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The Grand Adventure

A bike trip with no end Read more

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🇱🇰 Pulluhena, Sri Lanka
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Goodbye Vietnam. Hello Sri Lanka!
January 22 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
After 2 months, it is time to leave Vietnam. Though there have been some high points, I found it a particularly difficult country. The roads weren’t great, the drivers were atrocious and the language barrier was significant everywhere except the tourist spots. We travelled through a lot of cities which generally were less pleasant. It was also the country where I felt the most out of place and at times not very welcome. Regardless, I am glad we went but not keen to return anytime soon. Managed to navigate 2 separate flights and kept baggage weight within limits. Arrived with our gear and caught a van to our apartment. Settled in and went to bed. Long day of travel.Read more
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Packing day
January 21 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
Organize and pack - that was how we spent our day. Did go out for pretty good pizza.
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Exploring Saigon
January 20 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Head out to explore the city as I am feeling a bit better. Start off with terrific French pastries. Take a Grab to avoid the busy and unpleasant streets. Wander around District 1, passing a few notable buildings. In general, it seems like a generic busy city. Wind up spending a few hours in the Zoo and Botanical Gardens. A rather large selection of animas from around the world. Head back to the hotel where we reman for the rest of the evening.Read more
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A sick day
January 19 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
Woke up feeling crappy so spent most of the day in bed while Doug procured our packing boxes and materials. Sightseeing will have to wait .
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Onto Saigon
January 18 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Less than 40 miles to go to end our cycling journey through Vietnam. Get some coffee (sweet of course) and breakfast and head out on small roads through the countryside. Ride through a few market towns and fish markets. Take a small ferry and begin our journey through Saigon. Lots of motorbikes but it seems less hectic than Hanoi. Perhaps we have gotten better at riding in the flow. Arrive at our hotel safely. Do some packing prep and walk towards main part of the city for dinner. Very hectic. After finding gelato, take a Grab back.Read more
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It’s pretty but …
January 17 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
small canal paths take forever. Though we start nice and early, another high mileage day keeps us riding all day long. Find ourselves on single track paths amongst the rice fields. This is followed by a 7 mile stretch on a “motorbike superhighway” where we seem to be going against the flow of traffic. Pull up to intended hotel just as it gets dark to find it full. Manage to find a fine hotel a few kilometers back. Pretty good seafood dinner.Read more
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Back through the canals
January 16 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C
Get an early start as we have a big day ahead. Retrace our “steps”, and the small paths and steep little bridges are still slow going. It’s also quite toasty. After lunch, my derailleur has a little tizzy and stops working. Stuck in the lowest gear. All the little hills become giant. Miraculously find a bike mechanic on our route who is able to quickly fix it but we lost a lot of time. Pick up the pace, cross two waterways on ferries and race to beat the sunset as we cycle through another area full of fruit. Last few kilometers are in the dark. Find our hotel, check in and wander down the road in search of food. Manage to have a good meal, thankfully.Read more
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A less hectic return to the mainland
January 15 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Pack up and spend a bit of time at the beach before riding across the island to the fort. Buy our tickets, wait in line with the motorbikes and board. Land back in Rach Gia, grab our bikes and ride the short distance to the hotel. Explore the MegaMart and opt for a big salad for dinner. Watch a movie as well, just like normal people.Read more
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Last beach day
January 14 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Doug left early for final day of dive training. Futzed around in the morning before heading to the beach. Water a bit rougher today but still quite lovely. Watched the sunset.
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Scuba Day
January 13 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Today we both catch an early van to go scuba diving. Doug goes off with his little group to complete required skills while I have my refresher dive. Though we did a few skills, mostly reminded myself how to manage to stay buoyant and not float away. First dive was very murky and not very scenic. Second dive was over a nice coral wlll and much nicer. Had lunch on the boat after our dives and returned to shore. Van ride back to hotel where I relaxed by the pool. Nice seafood dinner.Read more
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Ong Long Beach Day
January 12 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Doug started his Open Water Diving course today. I spent a good part of the day hanging at Ong Long Beach - nicest one yet on this island. Not much room to walk but the water is clear and not too crowded. Did a bit of snorkeling; seeing only a few fish. Thai food for dinner for a change.Read more
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Ong Lang
January 11 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
Day to transition to our bungalow for the remainder of our time. Do a bit of beach yoga and frolic in the calm sea. Pack up and head north. Enjoy a quiet promenade for a bit before hitting the chaos of Duong Dong, the main town. Manage to clear the town unscathed and continue north. Pull off the main road and enter a more green and quieter side of the island. Small village of Ong Lang is definitely touristy but in a manner that honors where it’s at. Check in and chill by the pool. Out for disappointing pizza.Read more
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Hectic day to Phu Quoc
January 9 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Allow ourselves plenty of time to ride the 3 miles to the ferry dock. Manage to secure tickets but seems all bank machines are on the fritz. Doug finally finds one that is operational, pay, and race to the dock. Quite the chaotic scene with multiple ferries unloading and loading. Our bikes go on with the motorbikes and we settle into our seats for 3 hour ride. Arrive at Phu Quoc and reverse the process. Ride across the island and find our hotel amongst a series of boutique hotels. Walk a short ways and check out the beach. Head to night market for seafood dinner.Read more
