| Day 10 Tuy Hoa to Van Gia, Vietnam Kilometers 64.3 Miles 40.2 |
| Cycle Touring Routes > Vietnam > Dong Ha to Nha Trang > Map > Day |
Road/Ride - Highway 1A south - Road is sealed
and shoulder is adequate.
Traffic is getting worse as we get closer to the Tet
Holiday (Vietnamese New Year's). The traffic is
mostly public transport, primarily overloaded buses
and mini-vans, heading north with locals on their
way to be with family to celebrate the week-long
holiday.
Traffic seems to get worse as the day progresses.
By 10:30 am the roads are packed and traffic
persists until well after sunset.
The honking is unbelievable and the earplug in our
left ear is really helping.
Hills - Four hills on this relatively short ride. The
first is the hardest.
At around kilometer 26 we climbed a steep long
climb for close to 4 kilometers (2.4 miles) long.
The shoulder on this pass is adequate,
Riding over this pass is very hectic and nerve
wracking as the trucks and buses going north pass
on blind curves and drive on the wrong side of the
road. Drivers swerve onto the shoulder to avoid on
coming traffic.
The downhill is a wild ride but we had to be very
careful when we rounded the curves as trucks and
buses were driving in the opposite lane very
chaotically.
The second hill is about kilometer 33, not as bad
as the first climb and is about two kilometers long.
Third hill is at kilometer 40 and steady gradual
climb.
The final hill comes up at kilometer 57.
Scenery - At some points along this ride the road
hugs the coast and the scenery is spectacular,
especially when going over the pass.
Van Gia town is not a pretty place and its quite
small. At first glance is looks like a long cluttered
string of shops crowded along hwy 1, but when we
turned east on one of the cross streets we arrived
at the most beautiful beach we have seen so far on
this ride.
The Van Gia beachfront has gorgeous bay with
clear, turquoise water, orange sand dunes shaded
by palm trees and a lovely view.
The beach is spectacular, not touristy or crowded,
secluded in an ideal location. Colorful wooden
lounge chairs are scattered around under the
palms for sunning. The waterfront is about 200
meters off of Hwy 1A.
Van Gia town has plenty of places to find food,
shops and a large central market at the north end
of town with fruit, vegetables and all other basic
necessities.
Slept - Bich Van - Nha Ngai Guesthouse
Cost - 150,000 dong ($9.37)
Location - On highway 1A - 393 Hung Vuong
Road, Van Gia.
Amenities - Small room with two double beds,
small table, TV with no English Channels, a/c and
fridge. En suite bath with shower and toilet
together. Hoto water.
Bikes were wheeled into lobby and safely locked
with the owners scooter inside the guesthouse.
The owners of this guesthouse are the most
gracious and hospitable host and hostess we have
encountered yet. The couple took very good care
of us and our bikes, they worried about our needs
and gave us fruit as a farewell gift before we
started our ride the following day.
Other accommodations in town - We asked locals
and pedaled around town and did not find any
other accommodations, but the Bich Van
Guesthouse is more than adequate and the beach
in Van Gia makes this small town a nice stop to
break up a long riding day.
and shoulder is adequate.
Traffic is getting worse as we get closer to the Tet
Holiday (Vietnamese New Year's). The traffic is
mostly public transport, primarily overloaded buses
and mini-vans, heading north with locals on their
way to be with family to celebrate the week-long
holiday.
Traffic seems to get worse as the day progresses.
By 10:30 am the roads are packed and traffic
persists until well after sunset.
The honking is unbelievable and the earplug in our
left ear is really helping.
Hills - Four hills on this relatively short ride. The
first is the hardest.
At around kilometer 26 we climbed a steep long
climb for close to 4 kilometers (2.4 miles) long.
The shoulder on this pass is adequate,
Riding over this pass is very hectic and nerve
wracking as the trucks and buses going north pass
on blind curves and drive on the wrong side of the
road. Drivers swerve onto the shoulder to avoid on
coming traffic.
The downhill is a wild ride but we had to be very
careful when we rounded the curves as trucks and
buses were driving in the opposite lane very
chaotically.
The second hill is about kilometer 33, not as bad
as the first climb and is about two kilometers long.
Third hill is at kilometer 40 and steady gradual
climb.
The final hill comes up at kilometer 57.
Scenery - At some points along this ride the road
hugs the coast and the scenery is spectacular,
especially when going over the pass.
Van Gia town is not a pretty place and its quite
small. At first glance is looks like a long cluttered
string of shops crowded along hwy 1, but when we
turned east on one of the cross streets we arrived
at the most beautiful beach we have seen so far on
this ride.
The Van Gia beachfront has gorgeous bay with
clear, turquoise water, orange sand dunes shaded
by palm trees and a lovely view.
The beach is spectacular, not touristy or crowded,
secluded in an ideal location. Colorful wooden
lounge chairs are scattered around under the
palms for sunning. The waterfront is about 200
meters off of Hwy 1A.
Van Gia town has plenty of places to find food,
shops and a large central market at the north end
of town with fruit, vegetables and all other basic
necessities.
Slept - Bich Van - Nha Ngai Guesthouse
Cost - 150,000 dong ($9.37)
Location - On highway 1A - 393 Hung Vuong
Road, Van Gia.
Amenities - Small room with two double beds,
small table, TV with no English Channels, a/c and
fridge. En suite bath with shower and toilet
together. Hoto water.
Bikes were wheeled into lobby and safely locked
with the owners scooter inside the guesthouse.
The owners of this guesthouse are the most
gracious and hospitable host and hostess we have
encountered yet. The couple took very good care
of us and our bikes, they worried about our needs
and gave us fruit as a farewell gift before we
started our ride the following day.
Other accommodations in town - We asked locals
and pedaled around town and did not find any
other accommodations, but the Bich Van
Guesthouse is more than adequate and the beach
in Van Gia makes this small town a nice stop to
break up a long riding day.