Keith is going it alone to be with his adopted Vietnamese family for a bit, while the three of us do the last bit. Its almost home. We head out of Hue on the busy Highway 1 and are nearly collected a couple of times by bigger trucks and cars who think they own the bloody road and don't think twice about cutting in front of you to turn across traffic. We stopped for coffee and then kept on to Lang Co where we drove along the lagoon looking at the oyster and prawn fishing set ups. As we started to climb the Hai Van Pass the magical views blew us away and we couldn’t believe our luck to make the journey on such a beautifully clear day. The road winds around 90 degree bends and we were spoiled with views of the East Vietnam Sea on one side and the lush mountainous landscape on the other. The pass is often shrouded in cloud and the many roadside altars which lined the route were a sobering reminder of how treacherous the mountainous terrain can be in more difficult conditions. We stopped at the top for coffee at Café of the Clouds. Some remnants of the Vietnam War still stand at the top of the Hai Van Pass. During the war the Pass joined the war torn cities of Hue and Da Nang and was referred to as the Street Without Joy. It always amazes me when it’s possible to connect the sights with the history of a country and the Hai Van Pass gave an amazing insight into Vietnam’s past. We are now nearly home and can see the city of Danang in the distance. Down the hill, whoosh, we are home. And the washing begins. It is good to be away, its good to be home. Time to write and sort photos. Time to plan the next adventure.
We went to the Circle for dinner as I felt like a burger after eating many rice dishes and Pho for the last 6 days. Kevin was reluctant as he had been eating crap during my short trip but he managed to find a chicken and rice dish that he enjoyed.
Total distance travelled 760km over 6 days. Cost of fuel VND 300k. Hotel Costs 250, 250, 300, 250, 500 or nearly $100.
