We moved on next to Mui Ne, a quieter but more modern beach resort, more of an old fishing village which has expanded. On the way we had superb views of the coast and the fishing fleets which have usually returned from their early morning trips by the time we are on the road.
We have also been learning about the crops grown along the way. After the paddy fields - and stopping to take pictures of water buffalo crossing the main highway pulling loads of sand - we moved on to a much drier landscape which to the Australians was reminiscent of South Australia. The main crop being grown there was tapioca (we can hear the groans of those who endured it at school dinners). Many crops like this were laid out on the fields to dry in the sun. Sugar cane is also grown here.
A downside of travelling through the countryside is the litter. It is everywhere, mostly plastic and it has been a constant part of our discussions. The towns, even when there is some litter - inevitable when there are so many street markets - seem to have an army of cleaners who sweep up, and there seem to be small businesses which recycle cardboard, cans, plastic bottles etc. In the rural areas however there doesn't seem to be the same effort put in and litter is everywhere.
As we approached a steep hill we met up with a bus load of touring cyclists who were obviously being given the chance to have a good long run downhill at the end of their day. They appeared later at our hotel, resplendent in their lycra.
Apart from the resort hotels the main attraction of Mui Ne is the sand dunes. After trying out the hotel pool (bliss) we set off for the dunes and after a steep climb saw the sun setting. We were then given sand sledging instruction by a couple of boys, one about the same size as Calum. Our sledges were flexible plastic boards with a couple of rope handles. The boys poured sand on the plastic, told us how to sit with the board curled up at the front then wheee - off we went. We both gave it a go but as you can imagine it was the young ones who kept going back for more.
Our meal that night was across the road and as usual it was a good choice. Although the lunch and evening meals are optional most people are glad to go with our guide Thuy's choice as he has given us lots of different experiences - hot pots, barbecues, grills, and even a restaurant in Hoi An where the owners rolled us pancakes and fed them to us with great gusto. Mui Ne was a very nice place, and the hotel was perhaps the best of the whole trip. We were sorry not to have more time around the pool. However the fleshpots of Saigon beckoned and this was not a sitting around holiday.
As we set off the next day we were told it would take 4 hours to do 200 kilometres. We were a bit dubious as we started on a dual carriageway where no one could come straight at us from the other direction and traffic was light anyway. Not only that but there were lovely gardens up the middle of the road being lovingly tended by an army of gardeners, planting and watering. There were also side roads towards the dunes but no buildings we could see. There were huge billboards advertising new resorts as yet mostly unbuilt. Golf courses were clearly to be a big part of these resorts.
After a few miles of this we came abruptly to the end of the gardens and the dual carriageway, and soon ended up back on the same old A1 road. This time there seemed to be even more pot holes and signs that it was supposed to be improved in the near future. It certainly took us a good while to get into Saigon where the traffic was even madder than before. A lovely evening meal followed though we were to have an early start in order to see the Cu Chi tunnels before the crowds arrived.
We'll try to add a picture or two when we can but the computers here leave a bit to be desired.
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