20 April 2011

Spiceroads Cycling Tour – Day 3
Lam Son to Vinh (80 Km)

We only have one photo from today, which speaks volumes about what we think of the scenery out here on the Ho Chi Minh Highway: it’s terrible.  The tarmac may be smooth as promised in the trip itinerary, but where are the farms, orchards and tribal villages?  Perhaps they are out there somewhere in the distance, somewhere away from this monotonous road running straight into the horizon.  For this reason, for the very boredom of it all, for the disappointment we feel, for the frustration of knowing that there are scenic backroads out there that bike touring companies typically focus on and yet our route today is all about hammering out the kilometers on this thoroughfare, we opt to become better acquainted with Mr. Hau.  Fast forward us please, Mr. Hau, out of this dusty highway town and into the countryside, where at least the highway sports a few more curves and a few less 2 1/2 ton cargo trucks.