Hue to Vinh

Much better roads today as we leave Hue and head up the A1 to Vinh. But drama is ahead. After 78kms we turn off the busy main highway and onto the AH16 towards the fabled Ho Chi Minh trail. There are actually many trails and this is the southern section which later in the Vietnam War led from the Viet Cong HQ. The road is excellent early on and with the absence of lorries it is a real pleasure to drive. We have time to stop for a two hour visit to the Phong Nha Cave where some Viet Cong hid out as the HQ is just a few kms up the road. We even drive along a secret runway where the Western HCM trail joins our. Its a longish drive of 429km which is not made easier by the decision of the highways department to improve a narrow section which was very rural and charming. Now, however its a quagmire of mud and road building. Bridges are down and drainage channels are going in. The Bentley and the Porsche turn back on advice and make a 100km detour which means they arrive late at night. All others get through fine.That night we stay at the the Phuong Dong Hotel which is a well run local Vietnamese hotel in an industrial town.