Day 43 - back to Vietnam - Trial by fire: new bike, first tour, first time in Asia

December 7, 2024

Day 43 - back to Vietnam

We had a very slow start to the day - up late, Ian at least, slow packing, devouring a watermelon, loitering in town over coffee and so forth.

Coffee served sitting in a bowl of hot water

His set-up allows him to close the back and ride to a new location. We need them at home.

Utility wires are no better, and these guys don't even have a ladder.

Approaching the border - it's nothing special.

The main delay at the border was me. I completely forgot that the Vietnamese visa was an e-visa rather than something in my passport. By contrast, Winston had it completely together. Anyway, it all worked out and soon we were in Vietnam. Suddenly, businesses were Vietnamese and not Chinese.

It was a few kms to a town where we could reactivate our Vietnamese sims and where Winston could exchange his riel for dong, at a gold shop nonetheless.

That's a terrific load by some fellas who know the truckie's hitch.

Fixing the front end of a workhorse with the help of a forklift.

You'd trust this fellow to get our phones going.

Winston making enquiries about the whereabouts of the gold shop.

The gold dealers were more than happy to cut a deal on exchanging money.

With our business needs complete we headed towards Ho Chi Minh, about 140 km away. I suggested to Winston a stop in the sizeable city of Tay Ninh, about 40 km away.

Plant nurseries are common and colourful. There's some brilliant grafting of bougainvillea to give several colours on the one plant.

You're just leaving a town, not a temple complex!

But there are temples in this region, more than I remember from northern Vietnam.

Is this the Buddhist equivalent of Mary? Andrea Brown kindly informs us that it's Kuan Yin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy.

And another interpretation of Nagas - this one has forelimbs.

Some fun for Bill, as a thanks for all of his hard work.

Bill, quick as a flash comes back with: Chequered Keelbackhttps://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/chequered-keelback.htm

Thanks Bill!

A hill appears beyond a field of sugarcane.

We reached Tay Ninh for a late lunch. I turned again to a banh my stall and ate a couple while keeping an eye out for Winston. A little later we reached the city centre with tree-lined streets and a shady park, passing a classic sculpture as we rode.

Don't mess with the woman with the machete!

Big town of Tay Ninh, with a bank taking prominent place.

We left Tay Ninh aiming for another 30 or so km, which would put us within about 60 km of Ho Chi Minh city. We were mainly on a divided highway that was smooth, fast, safe but not so inspiring.

They all suddenly arrived on motor scooters.

A tractor works the paddy as a fellow chases fish. The tractors have special steel wheels and no tyres.

I made an effort to look at a hotel after about 70 km. I got to the other side of the road, went 200 m up a lane, asked people, but never found it. Go Dau at about 85 km looked good.

I was aiming at Blue Star Hotel, but settled for the first hotel I came to - Blue Star 2. It was pure luxury for a fine room on the third floor with two beds. There was even a lift! Even better, they sensed our arrival and installed a Christmas tree. All this for A$30 - the same price as last night's Paris II, in that grubby Cambodian border town.

We had a few problems getting dinner. A barbecue/hotpot place didn't cater for vegetarians so I had a beer and then left Winston and ventured elsewhere. He later told me that they had tofu and other stuff!

I got on a winner! I ended up at a place where a 13 year old boy helped me out. I ended up with a magnificent dish of fried tofu with ground up lemon grass and another of stir fried vegetables with noodles.

I ordered a beer and the young bloke served it with a slab of cake.

The young lad then invited me to have a hit of badminton with a couple of his friends. Talk about sweat!

Today's ride: 84 km (52 miles)
Total: 2,628 km (1,632 miles)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	9
Comment on this entry	Comment	3

John GrantIsn't Vietnam a marvellous demonstration of the scourge of a communist system ?
Reply to this comment
1 week ago

Ian WallisTo John GrantJohn, yes, a nasty, nasty system. I say this as I'm sitting back in HCM with a tea and an iced coffee and time to read some comments and scratch at neglected footrot.
Reply to this comment
1 week ago

John GrantTo Ian WallisAre you heading home soon Ian ?
Reply to this comment
1 week ago