Kitesurfing in Mui Ne

About Mui Ne

Mui Ne started as a fishing village and turned into a kite destination almost by accident. In the early 2000s a handful of windsurfers stumbled on the bay — the wind was steady, the water was warm — and within ten years Mui Ne had more kite schools than many European countries. The village itself still runs on its own rhythm: fishing boats head out every night, the fish market opens at five in the morning, the old quarter looks much as it did twenty years ago.

The kite strip runs parallel to the village — 15 kilometres of beach along a single road. Hotels, guesthouses, kite stations, repair shops, restaurants — all within walking or scooter distance.

Mui Ne sits in Binh Thuan province, just east of the larger town of Phan Thiet. Most riders fly into Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and take a transfer down the coast — about four hours. Full breakdown of the options on the how to get to Mui Ne page.

Kite season

The main season runs from mid-November to late April. Peak is January, February, March — wind blows almost without breaks. In summer (May–October) the main spots are off — the monsoon flips direction. Detailed monthly breakdown, historical stats and timing advice in the season guide.

Mui Ne kite spots

There are two main spots, and the choice between them affects almost everything.

Malibu

Malibu is the northern part of the bay. Wide, shallow, with a clean cross-onshore wind angle from the sea.

The key feature is that the wave line and the beach are well separated. The waves break 80–100 metres offshore — far enough that there’s no shorebreak at launch. Between the wave line and the sand sits a flat, protected zone — perfect for water starts, body drags and basic riding. Past the wave line the swell reshapes into clean 1–2 metre waves, up to 3.5 metres on the strongest days — exactly what you need for wave riding and big air.

This combination — flat near shore for lessons and clean waves further out for riding — is rare. Most kite spots are either flat (like the Brazilian lagoons of Cumbuco) or pure wave (like Cape Town). Malibu has both within a hundred metres. That’s why KITENAM and a handful of other professional schools are based here.

The only downside is the 10-minute scooter ride from the main hotel strip. If you want to launch straight from your hotel, the Central spot is more convenient.

Central spot

The Central spot stretches along the main hotel strip. Most kite-friendly hotels are here, which makes it more popular with short-stay visitors.

The downsides are real. Strong shorebreak — waves closing right at the beach, which makes launching and landing harder for beginner and intermediate riders. In peak season the water is crowded: students, freeriders, jet skis — all sharing one wind window. The wind angle is also slightly more onshore than at Malibu.

Most experienced riders move to Malibu within a few days, even when staying on the main strip. The ten-minute scooter ride is worth it.

Phan Rang

2.5 hours north is Phan Rang — shallow lagoon with wind 5–10 knots stronger than Mui Ne. Almost everyone who comes to Mui Ne for a season makes the trip at least once. We run day trips and longer sessions — details on the kitesurfing in Phan Rang page.

Who Mui Ne is for

Beginners. Strong predictable wind and the flat zone close to shore at Malibu give you some of the best learning conditions in the world. Over two weeks you’ll get a session almost every day. One caveat: Malibu is open ocean, not a lagoon, so 1–1.5 metres of chop at launch is part of the deal.

Intermediates. Mui Ne’s core audience. Steady upwind, clean turns, first jumps — 4–6 hours of working wind a day for weeks. Most riders who come for a month leave noticeably stronger.

Advanced. Wave riders and big-air pilots fall for Malibu in peak season. Clean waves, even wind, forgiving launch zone. Foilers do well in the lighter morning sessions. Pure freestylers sometimes find the chop frustrating — for flat-water tricks Phan Rang is the better call.

Families and non-kiters. The infrastructure handles it. English works everywhere. Morning surf, scooter rides, dunes, fish market — there’s plenty to do during the no-wind hours.

Beyond kiting

• Surfing — the same swell that builds the Malibu waves gives a live morning surf before the wind comes up.
• Sand dunes — the red and white dunes outside town are worth a sunrise trip.
• Fishing village and Fairy Stream — short walks, half a day in total.
• Scooter trips — villages, beaches, fish markets around Mui Ne, about $5–7 a day.
• Kite trips to Phan Rang — when Mui Ne is light and Phan Rang is on, we head north by van.

Accommodation options for different budgets and trip styles on the where to stay in Mui Ne page.

KITENAM station on Malibu

KITENAM is the only authorised Airush kite center on the Malibu spot. We’ve been here since 2015.

On site: compressor, kite rinse, secure storage, shower, shaded lounge, food and drinks.

Common questions about gear, visa, safety and budget on the FAQ page.