Mui Ne - December 6th

Although yesterday was our first cycling day, today is our first real cycling day as we cover 55km.  Before we get on our bikes we have to transfer out of Saigon for a couple of hours so that we are in the countryside.  Although in this part of Vietnam there isn’t really too much countryside as every road is lined with houses, the front room of which is turned into a café, shop or some other business.

The cycle itself is very pleasant, divided into two 20km sections before lunch and then one 15km section after lunch.  The sections are mostly flat, and surprisingly traffic free.  Our first drinks break after 20km is in a little wood by the road side where our guides serve us all sorts of refreshments.  As well as drinks we get mango, banana, and some lychee jellies out of the freezer box which taste amazing.

The second 20km is through a slightly more built up area, but it’s not too difficult to get through.  Between the guide leader and our mechanic, who both ride along, and the bus driver and our truck driver, each turn we have to make is well signposted.   For lunch we stop in a café which allows our guys to prepare tuna sandwiches for everyone.  A legacy of French rule here are the rolls which are fantastic.  The final 15km is more of the same where we cycle through some towns, and also at times farming areas.  The only problem with the cycling is that we can’t really stop to take pictures of the countryside as we go past.  Well you could but you don’t really want to be the last person holding up the group.

At the end of the 55km the bikes are put on the truck and we get back on our bus and transfer to Mui Ne.  This is a seaside resort area which is very popular with locals and foreigners alike.  The resort is about 10km of a single road with beach resorts on one side fronting the ocean, and restaurants, shops, bars and massage places on the other side.  Our hotel is very nice, with a pool and sundeck overlooking a small beach - it’s a pity it is dark and we can’t enjoy it.  And across the road is a local restaurant recommended by our guide, where we get the best value meal of the trip so far.