Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: Malaysia secures first win at trans-Vietnam cycling race

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Malaysia secures first win at trans-Vietnam cycling race

A team from Malaysia triumphed at the first leg of the Ho Chi Minh City Television-sponsored cycling race, which kicked off in Hanoi on April 12.The 50-km first leg, which covers 30 circles around Hoan Kiem Lake, saw Malaysia’s cyclist Mohammed Yamani take both green and yellow jerseys. Yamani clocked 1:09:53 with an average speed of 43.78 km an hour.More than 80 top cyclists from 12 local teams and Laos , Malaysia and China ’s Guangxi province will compete in the second leg, stretching 146 km from the capital city of Hanoi to central Thanh Hoa province. The 20th annual race, the biggest of the year in the country, will be divided into 18 stages, covering a total distance of 2,237 km. Highlights of the event will be the two legs taking place in central Vietnam , along the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail in Ha Tinh province and from Binh Dinh through Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces to Nha Trang city in Khanh Hoa province. The final leg of the race will take place in HCM City on April 30, coinciding with the Liberation Day of southern Vietnam.

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.