Tour I
Da Lat - the Jungle & the Mountains
(5 days)
Da Lat - the Jungle & the Mountains
(5 days)
Day I: Sand Dunes
The first stops with the bikes: The dunes at Cape Ne (Mui Ne) gives you a feeling of being in the Sahara. At the end of the peninsula you can find the red orange hills where you can practice the "sand dune sliding" or you visit the white shiny ones close to the Hon-Hghe-Bay close to the "white lakes" (Bau Tranh).
During the day on our way to Dinh Linh we passed by an incredible astonished landscape with rich green fields, plantations of dragon fruit and coffee, avocados and green tea.. we got a good sight of the agriculture of Vietnam on our first day...
Day II: Crazy temple & houses
On our second day we got to know more about certain work like the production of hand made glas-rice-noodles or the farm of the caterpillars for producing the famous silk. Passing by a lot of plantations of pepper, we visited the famous "Chicken Village" Lang Con Ga, a community of the ethnic group the 'Koho' who live from farming and weaving. But we had 3 highlights of that day...
The first one is the stop at the waterfall Ponguor in the area of Da Lat...
Our second stop, the temple Linh Phuoc in Da Lat, was an amazing 'holy place', we visited. A colorful and spiked with thousand of mosaic-stones building, it had an impressive impact of us.
And last, but not least, the "Crazy House" in Da Lat. It was created and built by a famous female Vietnamese architecture which you can not only visit the house but book a stay in the honey moon suite as well!
Day III: more temples & waterfalls
The 3rd day started with a visit to the temple Vanh Anh in Da Lat with one of the biggest sitting buddha in the region.
On the road we stopped at several places like the coffee- & medicine shop with its own rice distillery or the factory of silk or the stroll through a Vietnamese market. As well, we got to know a lot of exotic fruits, plants, herbs and and saw an amazing and stunning views of the mountains of the region of Da Lat on our way to Lac...
One of the highlights of the day was the refreshing visit of the Elephant Waterfall of Da Lat. I could stay there all day!
Right next to the waterfall is the temple Lin Hat with more fantastic wooden or stone made buddha statues.
Right next to the waterfall is the temple Lin Hat with more fantastic wooden or stone made buddha statues.
Before we arrived in Lac, we passed by Dam Drong, a swimming home community in the mountains. And finally, a 'happy Birthday' party for my son Felipe :-)
Day IV: Old industry
In the morning we left the hotel in Lac and circled around the lake.
The stop at the waterfalls Draynur Falls was a pleasant break during the day with a wonderful walk to a coffee place there. It is possible to camp and barbecue there what Khanh sometimes does on his tours.
The stop at the waterfalls Draynur Falls was a pleasant break during the day with a wonderful walk to a coffee place there. It is possible to camp and barbecue there what Khanh sometimes does on his tours.
During the day we passed again many interesting places like the stone sculptor of Lac, an old church with their lovely constructors, Natives from the region, sugarcane everywhere and a perfect refreshing drink on a hot day! The old and heavy loaded vehicles on the street, rubber plantations along the road and sometimes Ho Chi Minh and war memorials along our way on the famous known Ho Chi Minh path which is nowadays a modern 2 lane road...
So ended our last night with the guys from MotoViets in the mountains of Da Lat...
So ended our last night with the guys from MotoViets in the mountains of Da Lat...
Day V: Back Home
Our last day with MotoViets.
With a lot of impression of the Vietnamese culture and a beautiful and rich landscape, we left Buonmethuoc and enjoyed our last ride to Nah Trang...
With a lot of impression of the Vietnamese culture and a beautiful and rich landscape, we left Buonmethuoc and enjoyed our last ride to Nah Trang...
Like on every other day we made several interesting stops like the visit of a two women bakery of rice-sesame-tortillas or the factory of the production of bricks..
One of our last temples on the tour. A very beautiful one of the Cao Dai, another religious cult you can find in the South of Vietnam.
Our last stop before we got to Nah Trang. It was a wonderful tour with these experienced guides Khanh & Hoan and we got very tight and unforgettable impressions of the Vietnamese culture here in Asia.
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Tour II
Mekong Delta - the country of the Rice
(7 days)
Day I: Whales & Beaches
Our first stop is very close to Mui Ne. The Chamb Tower in Phu Hai. Its a small version of My Son and has a nice view on the harbour and surroundings of Phan Thiet which is our next stop.
In Phan Phiet we visit the Whale Museum and Temple. The whale is a holy animal in Vietnam and the fishermen keep a long tradition and take care of the last relicts of these big mammals.
The Harbour of Phan Thiet
At the beginning we have to say that we were very exciting to start the tour with Khanh and Hoan to the Mekong Delta because it was our second trip with them. Again, they took us to a lot of very exciting and amazing places, I wouldn't have seen without traveling with them.
We were passing by the "Red Canyon", abandoned "Ghost" beaches, shrimp & salt pools and agricultural land.
We were passing by the "Red Canyon", abandoned "Ghost" beaches, shrimp & salt pools and agricultural land.
Off course, I learnt again a lot about the Vietnamese Economy.
We had the possibility to see a fishing farm by La Gi, a boat builders yard and got to meet the fishermen at the harbor of Loc An.
We had the possibility to see a fishing farm by La Gi, a boat builders yard and got to meet the fishermen at the harbor of Loc An.
Day II: Monkeys & Caves
On the second day we had to get from Long Hai to Long Thanh and drove by beaches & street markets where we saw for the first time a water coconut.
