Mui Ne
Twenty-two km east of Phan Thiet town lies the Mui Ne Peninsula, famous for its long beach and its enormous sand dunes. You can climb the dunes and admire their strange shapes, which are constantly shifting with the winds. Having made it to the top of a 30-meter-high dune there are two options for getting down; you can try to walk, or simply slide. It's almost as much fun to watch other people tumbling down the dunes as it is to do so yourself. Everyone ends up in a giggling heap amidst a fine spray of sand.

Fairy Spring
Also of interest is the Fairy Spring (Suoi Tien) which is really a stream that flows through a patch of dunes. It's a beautiful trek to follow from the sea to its source, though it might be wise to hire a local guide. You can do the trek barefoot, but if you're heading out into the big sand dunes, this is out of the question (unless you have leather soles on your feet); sandals are even questionable during the midday sun.

Bai Rang
Fifteen km northeast of Phan Thiet lies Ham Tien Beach, one of the finest beaches in the area. There are plenty of coconut palms for shade, plus some interesting rock formations to explore, including Da Ong Dia (Boulders of the Earth God). The water in this area is a deep shade of blue.