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The Grand Adventure
  • Helene Rimberg
  • Helene Rimberg

The Grand Adventure

A bike trip with no end Lue lisää
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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Local craft beer!One of the small lakes in the cityA music event it seemsChinese relics pop up around the cityYum1Lanterns are everywhereOld city wall

    Tucking our bikes in

    2. marraskuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Our plan to leave early to avoid traffic does not materialize. Repacking and cleaning the mud off our bikes takes awhile. Ride a hectic 10 miles to where we met Tu, who had agreed to house our bikes while we are in Portland. Pare down to what we need and hop in a Grab which takes us to our hotel. Check in and map for awhile - frenzy of the past days having caught up with me. Venture out into the city and explore the Old Quarter. Good dinner!Lue lisää

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    Chinese influence is everywhere
    And ChristianityBig on BonsaisThey take over the sidewalksOld and new in harmonySkinny buildings meant lower taxesMisty view

    And we go upscale

    3. marraskuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    Spend the morning wandering around Ho Hoan Lake, the French Quarter and Old Town. Pack up and after fueling with a Banh My, walk to our new hotel - PanPacific. Great view from our 11th door window. Enjoy the facilities before heading to up to the roof top bar. Tis raining so sit inside. Back out into rain to a nice restaurant nearbyLue lisää

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    Fancy!Old trolley runs by occasionallySeems to be that time

    First time for everything

    4. marraskuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Another cool and rainy morning. Indulge in room service as we need to spend our credit. Don jackets and head out to explore. Find our way to Hoa Lo Prison (aka Hanoi Hilton) where Vietnamese were imprisoned by then French and then later American pilots imprisoned. Checked out a cat cafe before going to the spa my first ever massage. Social entrepreneurship in action - they train vision impaired youth in the art of massage. Somewhat enjoyable experience. Do a bit of shopping before stopping for another good dinner (have eaten well in Hanoi).Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Small temple along the water
    Land bridge/road across the lakeSadly closed for lunchVery fancy governmental buildingsRoyal palaceVery empty walkway in front of HCM mausoleumMausoleumI always knew karma was a bitch, but ...Beautiful quartz1Very different shrines from others we have seenTemple of LiteratureThese honor those who achieved highest level of educational honorsTrading in my bikeIncredible wooden panel

    A final day of wandering

    5. marraskuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    A dry and sort of sunny day - finally. Walked the land bridge we had been looking at from our window. Continue through well protected HonChiMinh park. From there go to Temple of Literature, showcasing the importance of education throughout Vietnam’s history. Do some final shopping before heading out. Good dinner at a very popular restaurant for tour groups.Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Finally a bit of blue
    This is an LED screenTad bit early

    Goodbye Vietnam: Hello South Korea

    6. marraskuuta 2025, Etelä-Korea ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Pack up and bid adieu to our lovely hotel. Catch a ride to the airport and breeze through check-in and security (so much easier without bikes). Sit in the lounge for a few hours awaiting our departure. Do miscalculate flight time vs change in time zones arriving 2 hours later than expected. Quick entry into S. Korea and find the train into the city. Quite chilly out. Stop for vegan Korean food before checking into hotel. Walk around the city a bit, marveling at the quietness and orderliness.Lue lisää

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    A 3 palace day

    7. marraskuuta 2025, Etelä-Korea ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Chilly morning so we take our time getting ready to go out. Greeted by a beautiful blue sky - first in awhile. Fuel up with coffee and hit the tourist trail. Catch a changing of the guard ceremony at the first palace and then again at the second. Walk the hilly streets admiring the older buildings. Another palace, a market and a walk along a river finishes off our tour. ( Added benefit is that everything is free) Find dinner nearby as quite tired.Lue lisää

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    Babbling brook along forest path
    Turtles = perseveranceShort cut upPersimmonsSo many arsenals2Medicine chest

    Namsan Tower and National museum

    8. marraskuuta 2025, Etelä-Korea ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Head off in another direction this morning. Up to the Namsan park and tower. As it’s Saturday it’s very busy with people enjoying the fall day. Nice 360 view. Walk through the park and then head to war memorial. Lots of police presence for some unknown reason. Skiddadle out of there and walk through nice neighborhoods to the National museum of Korea. Learn a bit about the country’s history - lots of occupations. Take the metro back and have a good last meal in Korea.Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    2

