Taking the Big Break

Today, we did our first sightseeing since we hit Vietnam.   After a busy 7 weeks of travel, it has been lovely spending the past few days on the beach, gazing out at the swaying palm trees, the rolling surf, and hundreds of kite surfers just outside the door of our hotel.   But, today, we decided that it was time to see some of the area so we booked a jeep and driver to tour us around.   (If you have ever explored Vietnam by car, you will know how crazy the driving is, so you can imagine how nerve wracking it can be to be in a side-open jeep without seat belts.  Yikes!  I was glad I wasn’t sitting in the front seat!)  The driver said the jeep was a 1970 jeep brought to Vietnam during the war.  This young man was now the proud owner.

Fishing Village of Mui Ne

First we went to the adjacent fishing village of Mui Ne.  It was amazing to see all the boats in the harbor.   We drove through the town, past boats bringing in their catches of the day, past children riding their bicycles to school and workers out in the fields.

Farmer

We drove past cashew farms and peanut farms, as well as cemeteries and past stunning ocean sides.

Local cemetery

It was interesting to be able to get out of the touristy hotel area and into the surrounding countryside.

White sand dunes

Next, we drove out to the dunes.  First stop was the white sand dunes.  The white dunes were beautiful, and there was even a small lake to the side where Lorenzo practiced fishing.  He didn’t catch anything but he enjoyed trying.   The white dunes were followed by the striking red sand dunes.

Fishing next to the white dunes

Boys at the red sand dunes

Fairy Stream

Three of us in the Fairy Stream

The highlight of the day, at least for me, was the area called Fairy Stream.  Fairy Stream is a little river that winds its way through forests and along dunes.   As the streambed resembles a canyon, we were glad we had our Keens as we waded ankle-deep our way upstream for 20 minutes or so.   It was picturesque and cool, a perfect combination in this toasty country.   On one side was dense forest and on the other side of the riverbank, were high sandstone hills.  And, it seemed the top few feet of all of the hills were bright red.   When I inquired, I was told that the iron in the rain turns the white sandstone red.  This is fascinating if not suspicious to me, but we couldn’t come up with any other explanation.  (Are there any scientists out there who might be able to explain what I as looking at?)

Fairy Stream

Fairy Stream

Anyway, it was a pleasant day.  Vietnam is a beautiful country and it was fun for all of us to get a better taste of the country.