Vietnam day 6

Day 6 Da Lat to Nha Trang

We start the day with a lazy start. Out of bed late, brekkie then catch up on diary or relax. This has been a wonderful part of our trip. The area is so picturesque we have been spell bound at most of the time. The people are always smiling and say hello. I am not sure very many understand any English. I have noticed this with the ladies giving massage, try to strike up a conversation and they look at you very quizzically and do not reply. Also this is evident in the hotels as they look at you very strange if you ask any unusual questions. Still very polite people.

The trip from Da Lat to Nha Trang was awesome. The scenery, the road or some time track, the water falls, the people and the villages just something else. Mr Tam picked us up right on time and off we went. His English not that flash but we got by. The streets of Da Lat are on the hole narrow with the usual mix of scooters and vehicles. When we got away from the centre of the town on the mountain road to Nha Trang we encountered express busses. They do not slow down, blow their horns almost constantly and are amazing to see negotiating the other traffic on the roads. How there are not more accidents I will never know! Once into the country we were treated to more wonderful country side. The road varied from a new highway to a bitumen bush track and yes no less traffic including busses. The scenery is something that needs to be seen to be believed. I thought Da Lat was impressive, it’s small cheese in comparison. Some of the tree lined gorges with a canopy of vines looked like a picture mosaic. The water falls appearing from holes in the enormous rock faces cannot be described. Yes it was raining but I feel sure this is the best time to come here. The section of new road that falls 1500 mtr in about 100 km is an engineering feat. Rock or soil cliffs on one side, a sheer drop on the other into the gorges or valley below. Although my cold was raging, I found it difficult to shut my mouth as every turn produced more amazement. The hill people have a slightly different appearance with more curl in their hair. The people along the way just go about their business with the traffic meters away from their front doors. The houses vary between one room dwellings with little furniture to multi story palatial homes. We have been told they belong to wealthy farmers. The children came over when we stopped to look at a people bridge over the Cai river, they were not phased by us at all and said hello and ran off to play. The clothing was a little more tired but still colourful. We rolled through small towns and then into Nha Trang. Not as hectic as Saigon but the same mix of new and old, rich and poor. Our hotel on the beach. Our room looking out to the bay. We walked a km or so along the beach, men playing domino’s, younger men drinking, children in the water or playing on the beach. A noticeable lack of women. A few younger ones here and there but noticeably missing. Dinner on the foreshore then back to the hotel for massage and bed.