    Final day of exploration in Seoul

    9. marraskuuta 2025, Etelä-Korea ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Up early and head into chilly sunshine for some exercise. Jog up to the tower along trail. Stop a bit for some strength training as well. Pack up, and after stashing out stuff, grab some breakfast. Walk past Cathedral and catch the metro to the Olympic park. Many people out enjoying the sunshine. Do a quick walkabout before taking metro back. Catch the train to the airport and pass through security easily spend some time in lounge before boarding plan. USA - here we come. Definitely ready for a break!Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Fun airport decorations

    Hello Hanoi

    8. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    Up early to return to the airport. Very chilly morning (32F). Navigate Seoul’s large and busy airport and board our last plane. 4+ hours later we arrive in Hanoi. Return to the hotel we had stayed at before, though a bigger room. Meander around, enjoying a photography display along the lake. Have a nice dinner - sans rice!Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Kind of creepy wooden sculptureLacquer engravingSilk artFirst COVID art I have seen

    Art and healing

    9. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Enjoy a nice breakfast before wandering to National Museum of Fine Arts. Nice collection, showcasing the unique style of Vietnamese art. Interesting how central the war is in late 20th century art. Head back to spa for a therapeutic (ie .painful) massage to heal sciatic pain. Try one last restaurant - another good one.Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Hazy sunrise
    And she's ready!Lots of water surrounding HanoiOne of a few big cathedrals seen todayLovely side roadsVery fancy building. No idea what forEntering Ninh Bin

    Ninh Binh

    10. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Catch a ride to where our bikes have been safely stored and load them up. After a quick breakfast, tackle the Hanoi traffic. Maneuver through a few sketchy intersections and find ourselves on quiet side roads, mostly free of car traffic. The air quality is horrible, muting all views. Decide to push on to Ninh Binh, and check into a quiet “homestay”. Clean up and walk into town for dinner.Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Village street
    Local cemeteryLove the bonsaiSo many ducks aroundLotus lake from aboveMonument on topWee little boats belowAnd higher upTiger cave1First egg coffeeIncense garden1So many fun topiaries

    Adventures amongst the Karst

    11. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    After a morning of bike repairs and organizing, venture off on a walk amongst the Karst hills. Air continues to be bad, minimizing views. Head off on bikes to Hang Mua. Drizzle begins as we climb up the steps, making for some slippery rocks. Though visibility is poor, still appreciate what we can see. Continue on bikes to Thung Nham Ecotourism park. With limited daylight remaining, only do a cursory tour. Zoom back to
    room before sunset. Another good dinner in town.    Lue lisää

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    2Anciet palaceNeed one of these watch dogsThere are over 500 of these over 1+ kmVery cool doorBuddha under Bodhi tree1Ceiling inside tall pagoda

    Ruins and temples

    12. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    After another round of bike repairs at a fantastic shop in town, we headed in the opposite direction from yesterday- towards Trang An. Road along the river amongst the “hills” winding our way past local homes and ‘resorts’. Came to Hoa Lua, ancient palace site. Lots of tourists on bikes wandering amongst the narrow paths. More riding along the river and arrive at a very quiet Bai Dinh, a recently finished temple complex. Took an electric bus to enter the massive grounds. Polluted air continues to mar distant views but structures are beautiful. Another dash back before sunset.Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Lots of limestone around

    Southward

    13. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ 🌧 23 °C

    Our journey south continues. Day is both cloudy and smoggy. Leave the karst hills behind and hit the busier roads. Sprinkles keep us moving quickly. Rain begins around noon as promised. Get to Thanh Hoa and hit a bit of inhospitableness. Not sure if it’s our bikes out that we look like dirty drenched rats. Finally find a fine hotel. Hunker down for the rest of the day, not even venturing out for dinner (delivery instead). Too rainy.Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Path amongst the crops

    Head down and ride

    14. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    A cool and rainy morning. Get a late start, trying to let the rain pass. Riding split between some quiet roads and busy main roads - though traffic seems lighter (Sunday?). Pass through small nondescript towns before stopping for the day. Find a small and cheap hotel a bit away from noisy road. Wind up in a restaurant that only serves goat. Not bad.Lue lisää

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    One of many churches seen todaySo many cropsFun boats along the seaVery big bridge over wide inletVery desertedView from our balcony. Not ideal swimming weather

    To the South China Sea

    15. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Still cool but the air has improved and it’s not raining. Stop for coffee and breakfast before winding our way through back alleys on our way to the sea. A few detours are needed before arriving at the sea. Wavy and grey. Very quiet roads along the coastline. It definitely seems to be off season. Opt to stay along the coastline rather than going into Vinh. Checked into a huge and deserted hotel. Get great service though.Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Local fisher people selling their catchBeach at Thien CamGetting decked out

