Active recreation

Sandboarding — riding on sand dunes

Conquer sand slopes: from red dunes to white deserts

ActiveDry 1–3 hours Year-round (better at dawn or sunset) 3 places

What it is and why

Sandboarding in Vietnam is not about professional sport, but about sea of adrenaline and excellent photos. In provinces of Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan are located large sand masses, where you can rent cheap plastic board and arrange speed descent on slopes of different steepness.

Best time for activity is early morning or pre-sunset hours. At noon sand heats up to critical temperatures, and riding becomes almost impossible. Most tourists go to Mui Ne: there dunes are higher, and service for board rental is put on stream — local children will offer rental right at foot of hill.

Where to do it in Vietnam

Points on the map are real places where this activity can be done. Numbers in the list match the markers.

White dunes (Bau Trang)
Mui Ne
Most large place, landscape like in Sahara.
Red dunes
Mui Ne
Close to city, ideal for sunset.
Nam Cuong dunes
Phan Rang
Less crowded, wild landscapes, excellent for quiet descents.

Tips

Always choose early morning (before 8:00) or sunset to not burn feet on hot sand.
Be sure to rub board with wax or paraffin before descent, if offered in rental — it will slide many times faster.
Choose clothing that you do not mind getting dirty in dust, and protect camera/phone with case — sand penetrates into any connectors.
Do not trust "professional" instructors in Mui Ne: these are ordinary teenagers. Just take board and choose gentle slope.

Caution

Be careful with equipment: fine sand dust is deadly for camera lenses.
Avoid riding at noon: risk of getting heat stroke on open dunes is very high.