-- From Ninh Binh to Cau Treo at the border
The road tracklog
From Ninh Binh to Cau Treo
From 08/12 to 09/12/2008
The 08/12 after the publication of the page of my website, I headed towards Phat Diem 26 kilometres away from Ninh Binh by a narrow road in the rice paddies. Each village had its church. The cathedral of Phat Diem built in 1891 is famous for its Chinese Gothic style. A small street from the main road leads to a white statue of Christ on an island at the middle of a lake behind the bell tower is in front of the stone frontage of the cathedral. The nave is supported by sawn timber pillars. The interior encourages with meditation by the majesty of the nave and the splendour of the altar.
Cathedral
Phat Diem
08/12/2008
The nave
Phat Diem
08/12/2008
The Altar
Phat Diem
08/12/2008
At proximity a covered bridge dating from the 19th century is.
Covered Bridge
Phat Diem
08/12/2008
I drove on my way up to the Cua Lo beach about nineteen kilometres northwards away from Vinh.
Bivouac
Cua Lo
08/12/2008
Before leaving Cua Lo Beach on 09/12 to go to the border of Laos I took some pictures of fishermen in their circular boat. Fishing was, maybe, alvine of shrimps. I have the last smile of Vietnam.
Retour des pêcheurs
Cua Lo
09/12/2008
Alvins?
Cua Lo
09/12/2008
Last smile in Vietnam
Cua Lo
09/12/2008
In Vinh, I stopped to do shopping at the market and to see one of the two gates of the Citadel dating back from 1831.
Citadel's east gate
Vinh
09/12/2008
The road QL 8A curves in the plain before up hilling in a spectacular landscape at the Kaew Neua Pass (728 m, GPS altitude) where the border is. Formalities to exit Vietnam lasted to the great maximum 10 minutes. I gave the customs document which received two stamps and I paid 20000 VND, without receipt. My truck was not visited. At immigration office, my passport received an exit stamp which I showed at the barrier. I was in the “no man’s Land”.