    Thien Cam

    16. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Check out beach before packing up. The hotel staff are, again, incredibly helpful; insisting on carrying bags and holding bikes. Another flat and relatively quiet ride. Day stays cloudy but no rain until we arrive at Thien Cam - our destination. Lots of construction or reconstruction going on throughout the town. Continue to draw a lot of attention- even off bikes. Definitely not in a touristy part of the country.Lue lisää

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    Rough seas

    A soggy one

    17. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Rain and wind greet us this morning. Continue our journey south at times having wind at our back. Not most scenic ride as nearby hills are covered in clouds. Witness a cow vs. motorbike accident - cow ran away but the kids on bikes did not. Though helmets are mandatory many people don’t wear them. After about 40 miles we had had enough so checked into a hotel. Quick walk down the road for cheap fried chicken dinner.Lue lisää

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    View from bridge over inlet
    Tad bit sketchy bridge1Sketchier bridgeKarst hills and boats to transport to caveReally, we haven't had any yet

    A sunnier disposition

    18. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    An odd sight greets us in the morning - blue sky! Short day ahead to get to Phong Nha National Park. Stay on small roads as long as we can - until we hit a muddy construction site that we can’t go through. Zip down the main road, crossing a few tall bridges. Turn off and enter the hills. Quite a bit of undulation; especially compared to what we have been riding lately. Bridges get smaller as well! Make it to the touristy town of Phong Nha. Grab some lunch, check into our hotel and do a wee walk about. Karst hills look much better with clear skies around. Short walk for mediocre pizza.Lue lisää

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    Beginning of sketchy boulderingCentury old treeVery cool vineSlippery and steepUp, up, up we go!

    “Botanical Gardens” aka jungle scramble

    19. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

    Though morning clouds linger on the hills, they quickly dissipate yielding another sunny day. Fuel up on banana pancakes and ride into the national park. Up a short but steep hill and we are at the Botanical Gardens. Actually a misnomer as no gardens - just a jungle and waterfall. Lots of clambering up and down boulders, at times next to lovely flowing water. Great waterfall at the end! Dunk feet and legs before heading out. Hear a few monkeys in the trees on our way down. Chill for a few hours before finding dinner.Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Cruising down the riverCave entranceThough most of the cave was very spacious, some spots had low ceilings1Are we under water or on Mars?Cavernous sectionView walking up to Tien SonSkinny passagewayClay pot dishes

    Phong Nha and Tien Son Caves

    20. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Dry but cloudy day, perfect for exploring caves. Walk to the boat dock and round up a few others to fill our boat. Motor down the river until it ends at Phong Nha Cave. As the cave is wet (always filled with water) take the boat into the cave. Our female crew paddles us into the back of the cave and then drops us off so we can explore a bit on land. Crazy cave features - very other worldly. Walk up to the smaller, Tien Son cave - walking amongst huge and colorful stalactites and stalagmites. Return via boat and again have a relaxing afternoon at our hotel. Out for a very good dinner: a set menu allowing us small tastes of a lot of things.Lue lisää

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    On the shortest day of the year ….

    21. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ 🌧 24 °C

    ….. we ride 110 KMs. It’s a somewhat rainy day but not much to see anyway on this stretch of road. Manage to stay mostly off the big road, even having a brand new road mostly to ourselves. Wind is at our back for much of the time making for fast riding. Though we are close to the sea, don’t see it though sand dunes abound. Find a hotel in Vinh Linh; very cheap, a bit dirty, but they have a locked garage just for our bikes. Venture out for food, settling on what is closest.Lue lisää

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    Presumably war memorial
    Lots of waterLots of interesting cemeteriesLots of temples/shrinesVery festiveThere seemed to be Asian spots and Westerner spotsOpera cakeTiramisu

    A long ride to Hue

    22. joulukuuta 2025, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Weighing our options, set our sights on the popular town of Hue, though it’s more than 100 KMs away. Morning rain gives way to patchy sunshine. Spy the sea as we cross over many bridges. Unfortunately, wind is not in our favor. Although we see no evidence of it, do cross through the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone); once separating the North and South. Enter Hue’s OldTown and confidently enter the fray of vehicles. A tad bit nerve wracking. Check into nice hotel which is strategically near a laundromat. Nice dinner out in the bustling tourist area and then reward ourselves with chocolate!Lue lisää

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