What to expect at kitespot Mui Ne?
In Vietnam, kitespot Mui Ne lies only 200 km from Ho Chi Minh city. Getting to the spot is possible with sleeping buses (beds inside, but very small) or renting a cab. The drive takes 5 hours. Mui Ne is a great little city lying on the two sides of one main road running by the sea. The wind is decent here, so the area is made for kitesurfers by kitesurfers. Shops, bars, and accommodations are all kite friendly.
The water conditions are often rough; learning here is not easy, yet many backpackers and tourists try and succeed. When the wind is over 20 knots, the shore break can be 2m plus, which requires experience. However, with decent basic skills, one can get used to it in a few days. It is excellent because it is almost always windy throughout its season.
When you're not on the water there are plenty of kite-related and other activities present in the city. A trampoline park, gyms, and even surfing possibilities make this place a great choice. Besides those, minigolf, bowling, and plenty of shopping options are available within a short distance.
Mui Ne is a small fisherman village, where you will see lots of bucket boats (typical local, rounded boats) in the water. Unfortunately, they are in the water during windy times, giving the kiters extra difficulty to navigate through. The place itself, just like Asia, is very affordable, a meal costs barely more than 1-2 dollars, yet one can find more pricy options too, and European quality restaurants. The distances can be reasonably significant for walking, therefore renting a scooter is the best option for the kiter.
Wind conditions
As the rainy season starts to wear off in November, the seasonal wind comes and blows with only a very few breaks till May. This wind has a small thermal effect due to the desert beside the town. The wind that blows here is rather a trade wind.
Typical kite sizes from 7 -12m, and the most used will be the 9m.
Water conditions
The water conditions can be tricky. Shorebreak is often intense, and the downwind current, too, makes you lose a few knots if you are not riding but sitting in the water. With the full moon and with stronger winds, the shore break is often over 2 meters, these times are great fun for the experienced riders, but lessons are usually cancelled.
In the water, there are a few dangers to pay attention to – swimming zones (only close to the beach), fisherman boats, and fish traps. However, all these lie only on the first 20 -30 m from the beach. Outside this area, the sea is choppy with medium to big swells.
Launch area
Every school has its dedicated launch areas, beach access, and beach boys. Suggested to join one of them, so the rider can use these services for a daily fee, store gear on the spot, have a shower, and a chilling zone. Besides these zones, hotels occupy the beach with sunbeds and other obstacles. Of course, you can go without schools too, but there are only two free beach accesses, and you have to carry all your gear every day from the accommodation.
Level of riding
Kitespot Mui Ne requires an experienced kiter in the stronger days. Days around 15 -18 knots are great for learners as well, and lower skill levels too, yet there is shorebreak even on those days. And if the rider drops the kite in the first 30 m from the beach, things can end up ugly. For experienced riders this is pure joy, waves, downwinders, huge jumps are all part of this place.
Lessons
Plenty of kite schools along the beach, we recommend MKS and C2SKY.
Facilities
The facilities are connected to the accommodations or to the kite schools. Bars, restaurants, beach fruit sellers, showers, and even exercise parks are available.