7 January, Dong Hoi to Cua Tung, 77km
Thanh Phat Hotel 200,000VND

Intermittent rain and roadworks conspired to make today less pleasant than it should have been. All but the last 16km were spent on the AH1, which continued flat through farmland. Farming is labour-intensive and, at this time of year, very muddy and wet. Husbands and wives work side by side, barefooted, sometimes thigh-deep in mud, preparing the fields for planting and sewing vegetable seeds. On occasion ploughing is motorised; more often than not a wooden hoe is pulled by bullock or buffalo or man. In the last couple of days we have seen, from a distance, two or three truck-loads of dogs on their way to market or slaughterhouse. Previously we have seen one or two dogs only in a cage on the back of a scooter. Despite this sight pinching at our hearts, we have been pleased to see that the dogs looked healthy and well-cared for. Today we saw a truck-load of dogs up close and were very distressed about how they looked and how tightly and carelessly they were packed. The last 16km brought us east of the AH1 to Cua Tung beach where we seem to be the only winter visitors. 

Farming between Dong Hoi and Cua Tung

Farming between Dong Hoi and Cua Tung

Dogs en route market or slaughterhouse

Cua Tung

Cua Tung