Mui Ne is located east of Phan Thiet, the capital of Binh Thuan province in southeast Viet Nam. Increased investment in tourism infrastructure on Mui Ne’s beachfront, including construction of a large jetty, seems to have resulted in coastal erosion of Phan Thiet shores with resulting increased storm surge and flood risk. Obstruction of shoreline sediment transport by the jetty may be the main reason. The first photograph of Figure 9.4 shows sandy beaches in front of two hotel developments (depicted here as Hotel West and Hotel East) as well as sand accumulation at a jetty west of the hotels towards Phan Thiet.

To retain sand at the hotel beach, Hotel East invested in the construction of a large jetty that was successful in protecting erosion and even increasing the beach area in front of the hotel. However, the lack of sediment transportation from east to west, following the construction of the jetty, resulted in loss of beach area for Hotel West and coastal erosion further along the coast to Phan Thiet (Figure 9.4, large photograph), leaving those areas more vulnerable to storm surges and floods.