Vietnam
 Vietnam border - Nha Trang: November 15 to 30, 2006
 Nha Trang - Dong Hoi : November 30 to December 11, 2006
 Dong Hoi - Hekou : December 11 to 31, 2006
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Vietnam

We are in Vietnam since more than two weeks and we can affirm that in this country, we pass thru a lot of emotions. Since we arrived in the Delta Mekong, we have been very surprised by the development of the country whit the infrastructures, the systems and the population. Vietnam is 10 times more organized than Cambodia and my god… there is peoples everywhere here! On 300 km, we passed through 3 or 4 cities with a population of 100 000 and more. When we ride in the cities at peak hour, it is necessary to be really prudent because the traffic is phenomenal. It is worthy of a movie. In one way, you will find 4 traffics zones; 1: cars and buses, 2-3: bicycles and motorbikes, 4: bicycles and motorbikes wrong way. There is no place for the distraction!

At this time, we lived a lot of frustration facing the Vietnamese’s peoples. Here, there is a non written law that specifies that the tourist should pay 2 to 3 times more than the local. We accept to deal and to pay a few more than local. The worst time it’s when they accept the price that we offer and when the time come for pay, they double the note or once they try to give us the wrong change. We have no money to give…The situation became so frustrating, that I was close to get to fight with a lady in a restaurant because she try to stopped me physically from leaving. People of the country only see us as the business and nothing else.

On the road, we had some difficulties to find a free place to sleep because the police in the country are really strict and control all religious organizations. What ever the law, we succeeded to find some place between Saigon and Dalat, we have been welcomed in 2 families and in a Taoist temple. We liked Dalat. The road wasn’t always easy with his 1 500 m of climbing, but the cooler air and the changing in the vegetations (pines trees), remember us a lot Canada. We get hard time to live the place. On the way back, we have been received in another temple Taoist for a night and went we left in the morning the monk offered us two superb parchments where he take time to write a sentence.

Yesterday, we just realize than the embassy of Vietnam in Cambodia made a big mistake, on the date of our visa and that this last only for 15 days. Therefore, today we had to cycling very fast to get our visa extension. The fact is, that now we only have 1 month, day for day, to cross Vietnam (1 500 km) with a face wind and we intend to celebrate Christmas well and not in the countryside or in the middle of no where!

After paying a supplement for the visa (20 + 10 $), we have been able to receive our extension quickly because we need to return rapidly on the road. In Nha Trang, for the third time in the journey, we decided to pay an organized tour by boat to visit the surrounding islands of the region because at this time, that was essential to get a good rest before going back on the road. Once again, we were a little disappointed of our boat trip but, we appreciated the “floating bar”in the sea where they serve us red wine! The two following days on the road was really windy, it was so powerful so we haven’t any other choice, we have to stop. We ask for the hospitality at a temple to the monk to stay there for the night because we couldn’t go further. Finally, we learn than that it was normal that we met so much trouble on our bike. We were starting to cycle thru the Typhoon Durian, the one who hit Saigon 1 week ago. The monk tells us that it was impossible to sleep in any temple because the police don’t accept it. He directs us toward the unique hotel of the village, the manager ask us to pay an amount so high than we couldn’t pay. We decide to continue on our way and try to get the next city. After 1 km, we were totally discouraged by the power of winds that pushes us from right to left; we progress at 5-6 km/h. We attempt once again to ask to a temple and….. they accept because of the situation and the powerful wind! Their offer us the dinner and around 17:00, two cops arrive and throws us out of the temple. I panic, I explain that we don't have the money to pay for the present hotel and that a typhoon arrives in the region. The police attempt to calm me and escort us to the hotel where their force the owner to give us a room for free for the night!

The following day was worse, the winds and the temperature deteriorate quickly. We hurry then to get the next city at 27 km as fast is possible to find a hotel until the typhoon passes. We get to the town after 2 hours of hard cycling. After the hurricane, the weather wasn’t windy but the sky was grey, and every day we have to cycling under huge rain. Our muscles are really tired, but we cannot stop because we must be in Hanoi at least on December 17 to get our Chinese visa before Christmas and that we must leave Vietnam (Yé!!!), for the first of January, 2007. Our strategy is to bike 120 à 130 km per day during two days and take, one day of rest after. Now we don’t have much time to enjoy absolutely nothing because we have this huge objective; celebrate Christmas in the region of Hanoi. It is difficult to be as far for Christmas, especially after one year of journey. At first, we wanted to do a cruise of 3 days for Christmas, but with this weather and a second Typhoon that head on us, and yes a second, we have no idea what we gone a do.

After riding as fast as possible all Vietnam; we finally arrive on time in capital, Hanoi. The last 300 Km was magnificent. We didn't have any wind and we took advantage of a superb sun to warm us. In Hanoi, we enjoy a great brake for doing nothing excepted relaxing our legs. We met a couple of Quebecer’s, Darquise and Marcel (resident of Vietnam) and we had great time with them. They knew how to take care of us. We spent Christmas with them and they invited us in a beautiful French restaurant; the Cyclo bar. December 25 in the evening, Benoît reserved me a surprise. He paid me 90 minutes Japanese massage in one of the most beautiful institute of the city.

The embassy of China didn't want to give us our 3 month visa. So to get it, we use the service of the Official tourism information of Hanoi. With their help, we get it for a nice amount of 115 U.S. each.

After 1 week, we left Hanoi. We headed to the north territories of Vietnam, to discover one of the most beautiful regions. First, I was a bit disappointed to miss Sapa, because, I wanted so much to see the hill tribes. Finally, on the way, I see much more than I could imagine. They were every where and there were just too beautiful. I was also happy because, we were the only tourist on the way and for them; we were a bit special to. All the way, it was so exciting. Each climb and each turn was a new discovery. For our last night, we have also been welcomed in a highlander family in the Lao Cai province. The gentleman was very nice and it was well happy to be able to speak a little bit in French. This morning, we left the mountain to go to Hekou, in China. It is here that we will pass there New Year's Day.