Day 4 Ke Bang Caves then down to Dong Hoi.

In the park also contains Ke Bang, the biggest cave in Vietnam that also very old and has been evolving since the Paleozoic times, some 400 million years ago. It extends all the way to the border of Laos, including some 65km of cave networks and underground rivers. We took a little boat ride to the entrance of the cave where Quynh pays our tix, and we climb some 400 or so steps up to the entrance. To be quite honest, I just wanted to move on. While it is an impressive cave, its like a bigger version of the many caves Ive been to in the past. The stories that came with the cave were interesting though. Once we got out of it, it was already around noontime and we had to make up time to get down to Dong Hoi.










After the cave excursion we were back on the road again, what a relief! I wish I had vid to show you guys. We were finally riding the main North/South Rte 1, full of cars busses and trucks playing chicken with one another trying to pass. Once we reach Dong Hoi, We notice that the city is very modernized, and you can feel the history behind it, since it’s very close to the Demilitarized zone that seperated what was once North and South Vietnam. The weather is considerably different, since this is our first encounter with the coast. It was bright and sunny. We parked our bikes at the hotel, and Al and I go take a walk. We come across some ruins from the war turn into exhibits. We also come across a site in construction of what appeared to be a war museum. Out in front we saw various US tanks, helis, and planes. Seeing this doesn't strike any kind of emotion with me, since I was born in 79 which I believe was the last year of the war. These remnants while still scattered and plentiful, are still just a tiny percentage of all there is to see in this city. Beaches, floating restaurants, seafood and produce markets, shops, electronics, fashion, etc.. At this point I was bummed that my camera batt ran out. We walked back, and relaxed a bit before having dinner in an upscale restaurant serving "Western food". I still had Viet food and the guys tried get Quynh to eat a hamburger without much success.