Archived NewsAnother Tragic Week in Mui Ne01.12.09 A 63-year-old woman from Altmünster, Austria drowned this week in strong currents, confirms the Austrian Times newspaper. Her name has not been released, but she leaves behind one daughter and three grandchildren. Her companion was hospitalized after he almost drowned while trying to rescue her. Currents off Mui Ne’s beach are very strong this time of year, particularly in the evenings, and are often impassable, even for strong swimmers. According to multiple reports there was also a tourist suicide at L'Anmien Resort last week in the middle of the night. Apparently a Russian woman jumped from a balcony on the third floor, dying from her injuries. According to neighbors, the body was discovered the following morning. Our condolences to all who were affected by both incident. Mui Ne Copes with Swine Flu
Tragic Deaths Around the City21.09.09 Last night, amidst the numerous lightning strikes, a young man was killed in Phu Hai Ward (between Mui Ne Beach and Phan Thiet) while singing Kareoke in his home. It's thought that the microphone in his hand conducted the electricity that killed him. Earlier this month, authorities discovered the remains of 2 young men in a Phu Thuy (Phan Thiet) hotel. It's thought that the men were lovers (one from the town of La Gi and the other from the viscinity of Ta Zon mountain, otherwise known as "Whiskey Mountain") and died in a murder-suicide. One man had been stabbed 3 times in the heart, and the other overdosed on medication. Bandits on the Outskirts06.09.09 We've received two reports of a group of bandits attacking people on the new mini-highway from the red sand dunes in Mui Ne, to the hilltop gas station in Phu Hai. The group of three men, armed with knives and machetes, wait along desolate stretches of the uninhabited, unlit road after dark, and ambush people on motorbikes. At this time we advise people not to drive this road after dark. Unchain Your Heart!
Update: 23.08.09 See photos from the very successfull charity event on our blog. Update: 21.08.09 We've just seen the menu for the event. It's really amazing! Food from around the globe! 14.08.09 Pogo Bar will be hosting a special all-you-can-eat buffet (150,000VND per person) on August 22 to benefit the Friends of Blind People's Association and The Classes of the Heart (to finance construction of two classrooms for disadvantaged children in Long Son school in Mui Ne Village). During the meal there will be a slide show presentation of the two projects, as well as live music by blind performers (Vietnamese traditional and modern western). Afterwards there will be an all-night dance party. 5,000VND will be donated to the cause for each drink ordered. Advanced tickets may be purchased at POGO, Joe's Art Cafe, Jibe's, Lap Thao Restaurant, Phat Burger and Chasseur Blanc. Pogo is located at 138 Nguyen Dinh Chieu in the center of the beach.New Gang of Thieves Works Over Mui Ne01.08.09. Tragedy on the Ca Ty River08.06.09 According to local sources, six teens lept from the Le Hong Phong Bridge in downtown Phan Thiet this afternoon as part of a suicide pact. Apparently 3 of the six were killed right away. City residents crowded around the bridge and riverside for several hours during and after active recovery efforts. It apparently all occured in clear view. It's unknown if anyone even tried to stop the youths. The reasons for their jump are also unclear. Some have speculated failed university entrance exams or petty teenage heartbreak with boyfriends and girlfriends. Christmas Eve Murder At Sleazy Local Venue25.12.08 Wednesday night (Christmas Eve) eight local Vietnamese men attacked and killed another local man at Hollywood Nights, a nightclub in Ham Tien (Mui Ne Beach) long known as a haven for prostitution and other illegal activity. In the process of the attack, another local man was reportedly injured and remains at home; expected to die from brain trauma. Witnesses say a foreign tourist was cut by a knife when he attempted to break up the fight. Although the attackers wielded at least one large knife during the fight, the man who died was apparently bludgeoned to death. According to locals, a second, unrelated fight broke out in Mui Ne Village the same evening, leaving another Vietnamese man dead with knife wounds. While police had a strong presence in Phan Thiet on Christmas Eve, there was no visible presence in Ham Tien (Mui Ne Beach) despite numerous parties with abundant alcohol, extending late into the night. Local police have been pre-occupied recently with an initiative to confiscate motorbikes from tourists driving without a Vietnam-issued license. Resorts and local businesses have also noted the burdensome, compulsive fundraising efforts of law enforcement, typical of holiday seasons. These activities appear to be a distraction from more pressing communities needs, like keeping the peace. Unfortunately these deadly altercations are not the only incidents of violence this week. A series of skirmishes broke out at another local bar frequented by foreign tourists, after five drunken foreigners sexually assaulted several other expat women. In the largest fight, police were called but arrived an hour later and reportedly refused to intervene. Abnormal Tides Destroy Fisherman's Homes12.01.09 This weekend high waves with unusual tides have destroyed more than 20 fisherman's homes and are threatening more than 100 more in Phu Hai and Duc Long districts of Phan Thiet. There were no casualties but hundreds of residents have been rendered homeless. Phan Thiet People's commitee said militrary forces and youth volunteers had been dispatched to reinforce damaged homes and stack sandbags to prevent further destruction. While a tragic hardship for the local community, the damage is unfortunately a regular occurance several times a year due to poor planning and low-quality home construction. Resorts in Mui Ne are still active and most relatively uneffected, but there has been some significant beach errosion, and beaches have strong currents with low water clarity. Blind Association To Open Massage Center
