Following the boats returning from the sea
In Mui Ne fishing village, the new day begins very early. When the sun has not yet set, lights from fishing boats returning after a night of drifting at sea are already faintly visible offshore.
At about 5 am, the sun begins to rise towards the horizon, which is also when the whole fishing village gradually wakes up. Rows of wooden boats dock, the boat holds full of fish, squid, crabs, shrimp... shining silver sparkling under the early morning sun.
On the small beach along Huynh Thuc Khang street, a spontaneous market quickly formed. People pulled fish from boats ashore, people quickly classified seafood into each colorful plastic basin. The sound of sea waves mixed with each other's calls created a very unique sound that only coastal fishing villages have.
The atmosphere here is completely different from the crowdedness often seen at tourist destinations. Everything happens naturally and slowly like the way coastal people have lived for generations.
Many tourists choose to wake up very early to go to the fishing village just to admire that moment. When the dawn light covers hundreds of basket boats anchored offshore, the whole space seems to soften in the smell of salty wind and the still cold water vapor of the early morning.
Looking down from above, the fishing village appears like a colorful picture. Blue and red boats are lying close together on the water surface, and in the distance, the sea and sky stretch to the horizon. Just standing still in that scenery is enough to clearly feel the simple rhythm of life of the South Central Coast sea.
Some people come to Mui Ne because of the blue sea, some people like the long sand dunes full of sunshine and wind. But for many tourists, the most memorable thing is the feeling of walking in the early morning fish market, listening to the sound of boats docking and watching a coastal village wake up with the dawn.
Fresh seafood by the sea
When the market starts to become sparse, it is also the time when coastal eateries are on fire preparing breakfast for tourists. Seafood just brought up from the boat quickly appears on the hot charcoal stove.
Fragrant grilled squid, steamed crabs with smoky smoke or lobster covered with golden scallion oil are dishes chosen by many people after strolling around the sea market. The most interesting thing is that tourists can personally choose fresh seafood and bring it to the restaurant to process right on the spot.
Sitting on simple plastic chairs by the sea, listening to the sound of waves and enjoying freshly caught seafood makes the meal in the fishing village completely different from the crowded restaurants often seen.
Ngoc Nhi, a tourist from Hanoi, said that what she remembered most after the trip was not the coastal resorts but the morning in Mui Ne fishing village.
I like the feeling of getting up very early to go to the fish market and then sit and eat seafood right next to the sea. The atmosphere here is very pleasant and peaceful," she shared.
Not only is it a place to trade seafood, Mui Ne fishing village is also a favorite stop for many photography enthusiasts. Hundreds of colorful basket boats are lying close together on the water surface, in the distance is the blue sea and golden sunshine creating a scene that is both peaceful and lively.
From the fishing village, tourists can also easily combine visiting Suoi Tien, Cat Bay Hill or Hon Rom on the same day. But for many people, what remains after the trip is sometimes simply the feeling of living slowly amidst the sound of sea waves and the rustic pace of life of a coastal fishing village that has existed for many years.
Mui Ne fishing village is located on Huynh Thuc Khang street, Mui Ne ward, Lam Dong province, about 23km from Phan Thiet center. The small village stretches about 1km along the coast, and has long become a mooring for fishermen's boats thanks to its year-round calm and windproof sea.
Hidden beside tall coconut trees, the fishing village still retains the rustic rhythm of the coastal region for generations. Boats going out to sea at midnight and returning when it is just dawn, fish markets gathering by the sea or the salty smell of the early morning sea breeze create a very unique simple beauty. It is this pristine and ordinary nature that makes many tourists remember forever after leaving Mui Ne.
Mui Ne fishing village is most beautiful at about 5 - 7 am, when fishing boats just dock and the sea market takes place most bustlingly of the day. This is also an ideal time for tourists to watch the sunrise, take pictures of the boat yard and enjoy fresh seafood processed right by the sea.
