Feeling not really all that fit, but knowing we only had a short (15km) trip to the bus station and then into the bus to rest for a few hours, we headed off into the city.
Finding the bus station was a lot easier this time, and we got there in good time with high hopes.
After talking to 3 different people (different companies?) we got the general idea that NO buses were running today, due to the Tet vacation – none at all….
It took a bit of time to sink in, but it meant a massive change of plans. We had two options – cycle on (with me feeling not well), or try the train station (who knows….)
So it was off to the train station (4 km in the opposite direction) with lots of hope that they would be able to help us.
After some discussion with the lady at the counter, it turns out that there is a train that takes bikes (needs a baggage wagon for that), but it leaves at 17:30 (it was 10:30 at this point) – it would get us in to Vinh at 19:45 (well after dark)….. a quick discussion of the options, and we decided to do this, and find a place to stay in Vinh (instead of cycling on from there as we had planned).
So we hung out in the not so interesting (from a tourist standpoint) city of Thanh Hoa for 6 hours – mostly in a street Cafe watching the parading of the rich youth in and out of the cafe.
I was wrapped up in almost every clothing piece I had staying warm, and drinking Iced coffees.
At 16:00 we made our way to the train station as instructed, and I purchased tickets (we were uncertain up to that point if it really would work out), and we waited for a train that was not listed on any poster or timetable in the train station..
But at 17:30, a train appeared, with a baggage wagon at the back where our bikes were loaded into, and we sat in a wagon with reserved “soft” seats – similar to the type of seats we have in W. Europe (the “hard seat” wagons were REALLY hard wooden seats).
Eventful but loud (lots of families and kids running around the wagon the whole time) 2 hours later we arrived in Vinh and made our way (in the dark) with bike-lights through the streets of Vinh – wasn’t as bad as I expected though, but it made dodging the traffic a bit more challenging.
Arrived at our hotel – for 20€ a night – and checked in – lovely hotel – in the room I have a hard time remembering that I am in Vietnam – most modern high-quality standards….
Just outside on the street corner, we had a noodle soup, and met Han (not certain of the spelling) – a most talkative young (22 years old) local resident working in Export in a company that exports Stone and pepper (interesting combination). He was most friendly, and insisted on paying for our soup/beers, and then was off….
(27 km / 30m)