Completed our first of 4 days today!

Started in Ha Giang and stopped in Heavens Gate, Lung Khuy cave, Yuong Castle of the H’mong people and ending in Dong Van for the night.

The smoke from the fire season was not ideal for visibility but the mountains still looked spectacular behind the rows and rows of rice terraces in the valley. We did not regret our decision to opt for a guide and EasyRider because those roads are pretty windy and often potholed. Not unusual for the corners to be completely blind and to see a bike, car, suv or even truck coming at you as you round the bend!

Highlight of the day was Matt getting a celebrity treatment by the school kids on a field trip to the Lung Khuy cave. The “oo’s”, “ahh’s”, “omg!” and unsubtle photos the kids were taking (or asked to take) were hilarious! I suppose they’re really not used to white skinned giants roaming amongst them.

After dinner, our guide asked if we wanted to go to a bar and to karaoke. Little did we know he was just following the laid out itinerary to a tee and we thought he actually wanted to go so we said okay. Long story short, we ended up in a basement bar, a beer and vodka-coke on the table, music pumping, two of us as the only patrons and a bedazzled microphone sitting in front of us and our guide who ditched! Fun!
We downed our drink and went for a massage instead..Read more