Day 13

The final 65km to Hoa Binh looked like a relatively simple task. The first 15km put an end to that optimism. A couple of other shorter climbs took everything out of us, but we still made good time to our destination so that we could take a bus the final 70km to Hanoi. Our first bus trip of the tour was off to a great start when our bikes were loaded on to the first bus we flagged down as well as the vehicle having the luxury of air conditioning. The bonus entertainment on the trip included the bus conductor's ability to sleep in any position or on any one's lap. He was briefly awoken to offer a plastic bag to the drunken soldier who vomited in his hands. Curtains make good hand towels in these situations.