Bumpy roads take me home…

Another day on the Ha Giang Loop kicked off the way it should: with a strong Vietnamese coffee and a steaming bowl of phở. Fueled and ready, we set off toward a viewpoint that required a short hike. It was hilarious watching the crowd attempt the slippery trail in flip-flops and totally inappropriate shoes—mud and wet stones are not forgiving. Jasper and I, in our gear (proudly Swiss-prepared), passed them with ease and scrambled up some rocks for the ultimate panoramic view. Absolutely worth it.
For lunch, we stopped at a homestay, which meant the usual struggle to find safe, gluten-free food. I hate those sneaky soy sauces. But Jasper has been a true hero—so invested, always explaining the gluten issue to every cook, every host, probably about 10,000 times.
Also, fun fact: Jasper ended up with one of the smallest Easy Rider drivers. Pó, his rider, is basically half his size. You have to see the picture—it’s priceless.
Our second homestay that night was a dream: tucked between rice fields and right next to a waterfall. We jumped into the water to cool off after the long day.
I was the first one jumping head-first - call me stupid, I call it heroic hihi:)
At dinner, one thing was inevitable: happy water. It’s basically corn liquor and, as the name suggests, it’s supposed to make you happy. Mission accomplished—we ended up singing karaoke, skinny dipping in the nearby stream, and laughing all night. The hangover the next morning? Heavy. But totally worth it.
Fun fact: Before each shot, everyone yells, “Một, hai, ba, dô! Hai, ba, dô! Dô, dô, dô!” – i still hear it echoing in my head.

The Ha Giang Loop has been absolutely wild—some of the most breathtaking and diverse scenery I’ve ever seen. But it also stirred something deeper in me. Along the road, we passed many children carrying wood or plants. It hit me hard. School is free in Vietnam, but when work needs to be done and the school is a 1.5-hour walk away, it’s no surprise many don’t go. I can’t stop thinking about them. What are their hopes? Their dreams? Will they ever get the chance to leave, or is this life all they’ll ever know?

Back in Ha Giang City, we had some time to kill before our night bus to Cát Bà Island. We lugged our backpacks to a hostel with a rooftop café, reorganized our stuff, grabbed some food, and brushed our teeth like civilized backpackers. The bus was so late we almost thought it wouldn’t show up—but it finally did. Now we’re stretched out in our bunks, dusty, a bit smelly, completely exhausted, but so, so happy.
Jasper (who's basically a giant) even said the bus is surprisingly comfy—so fingers crossed for a good night’s sleep.
Next stop: Cát Bà Island. Czytaj więcej