?+
We accept:
- Credit/debit card: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex (via PayPal)
- PayPal (USD billing)
- Bank transfer: Vietnamese VND (VCB, Techcombank, BIDV)
- Cash: USD or VND (at branch pickup only)
VAT invoice issued automatically for all payments over USD 100; request specific billing details at booking time.
Are child seats available?+
Yes — child seats and booster seats are complimentary for both self-drive and with-driver rentals. Request them at booking time.
Available types:
- Infant seat (0-9 kg)
- Toddler seat (9-18 kg, 9 months - 4 years)
- Booster seat (18-36 kg, 4-12 years)
All seats comply with ECE R44/04 standards.
Do you provide roadside assistance?+
Yes — 24/7 English-speaking hotline for all rentals. Our network covers the HCMC, Hanoi, Da Nang metro areas directly; for incidents in other provinces, we coordinate with local partners (typically 30-90 minute response time).
Included free:
- Flat tire change
- Dead battery jump-start
- Lock-out assistance (up to 2 per rental)
- Fuel delivery (up to 5L)
Towing to nearest service center is included for mechanical breakdowns; if the fault is driver-caused (crash), towing fees apply.
Ready for the Ho Chi Minh City → Mui Ne trip?
Book a suv with a professional driver. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.