From Kon Tum to Khâm Đức

A hot morning in Kon Tum – the clock 60360 km – next destination Khâm Đức.
The next few hundred kilometres ahead was the scene of some of the fiercest battles of the ‘American War’ (as the Vietnam War is called here). That is more than 40 years ago but you can still see some of the scars of the bombs that were dropped here. There are war memorials and war cemeteries along the road. But that is the past and the new Vietnam is looking forward.
The young people wear western outfits, have US flags on the bikes and listen to western music. Just like everywhere else in the world.
But there is still a lot of history and tradition in the villages along the way.
Tradition and new influences – you have it for example on this Chinese graveyard – here are some pictures for you:

Chinese Graveyard

Some random war memorial – there are so many…

One of the many temples on the way

A communal House or Rong House of Ba Na ethnic people.

The Communal House in the northern central highlands is where the village people have their important events. The pass down their customs and traditions here and every village or town has one. They are building many new ones now in the villages that I passed. Very big and made with lots concrete – not so nice any more.

Finally the Ho Chi Minh Road