Apr 19-20 2024 |
Day 2 on the road in Vietnam. Here's some info on the route, and more about Cao Bang and my stay there.
Making my way out Bac Son, I stopped for breakfast at a standard Bun Cha Hanoi place, where some friendly locals offered to share their rice wine with me - 8:00 am. On the road, it was straight into a famous mountain pass, an impressive windy road. At That Khe, the next major town, I turned towards Cao Bang. This section of road is in pretty bad condition, the pavement worn out. There was a persistent smell of licorice, and plantations of some kind of small tree I had never seen before. Further on, star anise was drying on the side of the road for miles.
The ride from Bac Son to Cao Bang
After 4 hours I made it to Cao Bang. Stopped at Ban My Thu Thang - it was one of the best Ban Mi I tried in the whole country. Booked at GiaBinh Homestay, turned out to be a great place, highly rated, family-run, popular with riders. The very chatty manager introduced me to her father who fought in the "American" and China wars and was given the land his and her houses sit on when he retired in 1985 after 20 years of service. I am sure he has a few stories to tell.
Cao Bang and GiaBinh Homestay
Ride: 145 km / 4 hrs
Stay: GiaBinh Homestay $13 / 4/5
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