The day was in general uneventful – we ended up on some very local roads -massive potholes and slow going – all to avoid the major Highway 1 (Ho Chi Minh Highway). Approaching our destination, we were confronted with a massive Cement/Gravel plant – an ugly industrial huge monstrosity, that was right in front of us – we were quite concerned that this would be the backdrop of the idyllic countryside we were to visit in the next 2 days.
But by the time we got to Tom Coc, the industrialization had disappeared, and the bungalow gardens (Green Peace Bungalows in Tam Coc) was a peaceful oasis amidst the honking and bustling traffic of Vietnam.
Highlights for today – drinking coffee at the roadside with Barry Mannilow and ABBA tunes going at full blast. The really bad side roads of Vietnam, the wonderful peacefulness of our Bungalows (and the helpfulness of the owners/staff).
(about 53km and 300m vertical)