Cambodia and Vietnam – Part 7

With our excellent driver and trustworthy guide, we spent the day driving on Highway 1A from Qui Nhon to Da Nang. This was no Sunday afternoon drive in the country, but an intense and focused endeavor by the driver. This “major highway” is a two-lane paved road through many villages and towns and is shared by buses, trucks, cars, motorbikes, bicycles, and walkers. Sharing the road means that more than two and frequently several of these vehicles are adjacent to each other. When passing another car and/or bike and/or motorbike, the driver politely toots the horn and the others move to the right and left sides of the road, no one slowing down. The biggest vehicle always gets the right of way. Amazingly, it works quite well. 

Leaving the non-tourist city of Qui Nhon and the South China Sea, called the East Sea in Vietnam.
Jim was on this beach forty-five years ago!

 We stopped at the Cham towers (around the 12th and 13th centuries) in Qui Nhon and also outside of the city. The first two pictures are at the Thap Doi Temples in the city of Qui Nhon and are in better condition than the Banh It towers north of the city. They are all in the process of being restored as is so much of Vietnam and Cambodia. With the ancient sites in ruins, and more recent places destroyed from wars, it will be a long time, but the improvements are taking place.

Outside of Qui Nhon with our guide, Nam.

A well deserved coconut milk break for our driver, looking out on the lovely beach of East Sea

We took a short side trip to the site of the My Lai Massacre, although the Vietnamese refer to it as Son My. We heard and have read different stories why it was called the My Lai Massacre instead of Son My Massacre. No buildings were left in this area, as the Americans returned and burned whatever was left. A ditch where civilians were killed remains, as does a coconut tree with bullet holes. A couple of buildings have been partially rebuilt to recreate a bit of the original village. Once again, a reminder of the devastating effect of war on innocent civilians.