I was up at 7. I went for bánh mì ốp la and coffee, and leisurely read the paper. I hit the road around nine.

The 160 km ride to Đà Lạt was fantastic. The road was small with no traffic. First I went past deserted beaches and sand dunes. Then I turned inland, and went through beautiful countryside, past fields and plantations. The mountains loomed on the horizon. The road eventually came to the mountains, and I started up. I went slow because I took so many pictures.

I had never seen so many foreigners on bikes before. This was like the bikepacker highway. Several groups passed me.

It got cold after I got up into the mountains. I had phở in a rustic wooden restaurant in a small town. I rode on until I got to the highway, then the ride stopped being nice. Compounding the misery of the busy road, it started to rain, which is never pleasant in the cold on a motorbike.

I stopped for coffee, then set out on the final push down the busy road in the cold rain. I made it to my hotel in Đà Lạt by 3 pm.

First I passed deserted beaches.
First I passed deserted beaches.
Then I turned inland, passing through a rural landscape.
Then I turned inland, passing through a rural landscape.
The fields were red, and the mountains loomed on the horizon.
The fields were red, and the mountains loomed on the horizon.
I rode through scrubland.
I rode through scrubland.
And green rice fields.
And green rice fields.
I started heading up into the mountains.
I started heading up into the mountains.
The views started to get good.
The views started to get good.
The road went up.
The road went up.
And up.
And up.
I followed the switchbacks up.
I followed the switchbacks up.
And stopped frequently to enjoy the views.
And stopped frequently to enjoy the views.
It was a very scenic ride.
It was a very scenic ride.
At last I arrived in Đà Lạt.
At last I arrived in Da Lat.
Terry
I'm Terry, former cubicle-dweller, and now traveler, photographer, writer, and entrepreneur. I quit my job in 2014 to travel to US national parks, then to South East Asia. I write about independent, flexible, long-term, budget travel. Sign up to my newsletter to get the latest news on what I'm up to. I hope you join me on my trek around the world.

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