Summer is a great time to start long journeys. We have traveled across our country, from the most majestic passes of the Northwest, to the four poles - a legendary peak of the nomads. But to talk about the most beautiful road in Vietnam, I would probably still name Highway 1A - the road running along the coast. And once again, I want to do this journey again.
The trip lasted only 8 days. Accompanying me were 5 friends with the same passion and 4 Vespas. Let's call it a "cross-Vietnam" trip for short, but to be exact, this was just a journey along the S-shaped territory, stretching from Hue to Ho Chi Minh City. The purpose of this trip was to leisurely travel to see the scenery, to fully experience the nature, people and local culture, to take stylish photos. So on a hot summer day, from Hanoi, we went to the pier, parked our motorbike in Hue, then got on a bus to our beloved Central region...
The night bus trip was a bit uncomfortable as the sleeper bus kept picking up passengers along the way, cramming the unfortunate “gods” into the empty spaces between the rows of beds. They sat, they lay, they rested their heads on the metal frames, trying to find the most comfortable resting position for the journey of several hundred kilometers. Looking at them, I felt sorry, but what could I do…
At 9am, the bus company dropped us off at the edge of the city, as buses were not allowed to go into the city center. So we had to continue taking a taxi to Hue Railway Station. After a long sleepless night, everyone looked tired. We quickly rearranged our belongings, took advantage of the little time we had to wash our faces to wake up, then went to the warehouse to get the bus. The group's luggage was calculated and neatly arranged on 4 buses, including large backpacks, small bags, raincoats, first aid kits, etc. With a camera backpack on our shoulders, we began our journey on two-wheeled vehicles.
Passing through the bougainvillea season in Da Nang
Few people notice that, in addition to Son Tra, Cu Lao Cham and the amusement parks or resorts, Da Nang also has another specialty, which is the bougainvillea season. Bougainvillea is grown a lot in Da Nang, from the urban planning to every roof, every fence of the people. The sun and wind of the Central region help the trees and flowers grow very well, every bush is lush and luxuriant, especially in the summer when the flowers are even more brilliant.
Along the sidewalk of Bach Dang Street, at each bus stop, there were giant bougainvillea bushes, interwoven with pink and white flowers. We stopped the bus, sat on a stone bench, under the green canopy, looked out at the peaceful Han River, quietly drifting along with the bustling life of the city.
The intersection between Nguyen Tat Thanh and Ong Ich Khiem streets has a bougainvillea trellis that the city has "planned" neatly on fixed frames, placed high and spreading out in all directions like cool tree canopies covering the city. Here, the bougainvillea is yellow. Although I am no stranger to the many colors of this flower, when I see clusters of yellow flowers swaying in the hot coastal sun and wind, I cannot help but be impressed and fascinated by this beauty that is both natural and cared for by human hands.
Peaceful morning in Hoi An
The two previous times I visited Hoi An were both in the evening. The streets were packed with people, jostling and suffocating. So I had a bit of a… prejudice about this famous tourist destination. But this time was different, very different.
Early in the morning, stepping out of the hostel door, I immediately felt the dreamy peace that I always imagined about Hoi An every time I saw this name in books and newspapers. The street was empty, empty of people, tourists, and vehicles. The sun was rising gently, I took my camera and leisurely walked from one street to another. I felt the new day of the people of Hoi An under each red-brown tiled roof, behind each yellow wall starting so slowly, so peacefully. As simple as a street vendor selling breakfast, as leisurely as a cyclo driver preparing for his first ride. In the small alley, there was a lady displaying each cute souvenir on the counter waiting to open, there were a bunch of puppies that were still dazed and hadn't woken up yet when the owner used a broom to shake them a few times, "move over so I can sweep the yard"... That's right, this must be Hoi An, it's what I was looking forward to the most when I set foot in this ancient land!
At 7:30 in the morning, the early morning sun gradually turns hot, which is also the time when the traveler's stomach urges the owner to find the flavor of Hoi An. Indeed, going to Hoi An without trying Phuong bread, not enjoying Mrs. Buoi's chicken rice, or missing Quang noodles or Cao Lau is truly a pity. Therefore, if you have time, walk quickly through each street stall, sit on a small chair at a simple table and experience the specialties that only Hoi An has and are best eaten in Hoi An. And if you feel thirsty in the middle of the old town, go to Tran Phu street, queue up and enjoy a cool and clear glass of water.
