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AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures
Cycling Vietnam 2017: Cycling Hoi An to Cam Thanh - Of Buffaloes & Basket Boats
Small Group Ride from Hội An To Cam Thanh : Vinh Hung Riverside Resort (Hội An)>Thu Bồn Riverside>Cam Thanh>Ho River.
Route Recommendations :
Okay.... OKAY! That's me (at the top-most photo) riding a Buffalo... one must be asking, is this a cycling blog or a buffalo-riding blog? Well, the burly buffalo is part of the game which we will come to later.
We were on a family holiday in Hội An in Vietnam, and Lynn who had picked up cycling recently (... see Buiying My 2nd Brompton blog). She had taken to cycling quite ardently and through her own initiative had booked a cycling tour for the four of us. We had wanted to bring our Bromptons over from Malaysia, but our stay here was short and weather forecasts predicted rain for most of the time, so our bikes stayed put back home. A friend, Tai Lim, had visited Hội An a couple months back and had experience flooding in the town. Irrespective of the flood they did have a good time of a different experience (... see Tai Lim's blog).
The weather in South-east Asia has of late become rather unpredictable, instead of the usual dry Chinese New Year weather, it had been raining for weeks. And in Hội An it had been raining everyday since we arrived a couple of days ago. On the morning of the ride it was raining rather heavily, so we were uncertain weather our afternoon cycling tour would be proceeding. But Mr. Cu from the cycling tour company contacted us and told us not to worry, the ride will proceed!
Sure enough, the rain did stop just before the ride start time and he was at our hotel with his bikes ready and waiting for us!
1. Traffic Directions & Ride Conditions
- Vietnam traffic is left-hand drive, so ride on the right hand side of the road. Same thing applies when crossing the road, so do take care.
- The route is quite flat with early morning temperature around 24ºC, it was drizzling and this made the weather cooler.
2. Places of Interest
- Hoi An Ancient Town (GPS: 15.87714, 108.32862).
- Thu Bồn Riverside (GPS: 15.87645, 108.33455 to 15.87489, 108.34766).
- Basket Boat River Riding at Ho River (GPS: 15.87638, 108.37359). These boats, locally called thung chai are similar to coracles.
PRELUDE
We were on a family holiday in Hội An in Vietnam, and Lynn who had picked up cycling recently (... see Buiying My 2nd Brompton blog). She had taken to cycling quite ardently and through her own initiative had booked a cycling tour for the four of us. We had wanted to bring our Bromptons over from Malaysia, but our stay here was short and weather forecasts predicted rain for most of the time, so our bikes stayed put back home. A friend, Tai Lim, had visited Hội An a couple months back and had experience flooding in the town. Irrespective of the flood they did have a good time of a different experience (... see Tai Lim's blog).
The weather in South-east Asia has of late become rather unpredictable, instead of the usual dry Chinese New Year weather, it had been raining for weeks. And in Hội An it had been raining everyday since we arrived a couple of days ago. On the morning of the ride it was raining rather heavily, so we were uncertain weather our afternoon cycling tour would be proceeding. But Mr. Cu from the cycling tour company contacted us and told us not to worry, the ride will proceed!
Sure enough, the rain did stop just before the ride start time and he was at our hotel with his bikes ready and waiting for us!
THE RIDE
The route is fairly flat and started off skirting the Thu Bon River, cutting a short stretch througn Hoi An Ancient Town and its outskirts before heading inland. Inwards were scenes of rural housing and padi fields This ride includes a short buffalo ride and also a ride in basket-boats along the Ho River.
Cu having grown up in the countryside was very used to the water buffaloes; with a spritely leap he was up on on of them standing tall agilely while the farmer led the beast along.
On hindsight, it was really fun after all the farmers do it everyday. And at the end they did provide lots of water for me to wash my feet and hands... Phew!
Our route took us along more rural roads with nipa palms on one side. A gaggle of geese came close by, getting me worried that they would pinched us with their beaks, but they didn't as probably they did not see us as threats.
Our delicious dinner - Vietnamese deep-fried spring rolls, green papaya salad, Vietnamese pancake (only a few of it made by our sons), green salad, rice paper. This was a real home-cooked food as we had it at Cu's house and the food was prepared by his wife.
Although a short one, it was a fun-filled ride; one that included riding buffaloes and riding in basket boats.
It was great doing things together with the family; it was even greater sharing the joys of cycling with them.
Tạm biệt!
(That's Goodbye in Vietnamese)
POSTSCRIPT
For those interested in joining this cycling tour, here's Mr. Cu's contact:
Hoi An Village Experience
Tel: +84-984 493 363 / +84-914 740 292
Address: Hamlet 3, Cam Thanh Fishing Village, Hoian Ancient Town, Vietnam
Website: www.hoianvillageexperience.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/HoiAnVillageExperience/
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