27 Dec 2011: FROM MUI NE TO VUNG TAU

Like these fishermen, we wanted to get on some wheels and move on. So the bus came by in the dark at 5:30 a.m. We are always early, so had been up since about 4:30. Still bleary as I write this, though we've had bus starts any time of day or night. Must be the heat or the imagined turkey dinner kicking in? Asked for hot coffee at the bus layover, got iced instead. The bus itself was crammed with more cargo than people because this is a huge fishing zone and the coolers get shipped down the road. When the tide goes out and the ships are stranded, the guys just jump into the river with their nets and keep on fishin'. 

More agriculture en route, this time many miles of dragon fruit and rice paddies. But always along the coastal road the smell of sunripe fish and the sight of hundreds of boats ---- overcapacity everywhere. Finally arrived in the chaos of Vung Tau (vungt-OW) and taxied to our online hotel, the Cong Doan. Subtitle is "A Trade Union Hotel", leftover from the Soviet era. Room about 320 sq. ft. for New Year's week rate of $23. High for Vietnam, but we're 2 blocks from the ocean and port. 

Passed 007, cleverly disguised as a rickshaw runner. Strolled the park promenade with marble pavements and concrete art-in-the-park. Looks like an interesting place so far, good walking and lots of history. With Russian and French influences, there's baked goodies and colourful street life. For now, we're crashing.