Phu Yen - the land of "yellow flowers and green grass"
From Hoi An, we continued our journey through Quy Nhon and then to Phu Yen. Along the way, we happened to pass by Ong Cop Bridge - an extremely special place in Phu Yen. Few people know that Ong Cop Bridge is the longest wooden bridge in Vietnam with a length of about 400 m. The bridge crosses the Phu Ngan River, an important traffic route, connecting small coastal hamlets with National Highway 1A. The old bridge was destroyed by natural disasters and storms, but now the people and the government have worked together to build a new bridge with a more solid structure to ensure daily life and economic, cultural and social development.
Seen from above, Ong Cop Bridge looks like a small thread across the Phu Ngan River, on the bridge surface there are a few silhouettes of vehicles, a few people walking with their loads. Moving on the bridge is not simple, especially for women. The bridge surface is made up of wooden planks, some are raised, some are low, some are tilted to the right, some are tilted to the left, very uncomfortable, so when driving a motorbike across the bridge, we have to be very careful and slow. In addition, the bridge also leads to shortcuts to famous places such as Ganh Da Dia, O Loan lagoon...
The next stop in Phu Yen is Bai Xep, the filming location of the famous movie “I see yellow flowers on the green grass”. Compared to a few years ago, this place has lost some of its wildness, the cactus rows are still there but the green grass has disappeared, leaving only yellow soil and rocks…
Standing halfway up the cliffs of Ganh Xep, looking out to the horizon, I only saw a clear blue color, the ocean and the sky seemed to blend into one. The sea of Vietnam is so beautiful, perhaps no words can describe my feelings at that moment. After such a long journey, moments like this I will never forget.
Diving in Nha Trang
The sunrise in Nha Trang that day was not beautiful, the light rain made the sky less blue, and the sea less clear. But this could not stop us from having the most interesting experience of the trip - scuba diving.
The wooden boat took us from the port to Hon Mun Island. Here, we participated in a diving course, guided and practiced in a very systematic and professional manner, with the ultimate goal of helping each person to discover the beauty of the ocean in the most complete and safe way.
Once you have mastered the technique and can control yourself, that is when you will feel the most interesting thing about scuba diving. That is the feeling of freedom, conquering the vast, vast ocean. It is an extremely exciting feeling when you can splash around in the ocean, admire the beauty of fish, colorful coral reefs or any marine life up close. It is truly an unforgettable experience!
Coastal passes
If the Northwest has the famous "Four Great Passes", the passes running along the Central region are equally beautiful. The first pass we crossed on this journey was Hai Van - the most majestic pass in the coastal region. "Thien Ha De Nhat Hung Quan" on a strangely peaceful afternoon. The summer sun was still sweet, but the clouds poured down from the top of the pass like a waterfall, sometimes fierce, sometimes gentle, pure white.
Every time I twist the throttle, I feel the salty breeze of the Central Sea around me. Every time I twist the throttle, I accelerate on the steep slopes, the wheels tilting through the dangerous hairpin bends of the "majestic pass". Every time I twist the throttle, I feel myself rushing like an arrow on the road with precarious rocky mountains on one side and the deep blue sea on the other. I am not sure what captivated my recklessness more, the majestic and pristine landscape of the Fatherland or these feelings of ultimate freedom.
In the following days, waiting for us was Deo Ca, then the pass of Van Phong Bay, Phan Rang Bay,... At each of these places, we stopped at the top of the pass, looking as far as possible, looking back at the winding and dangerous windy roads that we had passed, in the distance was the Vietnamese coast with waves lapping day and night. On one side was the mountain, on the other was the sea, the beauty of the coastal passes was deeply engraved in the hearts of travelers, whispering to us to return one day.
Some notes when traveling across Vietnam by motorbike
- Plan your travel, eating, sleeping and resting locations in as much detail as possible. Embarrassing situations can arise on long journeys, but careful planning will help you control your time and distance better, ensuring the quality of your trip.
- Learn more about local culture, people, customs... before going to any locality
- Prepare your vehicle thoroughly. It is very important to maintain, change the oil, check the parts such as brakes, tires, chains, etc. of your vehicle before setting off. Make sure the vehicle is in the best operating condition.
- Equipping yourself with basic social knowledge, skills to handle situations on the road, first aid skills in case of accidents, etc. is especially necessary.
- Necessary safety equipment includes protective gear and helmet when driving a motorbike, repair kit, first aid kit, raincoat and rain boots...
