Here Be Elephants

You can view fullscreen mode by clicking here

2011.1.6
Cities: Saigon to My Tho
Distance: 48.6 miles
Total Ascent: 230 feet
Avg Speed: 9.5 MPH

Stayed on Highway One to get out of Saigon. Really nasty in this area.. the road was very busy and dirty. For the last 6 miles we finally left the one for an alternate route on the 878. Much smaller road, monopolized by motorbikes, but a pleasant journey through small towns that typify the Mekong Delta region.

2011.1.7
Cities: My Tho to Vinh Long
Distance: 38.5 miles
Total Ascent: 170 feet
Avg Speed: 7.5 MPH

Entirely small roads for this one. Used the 864 to get out of My Tho which leads to Cai Be. The road is small and mostly quiet, varying in size from just big enough for the bicycle to two full lanes big enough for trucks. It’s paralleling a large river to the south, which at any point you could head towards and likely find a ferry across. We went all the way to Cai Be, which involved a few ferries to cross small rivers since the 864 sometimes lacks a bridge. From Cai Be, we took a ferry to Binh Hoa Phuoc (an island), cycled on a tiny road across it, and then took another ferry to the 57, which leads to Vinh Long. Great day… the ferries are easy, the people were nice, and the scenery is beautiful.

2011.1.8
Cities: Vinh Long to Can Tho
Distance: 25.6 miles
Total Ascent: 270 feet
Avg Speed: 10 MPH

Quick day along the One into the “capital” of the Mekong Delta region. Same old, same old for the dirty, big, loud Highway One.

2011.1.10
Cities: Can Tho to Vi Thanh
Distance: 38.6 miles
Total Ascent: 212 feet
Avg Speed: 9.8 MPH

Used the 1 and then the 61 this day. The 61 is an improvement over the 1 in terms of traffic and nastiness. The further you get from the 1, the more pleasant it all becomes.

2011.1.11
Cities: Vi Thanh to Rach Gia
Distance: 39.7 miles
Total Ascent: 165 feet
Avg Speed: 10.2 MPH

Really nice ride up until you hit the outskirts of Rach Gia. Very small road at times and always right along pretty canals or rice fields. Not too busy.

2011.1.12
Cities: Rach Gia to Phu Quoc
Distance: 71.8 miles (boat) + 11.8 miles (bike)

Boat to Phu Quoc island leaves Rach Gia in the morning at 8 am and gets you there in about 2 hours. From there, a very small, but easy to navigate, road will take you to Duong Dong (the main city on the island).

2011.1.13
Cities: Phu Quoc to Ha Tien
Distance: 35.6 miles (boat)

From the same port we arrived at, we got a boat that took us to Ha Tien, the town next to the Cambodian border.