Tour of Vietnam 2023 | Day 19 | Tuy Hoa – Ho Chi Minh | 529 kms

The night before, I decided to head straight to Ho Chi Minh City as my trip was coming to an end and I wanted to explore the area. The distance was over 500 km, but I was eager to give it a try. I aimed to leave early, but I didn’t set off until after 8 a.m.

The sun and clouds played hide and seek while intermittent rain fell in short bursts. I was heading to a modern architectural marvel by the coast, just 2 km from the hostel. The area felt deserted, resembling a ghost town, with empty streets and a light mist around the buildings. The rhythmic sound of crashing waves added to the ambiance. The architecture was stunning, featuring sculpted stone blocks that soared like high-rise buildings. It was picturesque, and I took a photo of my bike against the beautiful backdrop before heading straight to Ho Chi Minh City. Following Google Maps, I opted for the coastal roads and planned to stop every 100 km for brief breaks, a strategy that had proven effective on past long-distance trips.

The clouds cleared after a few kilometers, revealing a bright blue sky. The perfect weather allowed me to focus on the road rather than worry about conditions. The landscape was primarily flat, interspersed with residential houses and farmland. The southern area was lush and green compared to the north. It was a pleasant sight to see farmers in conical hats working the fields. Most crops were corn and rice, with some dedicated to vegetables. Some fields were uncultivated, while others were flooded. I also noticed people involved in aquafarming for shrimp due to the nearby sea. Unfortunately, the roads were disappointing, with damaged and poorly patched sections causing uneven surfaces. During my first break, I consumed three cans of energy drink to help maintain my concentration on the road.

I decided to survive solely on drinks, stopping only for petrol. I maintained my speed and stayed on course. Occasionally, the scenery changed with small, vegetated hills. The road wound through coastal hills, making the ride enjoyable as I watched the sea to my left and mountains to my right. It was the perfect coastal drive, and I kept my speed around 70-80 km/h.

In the late afternoon, my bike struggled with turns and leaned awkwardly, giving the impression that it was unbalanced. I initially dismissed it, thinking it was just a steering cone issue. However, when I stopped at a signal, I noticed a wobble in the front tire as I slowed down. I realized the wobble had been undetectable at high speeds. Fortunately, the puncture repairman was only 10 meters away. He quickly began working on it after I explained the problem. He inflated the tire and confirmed a leak, then removed the tube and submerged it in water to locate the issue. To our surprise, there were no bubbles indicating a leak despite several checks. Pressed for time and having a spare tube, I decided to replace it immediately, resulting in what felt like the fastest tube change ever. By around 3:30 PM, I was ready to ride again, with a long journey still ahead.

The wobble was gone as I maintained a cruising speed of 80 km/h. As I covered the remaining distance, traffic increased on the road, which had narrowed to a single lane, making overtaking difficult. There were many bikes around, which further reduced the average speed. I filled my tank for the second time that day and received directions to Nihal’s house, where I planned to stay. After leaving the petrol station, I had 80 km left, and for the first time, I witnessed the sunset in Vietnam.

The final stretch was challenging as night fell. The last 30 kilometers through city traffic were chaotic, with bikes everywhere—if viewed from above, the ground was hardly visible. The dedicated lane for two-wheelers, combined with numerous signal stoppages, only added to the confusion. Despite these obstacles, I finally arrived at his apartment complex around 8 PM.

Nihal greeted me when I arrived. I parked the bike and moved everything to the 24th floor. After the stop-and-go traffic, I needed a hot water bath to cool off, as it had made me sweat and the air felt humid. We then went to an Indian restaurant and ordered the spiciest dishes the chef could prepare, satisfying my craving for spicy food that I had been missing. We enjoyed Chilly Chicken for starters, followed by Roti and Rogan Josh, topped off with cumin seed rice. Dinner was heavenly, and my taste buds were delighted. To finish, we had the restaurant make us ‘masala’ tea just like in India, which was perfect. The day ended on a high note; my fatigue vanished as we strolled around the city, soaking in the cool night air. It was a wonderful experience.

At night, the city transformed with its tall buildings illuminated in vibrant lights, starkly contrasting with northern Vietnam—a complete cultural shift. After returning home for a good night’s sleep, we spontaneously decided to visit Vietnam’s southernmost tip, especially since I had already been to the extreme north. This new destination would provide a fresh perspective on our trip, taking us from the northern mountains to the southern coast. The southernmost point was 400 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, so we planned to set off early the next day.