10/20 Hue: 25km Bike Ride to Thuan An Beach!

Had nothing planned today so really appreciated a very friendly hotel staffer's suggestion that we go for a 25km long return bike ride through the countryside and out to Thuan An Beach. What's not to love about getting some fairly fresh air, lots of exercise, seeing new scenery with the added bonus of lying on the beach after all that?

One handed photos of our bike ride:

We saw lots of flags and people congregating on the left hand side of the road so decided to go that way for a spell and see what was happening.

We couldn’t see any water in the canal under the bridge as the water had been taken over by some sort of plant.

Saw that all the people had stopped at the Duc Ba Market so we parked our bikes for a bit and walked around the market too. It was the first time that we didn't have to pay to park our bikes anywhere in Vietnam.

I again marveled at how Vietnamese people can bend down apparently for hours at a time with their feet flat on the ground without their derrieres touching the ground too.

Hopped back on our bikes and continued our journey to the beach passing lots of children riding their bikes back to school seemingly without a care in the world on the busy highway. So many of them waved and said 'Hello' to us; one cheeky one even pinched me and later Steven as she went by!

Photos from our bike ride:

We (guess I mean I!) had to pay close attention when riding our bikes as we never knew what road hazards we might encounter!

So many of the kids were riding bikes that appeared to be way too big for them.

Common to see all sorts of things drying along the sides of the road.

The sign meant a village or town ahead. They were more than a tad optimistic when they included symbols for tall buildings as we sure didn't see any!

Cho, i.e. another village market, but we didn't stop at this one.

A little hairy riding bikes here with kids and motorcycles coming and going in both directions and taking pictures at the same time!

Sometimes it's hard to see anything of a person's face because it can be all covered up with a face mask, glasses and then the helmet pulled down low.

Yikes - actually had to pedal uphill here to cross the bridge. We had been so spoiled cycling in Vietnam as everything had been so flat!

I chatted with this young man for a few minutes while we cycled along the highway. His English was pretty decent.

Boat making area.

After riding our bikes for a good hour or so and not seeing any signs of, or, for the beach, we got off the main road and headed left hoping we'd find the beach. Finally saw the water but not much of a beach or anything to write home about.

Views of Thuan An Beach:

We rented rather ancient slingback chairs from people who hoped that we'd also buy food from them that they were keeping in the containers above.

Don't know what these 2 were doing but it was fun watching them!

Not a very prepossessing beach now. Steven and I both wondered if in another 5-10 years, it might be all developed and we could say, 'We were there in the beginning.'

My stud muffin!

About 2 hours after we got there, a large group of what looked like senior high school students all came roaring up at once on their motorbikes ready for some fun on the beach. We thought that it was our cue to leave.

The sign below indicates the beach where we had been for much of the afternoon.

Photos on our way back to Hue:

Most Vietnamese homes have their own temple.

Another totally clogged canal.

What a hoot seeing this guy with a inner tube around his head!

Our final night back in Hue:

Many Vietnamese cooks really know how to make a meal look especially appealing to eat, we've found over the last 2 weeks here. We ate two out of four dinners in Hue at the same restaurant as we enjoyed the food so much.

Posted on 10/27 from Ninh Binh, Vietnam.