Day 15
Country
The split on Ron's rear tyre was getting worse by the day so we had got in touch with the rental company to see if we could have the tyre or the bike replaced. They agreed to swap the bikes over but we needed to get to Danang which was still about 550 kms away. But the thing was we had to get there by close of business the next day as otherwise they'd be closed for Tet (new year) for a week from the day after. So we decided to hit the highway rather than going off-grid so to speak.
While packing up Ron realised that he had lost his waterproofs which would've been strapped to the outside of his bag as there was no room to put them inside. They must've fallen off when I was leading or else I would've spotted them. So while checking out we asked Trung if anyone had handed them in by any chance (thinking they may have fallen off when we arrived). Anyway, Trung was most upset that we had lost something on his property despite us trying to tell him that chances were they were lost on the road. He disappeared for a minute and returned with a brand new poncho for Ron. He would not take any money for it either. Nor did he charge us for any of the drinks - just for the rooms. What a top bloke!!
We headed north on the highway hoping to get 200 kms under our belts today and reach Qui Nhon. The three Swedish ladies I mentioned earlier had recommended we visit Qui Nhon as it would be quiet etc. The route hugged the sea most of the way with beautiful views, deserted beaches and coves and little fishing villages.
Arrived in Qui Nhon but couldn't find the homestay we were recommended. We had stopped to check the map again when this man approached us and offered to rent us rooms in his house for $4 per room per night. Result! We followed him and had a nice, new room in the extension they had built on the 4th floor. He and his wife live in Saigon but as most Vietnamese do they had come to his parents' house for Tet. Tet as I mentioned before is the lunar (Chinese) new year and this year it's on the 5th Feb. There were cute pictures of pigs owing to the fact that the new year would be the year of the pig. Vietnamese get 10 days' holiday for Tet and almost everyone goes home to their home towns/parents'/relatives' houses others just go travelling. The roads were really busy the last few days but it's gone all quiet now as everyone has reached wherever they were going to. Travellers were still on the road and we met one such couple today who were making a road trip two-up on a bike to Danang from Saigon.
