[2024] Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne: Is sleeper bus or train better?

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Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne is one of the most common travel routes for tourists traveling to Vietnam. 

After exploring the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh for some time, you might want to experience nature. Mui Ne is one of the most popular destinations after HCMC, known for its beautiful stretches of sand dunes and beachside resorts. 

So, how do you travel from HCMC to Mui Ne? Is a sleeper bus or a train better? Let’s find out in this post.

 💡 Read more: Ho Chi Minh blog: Useful tips & guide for first-timers 

Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne: By sleeper bus

Ticket price: about 230.000 – 250.000 VND

Travel time: 4.5 – 5 hrs

Sleeper bus Saigon – Mui Ne’s schedule:

• Futa bus (Phuong Trang bus): 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 10:30 PM, 11:00 PM
• Hanh Cafe: 8:30 AM, 9:45 AM, 10:30 AM, 8:00 PM, 10:15 PM, 11:00 PM, 

How to travel from Saigon to Mui Ne by sleeper bus?

Step 1: Buy the bus tickets

There are 3 ways to buy tickets:

• Buy online via this link : The pick-up point is shown in the e-voucher. 
• Buy at the operator’s office: You can purchase tickets at the Futa bus’s ticket office, located at 205 Pham Ngu Lao Street (opposite 23 September Park). They also provide a free minivan transfer from their office to the Western bus station, from which you can catch a bus to Mui Ne.
• Buy at Ben Xe Mien Tay (Western Bus Station)

Reliable operators: Futa (Phuong Trang bus), Hanh Cafe

 ➡ The tickets can be purchased via this link.

Step 2: Go to the bus station or operator’s office to take the bus to Mui Ne.

Each operator picks up and drops off at different locations; some of them offer a free minivan service from/to your hotel. You need to check with them beforehand.

Note: 

• Most of them don’t speak English; you need to use Google Translate.
• Most buses in Vietnam don’t have a toilet. They often make stops at local restaurants where you can use the toilet for free or purchase food.

• Some buses don’t allow eating on board.
• If you are over 2 meters tall, a sleeper bus might not be a good choice because the beds are short and small.
• Expect some delays when traveling by bus.

My experience

I purchased my bus ticket at the Futa office located at 205 Pham Ngu Lao Street. This was my first experience with the Futa bus, but it wasn’t pleasant. The driver was a little rude; he shouted at foreign customers because they didn’t understand him. On a positive note, the bus was in good condition.

I also took the Futa bus from Dalat to Nha Trang, and the experience was very positive. The staff and driver were very professional and friendly.

In conclusion, I think Futa is an affordable and reliable operator that offers numerous routes across Vietnam, but the service quality is not consistent

Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne: By train

If you travel by train, there is no direct train from HCMC to Mui Ne. Instead, the train stops at Phan Thiet train station, and from there, you will need to take a bus, taxi, or motorbike taxi to reach Mui Ne.

Ticket price from HCMC to Phan Thiet: from 220.000-250.000 VND/person/way

Travel time: 4.5 – 5 hrs

How to travel from Saigon to Mui Ne by train?

Step 1: Buy the tickets at the train station or online via this link.

There are 2 types of tickets: Soft seats and 4-bed cabins. Soft seats are slightly cheaper than the other option. 

You should buy tickets 2 days in advance if traveling on weekends or at least a week in advance during holidays.

• Saigon train station’s location: Google Maps
• Phan Thiet train station’s location: Google Maps

Step 2: Board the train to Phan Thiet train station. 

Note:

• The train is usually on time unless there was an incident due to a storm, flooding, or a traffic accident.
• You should arrive at the train station at least 10 minutes before the departure time.
• There are toilets available on the train, but the sanitation is not very clean.
• Some trains are old and dirty.
• They also sell food on the train, such as banh mi, rice, porridge, eggs, local specialties, water, and more. Prices are slightly higher than outside.

Step 3: Go to Mui Ne from Phan Thiet train station

There are 3 ways to go from Phan Thiet train station to Mui Ne

• By local bus: From Phan Thiet train station, you can take the red bus No. 9 to Mui Ne. The bus route goes to Ganh Mui Ne (Google Maps) and makes stops along the way at Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Ho Xuan Huong Street, and more. The bus fare is 40,000 VND per person each way.
• By Grab bike: If you are traveling solo with little luggage, taking a Grab bike is convenient and affordable. The fare for a Grab bike ride is about 100,000 VND (approximately 4-5 USD).

Grab is an app in Vietnam similar to Uber, offering both car and motorbike taxi services (Grab car and Grab bike). Link to download Grab: Click here

• By Grab car: Traveling from Phan Thiet train station to Mui Ne by Grab car costs about 300,000 to 400,000 VND per way for a 4-seater car.