Adventure in Vietnam: Motorcycle trip through the secret provinces!

Adventure in Vietnam: Motorcycle trip through the secret provinces!

Nguyen Le Duy An, a 47-year-old man from Vinh Long who currently lives in Ho Chi Minh City, is planning a "sea hunting" trip to Vietnam's western provinces. This three-day road trip aims to take photos at the border shields of Kien Giang and Dong Thap provinces before planned renaming and mergers of these regions take effect. An has already set clear itineraries and doesn't want to visit any famous landmarks on this adventure. Instead, the trip becomes an intensive experience of the landscape and culture of Vietnam.

The first stop is Long An, where An arrives at the Tay Ninh border on May 10th. Long An is known for the floating village of Tan Lap and a remarkable ancient house with a hundred pillars. Tay Ninh, his next destination, is famous for the majestic Ba Den Mountain, which is also worth a stop.

Itinerary and highlights

From Long An, the route continues to Tien Giang, where the island of Thoi Son and the floating market of Cai Be are located, two important attractions. Shortly afterwards, An travels to Ben Tre, famous for its coconuts and ecotourism. He then visits Tra Vinh, known for its Khmer culture and attractions such as Ang Pagoda. His first day of travel ends in Vinh Long, a region known for the verdant island of An Binh and the bustling Tra On floating market.

On the second day, An continues his journey to Can Tho, where the Cai Rang floating market and local specialties await him. Afterwards he continues to Soc Trang, famous for its delicious noodle soup and pandan cake. The next stage takes him to Bac Lieu, where he visits the Prince's House and an impressive wind power field. The third and final day of this intensive journey begins in Ca Mau, known for its diverse mangrove ecosystem.

Emotional memories and outlook

The journey takes An through Kien Giang, where the impressive landscape gives him emotional memories. The last stop on his exploration tour is Dong Thap, known for its beautiful lotus fields and the Sa Dec flower village. On May 12, after visiting 13 provinces in three days, An reflects on the challenges he faced during his trip, including weather hardships such as a heavy rain.

At the same time, An expressed regret about the possible name changes of the provinces. Nevertheless, he sees these changes as necessary for sustainable development. He is convinced that the region's identity will remain intact, despite the impending name changes.

This journey and the thoughts associated with it are reminiscent of the challenges of provincial administration in Roman antiquity, where administration was structured according to civitates. Provinces were led by governors who had to ensure order and security in their areas. The governor was the highest official in the province, supported by a staff of officiales appointed directly by the emperor or the governor. These historical administrative structures show how important local identities and their preservation were in the context of larger changes. Just as in the Roman provincial administration, maintaining one's cultural identity in the face of change is also important in Vietnam's western provinces.