The original plan was a ride out to the Mekong delta and an overnight stay down there. Nobody was up for it ( except me and the organiser ) so we agreed on the softer option of a ride out of Phu My Hung into the countryside.
There’s masses of building work going on here and the first part of the ride was through vast, under-construction towers. One day this area will be occupied by the affluent escaping the cramped conditions in HCMC but right now it’s a world of construction traffic grinding along in a cloud of grit and dust, not the most pleasant of riding conditions.
But that soon gave way to a smaller village strung out along the single carriage road. Shops, cafes, hairdressers and motorbike repair shops on both sides selling the same stuff as everywhere. The going was better here with less traffic to dodge. Some of the local kids waved at us. They must think we are mad, why aren’t we in air-conditioned taxis like all the other foreigners?
Eventually the road ran out at Hiep Phouc a sleepy village on the banks of one of the main rivers. We looked at the river, had a rest and coffee before exploring a little further. The whole area here is a watery maze of rivers and tidal channels, all murky brown with a collection of floating debris being washed backwards and forwards with the tide.
The land is very flat and criss-crossed by muddy ditches between fields that look like they get a regular flooding. Some of the village houses are simple wood and corrugated iron affairs and some are huge villas guarded by heavy gates and barking dogs. The divide between rich and poor reaches down to this little village from the city quite easily.
We rode back on a different route, past an industrial estate and through more local districts before returning to Phu My hung and it’s fancy shops, restaurants and luxury housing. After 4 hours of cycling I was exhausted. I need to spend more time on my bike getting fit.
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