Cloud Pass and Marble Stone

From Hoi An to Da Nang, we tested the Vietnamese public transportation system... Not as chaotic as in Central America, but it doesn't deserve the label of "ordinary" either. Da Nang, the third largest city in the country, is an emerging business city. However, as Tet was still being celebrated, it presented a rather quiet scene and the business districts appeared almost deserted. The city itself didn't offer much, but there were a few highlights in the surrounding area.

We rented a scooter to finally immerse ourselves in the local traffic system. We headed towards the Marble Mountains... No fear, no brakes, just go with the flow of thousands of motorcycles... It works better than one would think from observing it from the outside 😉 The Marble Mountains are marble hills that offer a beautiful view of the sea and the surrounding landscape. But even more impressive are the many caves that can be found in the mountains. Natural rock formations, Buddha statues, small monasteries with pagodas - you wouldn't guess any of this from the steep mountain blocks from the outside. During the Vietnam War, the Vietnamese army had positions here, within audible range of an American airbase. As often, the troops were situated right next to the occupiers without them noticing.

Since riding the scooter went so smoothly, the next day we rented the same machine again and drove to the Cloud Pass. In the past, unbelievably, all the traffic to the north went over this pass. Nowadays, there is a tunnel. So the tour was quite peaceful, but what is peaceful here when it comes to traffic. During the drive, there were great views of Da Nang Bay. And when you reach the top, you'll know where the pass got its name from. From the north, clouds press against the mountain, flow through the "gap" in the mountain, and dissipate mostly after a short time. Here, you can practically experience how weather is formed up close.