Hồ Chí Minh City to Long Xuyên | Day 2 Vietnam Cycle Tour
The itinerary: The trip, for real, starts today...
The trip starts by driving out of the city to start our cycling on the quiet Highway 30. Immediately you will see the essence of the Mekong Delta. The countryside is pancake flat with brilliant green rice fields laced with a network of canals & rivers.
Getting rural
The drive out the city, to rural Mekong Delta, was memorable itself. Once free of city traffic we headed out on a new expressway, part of the extensive development evident around all Vietnamese cities. We had 2 passenger vans + small truck for 16 people, gear and bikes. This was the other van beside us in traffic.
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Soon learned the vehicles have two mode horns, one a gentle 'I'm here, I'm coming' tone, the other the universal 'get out of my way' tone. Road rules seem 'somewhat flexible' with 'a lane' being just a notional concept.
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To move a wheelbarrow?
Had the first, of what would turn out to be many, odd motorbike sightings when we passed one 'towing', in the hands of the pillion passenger, a wheelbarrow! I suspect wheelbarrow bearings aren't specified to do 50km/h+ but seems they were coping ok!
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First Ride!
We got to the rural Delta and ready for our first ride. One of the local guides, and Bas, would ride with us with one van acting as a sag wagon, the other going ahead to organise drink and food stops.
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It was flat comfortable riding on roads with only light local traffic, cyclists, scooters, some cars and light commercial vehicles.
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Typically, we rode on sealed road through farming & rice paddy areas and small settlements. If the route got to a larger city we'd be back in the van.
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Love the intense green of rice paddy fields.
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Travelling by bike brings glimpses of everyday life away from the tourist trail. This photo by Nhan (our guide).
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Then, just when you needed it, a support van with cool water, snacks, and tropical fruit to refresh and refuel!
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We occasionally passed through larger towns, this was a typical main street with small businesses street level and living accommodation above. Being on a bike made for fun personal encounters with the locals, no tourist vehicle barrier.
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There were frequent canal crossings. Canals are used for commerce, living and local transport.
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Clearing Water Hyacinth, a prolific weed that clogs the waterways, is a very manual process. I wouldn't be keen to swim in that water...
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I was constantly amazed how we would bike up to a restaurant and, in what seemed like only minutes, lunch was ready! The cuisine was very fresh and varied, seemed to be whatever was produced in the immediate vicinity.
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Local kids loved being photographed and demanded, returned, a friendly wave.
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Ferry crossings
We were back in the van, heading for evening accommodation, for our first encounter with a ferry. Had a good view of the Ferry Grand Prix Grid, the rush to board was intense.
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The Mekong River is wide!
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There was a spot of welding on the dock as we approached. He stopped while we unloaded, then back to the repairs.
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The race off the ferry was as competitive as the boarding!
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How many ducks can you fit on a scooter? Lots!
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Elegant cyclists
Late afternoon was first sight of schoolgirls in cycling home in immaculate white school uniform. They just glide along effortlessly in a way I couldn't thanks to the ambient temperate. Can't imagine Kiwi school kids keeping this uniform clean!
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Sunset Storks
The day finished with a canal boat ride to a Stork Sanctuary, timed for their evening arrival, before going on to our accommodation in Long Xuyên.*
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Day Cycling Total: 71km | Total Cycling: 72km
2023 Amendments
This post was written in 2023, so this section will document any gaps. I had a blog back then but didn't update it while travelling, and it was before I used other social media.
* Where did we stay, dine? It was a city hotel (see tomorrow) but no photos or other memories of that night!