Our first stop was the temple of Long Hai, a buddha temple with monks & monkeys and huge rock formations in form of animal faces.
Our second stop was at the hills of Dat Do to do a 2 hours walk through the jungle. There you find the former caves which were used by the Vietnamese during war. As well, on top of the hills you have a stunning view at the Ho Tram Beach.
In the afternoon we had a look at the stone pit to watch the incredible work of the men who do a hard job to earn their living.
The stone carver in My Xuan do a more artistic job, but still a tough one, too.
For the end of the day we strolled through the yoga temple Nhan Trach before we reached Long Thanh.
The stone carver in My Xuan do a more artistic job, but still a tough one, too.
For the end of the day we strolled through the yoga temple Nhan Trach before we reached Long Thanh.
Day III: Snakes & Rivers
On our third day we reached the Mekong Delta. You recognize it by the numbers of bridges and ferries you have to pass. On our way we stopped at the wood carpentry by Long An and the war memorial in Tan An.
In the snake farm Binh Duc we saw the various types of animals Vietnam has besides a lot of snakes who are kept for their poison.
the Bridge of Rach Mieu
But there were still two highlights of the day:
The first one was a private boats tour on the river My Tho by Ben Tre.
The first one was a private boats tour on the river My Tho by Ben Tre.
The second surprise was another private boat tour but this time on the river Thoi San through the water coconut plantations of the coconut Island by Ben Tre. So quiet and silence!
Day IV: Made in Vietnam!
Our fourth day and still so much to experience. Everywhere water, rivers, boats, bridges and ferries. And sometimes you can find several temples like of the Cao Dai...
The highlights of this day were certainly the visit of the chocolate factory in Ben Tre, the cocos and sweeper farm in Tan Phu, the bonsai garden of Long Phu and the incense sticks production in Long Tan. But as well the sight of rambutan plantations, packing of cassava flour and the former fishing style of the Mekong Delta were very interesting to view in that eden of earth!Oh, and don't miss 'grannies' little garden along the side of the street. Don't step in it!!
The stop at the bunkers of Tan Phu demonstrated us another part of the war history with the U.S.
Finally, at the end of the day, we got spoilt by the sunset and a nearby thunderstorm in Can Tho.
Day V: Floating Market
The next day, again, we passed by a variety of religious buildings and monuments and recognized the preparations for the National Day along the way.
But before we hit the road, we had a pleasant private morning boat tour on the river Can Tho to see the famous "floating markets".
On our way to Chau Doc, we stopped once again to see a temple of the Cao Dai and a mushroom farm by Can Tho until we reached the only higher leveled mountain of the Mekong Delta called Nui Sam.
On top of the mountain Sam Nui is one part of the temple of Chua Xu.
From there, you have a wonderful view of the boarder of Cambodia. You can find a former guard tower of the G.I.'s.
In the evening, we got to see the other part of the temple of Chua Xu in Chau Doc. You definitively have to visit it at nighttime!
Day VI: Khmer History & the Border of Cambodia
This part of the trip was the most beautiful one being on the road. We drove along the Cambodian border beside us a river taking us to Ha Tien, our last nightly stop with our Vietnamese friends.
As well to mention our fund of a tombstone of a Vietnamese lady who died of the age of 140 years!!!
As well to mention our fund of a tombstone of a Vietnamese lady who died of the age of 140 years!!!
Before we left Chau Doc, we checked out again the temple of Chua Xu in daylight.
On our way, we found this amazing Khmer temple called Huu Nghi.
The Memorial Ba Chuc is not for somebody with weak nerves. The sculls are real! It's all about the massacre done during the Cambodian / Vietnamese Era in the 70s.
Another Khmer Memorial is right at the entrance to the cave temple Thach Dong in Ha Tien with more views of the border of Cambodia.
The graveyards of Family Mac are close by and the only unique beaches of the Mekong Delta called Mui Nai.
The graveyards of Family Mac are close by and the only unique beaches of the Mekong Delta called Mui Nai.
Beach Mui Nai
For our last night we had a "LED-lights-bridge dinner" in the harbor of Ha Tien.
Day VII: Mekong Beaches & Cave Temples
On our 7th and last day we enjoyed the ride through the landscape and coastal line of Mekong Delta. There is always a lot to see.
One interesting stop we made twice in Ha Tien was at a destroyed temple of the 30s which we found out was called To Chau and an amazing story about it.
But also the crocodile caves Yom Ba Trai have a mystique charm. Were they hideouts during war time? We don't know...
The last temple on our trip was another cave temple called Chua Hang at the Duong Beach. Buddhas and warriors are everywhere you look.
And last but not least... the other beaches of the Mekong Delta:
Duong Beach on the Hong Chong Peninsula and the Father-Son-Island Hon Phu Tu.
Duong Beach on the Hong Chong Peninsula and the Father-Son-Island Hon Phu Tu.
A few words to our 2 bike trips with MotoViets:
Not only we got to meet a very unique and beautiful country, we travelled way up from tourism and came so very close to people and culture. We experienced very exotic food and got to know places you wouldn't go. We found two new friends forever and had no doubt with them either temperamentally or driving within that crazy and mad traffic.
Thanks to Khanh and Hoan for an unforgettable trip in Vietnam!
Not only we got to meet a very unique and beautiful country, we travelled way up from tourism and came so very close to people and culture. We experienced very exotic food and got to know places you wouldn't go. We found two new friends forever and had no doubt with them either temperamentally or driving within that crazy and mad traffic.
Thanks to Khanh and Hoan for an unforgettable trip in Vietnam!