12.11.08 The Binh Thuan Province Association of the Blind held a meeting today with local charities and sponsors to discuss plans to open a new Massage Center, staffed entirely by the blind, on the east end of Ham Tien (Mui Ne Beach). The new center should open within the next two weeks, once the local government grants their business license. The new center will be located at 56/1 Huynh Thuc Khang, next to the Canary Resort in Ham Tien (Mui Ne Beach). The land and building for the new center has been donated by the owners of Tuan Loan Hotel in Ham Tien. Nguyen Anh Chien, owner of Victor Tours (across from Full Moon Beach Resort) is providing free English training to assist the blind masseuses as they serve foreign tourist. The Binh Thuan Association of the Blind currently has one massage center located at 32 Hai Thuong Lan Ong on the east side of the Ca Ty River, near the central market, in downtown Phan Thiet. The Association of the Blind Massage Centers are renowned for their professional service and low fees. Visit their website (Vietnamese language) at www.hoinguoimubinhthuan.org. News Around Binh Thuan Province30.08.06 According to Vietnam Net Bridge, The Binh Thuan Province Seafood Department recently conducted a surprise inspection of local seafood processing plants. They found that 13% of samples taken at a variety of locations contained antibiotic residues. The most contaminated products were dried cuttlefish, fresh cuttlefish and frozen octopus. The offending plants may have their operation licenses revoked or face legal prosecution. - According to the Saigon Times, a French guest and a Vietnamese staff member of Novotel Hotel in Phan Thiet were accidentally electrocuted in a freak accident last week. Our sincerest condolences and sympothies to the Hotel, staff and familes of the two men. - According to Saigon Times, as many as 178 inmates of Thu Duc prison in Ham Tan (South of Phan Thiet), including four foreign prisoners, are set to be released for the 61st anniversary of National Day on September 2. - Floods have killed as many as 8 local residents this month around the province, in seasonal flooding. Sanitation to Improve in Central Binh Thuan04.08.06 Vietnam and Belgium signed an agreement in Hanoi today for a US$5.5 million project funded by Belgium to improve sanitation and protect the environment in central Binh Thuan. The three-year project, for which Vietnam will contribute US$704,000, will provide safe water in Phan Ri Cua, and improve drainage and wastewater treatment in Lien Huong. It will also help improve management of solid and medical wastes and raise environmental awareness. The location is NorthEast of Phan Thiet. Phan Ri Cua is one of three important fishing ports in the province (along with Phan Thiet and La Gi to the south). Binh Thuan Leaders Disciplined13.07.06 Nineteen Communist Party members from Binh Thuan province have been disciplined for failing to prevent and fight crime. Some of them even alegedly sheltered the notorious, local criminal gang known as "Apricot Hill". The gang's leader, Nguyen Thanh Guong ("Hai Chi"), was arrested in 2005 for a number of crimes, including murder, gambling and robbery. More than 3,000 members of the Communist Party of Vietnam from 22 localities in the South have been disciplined in the first half of this year. The party currently has 3.1 million members. Source: People's Daily Online Blowfish Sends 16 to Hospital
Flooding Destroys More Homes22.05.06 Forty-seven houses were swept away in two days of flooding at Phuoc Loc Ward last week. This is the second year in a row that flooding has destroyed numerous homes in the area. The local effects of dry and rainy season have been polarizing in the last decade, with extreme drought during the dry season and devastating erosion in the wet season. Free Medical Services
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21.08.09 Yesterday the Mui Ne ward office hosted an informational meeting to inform resort and restaurant proprietors and staff about issues related to swine flu. Items included precautions to deter the spread of the illness as well as information on common symptoms and treatments. Local media and residents alike are captivated by stories on the flu. We've chosen not to post the official count of Swine Flue victims for this area, because while we question the seriousness of the global epidemic, we also suspect the count of local swine flu victims is grossly under-reported. Needless to say, both local and foreign travelers in the area are confirmed to have contracted the illness.
Ham Tien Police are circulating a picture today (right) of a man caught on surveilence cameras, who is believe to be part of a gang of thiefs targeting tourists in resorts around Mui Ne. The group is thought to be comprised of 3-5 Vietnamese men, posing as guests in various resorts. They cary bolt cutters and invade rooms to steal personal valuables, as well as other items around the resort. The gang began their invasions about 10 days ago. Tourists are urged to keep their valuables with them at all times, or deposit them in a hotel safe. Also, please report any suspicious behaviour to the management of your hotel (not the staff).
30.06.06. Sixteen people were hospitalized, including a nine-year-old that died after eating a pufferfish yesterday in Ham Thuan Bac. The group exhibited nausea and fainting at the province’s general hospital. Three were later released but twelve still remain in the hospital. The fish are often eaten in the area, with frequent reports of illness or even death as a result. A single fish contains enough toxin in it's eyes, internal organs and skin to kill up to 30 people. The muscle tissue however, contains little or no toxin, and is considered a delicacy in countries like Japan. If not prepared carefully eating the fish can have lethal results. 
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