Mui Ne is where kiteboarding in South-East Asia began, a long sandy bay on Vietnam's south-east coast lined with schools, cheap eats and beach bars. The winter monsoon delivers some of the most reliable strong wind in the region, and the laid-back beach town has been a fixture on the Asian kite trail for two decades.
The wind
The engine is the north-east monsoon, which blows side-onshore and is topped up by a strong afternoon thermal as the land heats. From roughly November to April it fills in almost every afternoon, windiest from December to March, when it regularly holds in the low twenties of knots. There is also a lighter south-west season from May to October with gentler wind. The catch is the water state: rather than a flat lagoon, Mui Ne serves up a choppy, wave-riddled shorebreak, so it rewards improvers who are comfortable in moving water more than absolute first-timers.
The spots
The kite beach is actually in Ham Tien, a few kilometres from Mui Ne village, a long stretch of sand where the kite schools and stations line the beachfront. The shorebreak can be punchy on the way out, but past it the bay opens into rolling swell that makes Mui Ne a fun place to learn transitions, jumps and your first strapless turns. The calmer summer season is the friendlier window for a first course, while winter is for riders who want power and moving water.
When to go
The main season is the north-east monsoon from November to April, peaking December to March. This is the reliable, strong-wind window and the busiest time in town. The lighter May to October season suits first lessons and quieter beaches. The water is warm year-round, a shorty at most in the cooler months.
Before you go
Mui Ne is around four to five hours by road from Ho Chi Minh City, or reachable by train to Phan Thiet. Base yourself along the Ham Tien beach strip, close to the kite houses and beach resorts and the schools. Bring a quiver for moderate-to-strong wind, a 9 and a 12 for most days with a smaller kite for a windy January front. It is a natural stop on the northern-winter off-season kite trail. Check the live Mui Ne forecast before you commit to a session.