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Deep into the delta to Rach Gia
January 8 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Long day planned to get us to Rach Gia where we will catch the ferry to the island of Phu Quoc. Spend most of the day on very small paths alongside the channels. Lots of branches, meaning lots of steep little bridges. Though it’s scenic, it’s also slow going. Stop in a park for some lunch and continue along. Fortunately days are getting longer but we still get to Rach Gia as it is getting dark. Find out hotel and too tired to venture out. Order in and listen to rocking festival nearby.Read more
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Can Tho
January 7 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
A day of small roads amongst fruit trees. So many different kinds; bananas, coconuts, dragon fruit, pomelos, oranges, jackfruit, limes and likely more. Huge bridge to cross to get to Can Tho, the biggest city in the delta. Found ourselves a very good Italian meal.Read more
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Tra Vinh
January 6 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
Short ride to Vila Basi, a nice homestay within a beautiful garden. Rode into Tra Vinh and checked out a few Buddhist temples. Quite reminiscent of the Wats of Thailand. Picked up dinner food at the supermarket. Made a simple salad for dinner.Read more
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Ben Tre
January 5 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
Very nice riding in the morning along a small road amongst the greenery. Stop at a fun temple in My Tho. Rejoin the big road, as we need to cross the Mekong. Somewhat surprised about how busy this area seems to be. Take advantage of the modern supermarket before heading to our homestay. Take a dip in the pool between rain drops.Read more
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To the Mekong Delta
January 4 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Slow morning. Must have been because we were up late watching the finale of Stranger Things. Find a nice place for breakfast before riding around the peninsula in search of a ferry. Find it and jump on board as it’s leaving. Cross a large finger on water and arrive on one of islands of the Mekong Delta. Many bridges later, and another ferry have us arriving in Go Cong. Check into a brand new hotel and go in search of food. An ok bowl of noodles, broth and some seafood.Read more
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On to Vung Tau
January 3 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Another windy ride along the coast. As we have seen in other places, there is a a lot of construction; mostly building big name resorts that seem very far from the rest of Vietnam. With the wind solidly behind us, make very good time into city of Vung Tau. A separate lanes for bikes and motorbikes provides some relief for cars and trucks. Check into our hotel overlooking the bay and indulge in a Western meal (steak, grilled fish, warm goat cheese salad). Quite nice.Read more
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La Gi
January 2 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Make our way slowly out of the sprawl of Mui Ne and then Phiet Nam. Dodge the self-centered drivers of all sorts who pull out in front of you without even bothering to yield. Stay along the coastline where waves are crashing due to big winds. Check out lighthouse before riding through massive dragon fruit fields. Arrive in La Gi, a non touristy town a bit away from the sea. Eat Pho Bo at a roadside vendor. Quite tasty and cheap.Read more
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A long New Years Day ride
January 2 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌬 26 °C
The new year starts with a resort breakfast. As I can’t convince myself to eat Eastern style breakfasts, options are a bit more limited. With the wind at our back we continue along the coastline. Our first detour takes us through wind turbines and quiet fields. All is fine until our road becomes submerged. Do manage to traipse through the sand to get around. Arrive at a very quiet and recently paved road. Quick lunch stop before doing some climbing. Opt for a side road - which turns into gravel and sand. In the mode of not turning around (not my idea) continue onward. 6 miles and a long time later, emerge on the big road. Still have 25 miles. Race against the setting sun, losing the battle in the construction of Mui Ne (a busy resort town). Find a hotel and walk to a bustling food court. Odd assortment of food, but pretty tasty.Read more
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A New Years Eve by the sea
December 31, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Make a detour to Thap Cham Phan Rang, Cham towers from 14th century. Quite a different style from other pagodas we have seen. Clear the city and ride back towards the sea. Stop at Hon Ca Resort, a lovely place right on the sea. Spend the rest of the afternoon on the tiny beach, finally making it into the water. Pretty good dinner right by the beach. Unable to stay awake to ring in the new year.Read more
TravelerPrettiest pictures in a bit. Love the temple and the rocks and beach views. ☺️
2wReply
Helene RimbergBlue sky helps as a background
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Along the sunny coast
December 30, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
A bit of a rough night sleep wise. Though “beds” were relatively comfy, we seemed to go on very rough roads making for a lot of bumping. Arrive in Nha Trang quite early and make for a coffee shop. Wind our way out of town through resort areas and along a very pretty coastline. Strong tailwind keeps us moving. Arrive on the beach near Phang Rang, get a hotel and check out the beach. Lack of sleep catches up with us so order in.Read more
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Taking in the culture of Hoi An
December 29, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
Spend our last day in Hoi An poking around the historic sights. But first taken our bikes to the car wash where they get the grand treatment. Leave them and our packs at the hotel while we walk around. Cross the Japanese bridge, walk through the Museum of Traditional Medicine and attend a dance and music performance. Take a nice walk by the water before picking up our bikes and riding to the bus stop. Have a good vegan dinner before boarding our 9 hour bus to Nha Trang.Read more
Traveler Ooo, like eggnog added to coffee?
3wReply
Helene Rimberg Yes. Surprisingly tasty. More like a dessert
3wReply
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Cloudy beach time
December 28, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
A short spin on our bikes gets us to the local beach, AnBang. First grab lunch - grilled cheese sandwich on delicious sourdough. Lots of beach erosion and reconstruction. Must be an annual process following the rainy season. Too chilly to swim but it’s nice to be on sand and listen to the waves. Ride though the fields, including a humongous vegetable garden. Out for very good Indian food.Read more
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