We, Jane and I did a 9 km hike in a park in Vietnam a few days ago into two caves with a trekking company. It is at the narrowest part of Vietnam opposite the port of Dong Hoi. Trails were slippery with mud and we had to wear rubber covered gloves due to the sharp karst rocks along the trail. It was an exhausting adventure, all the time I kept thinking of both forces North and South who had to in full combat gear carrying guns, communication equipment etc. march on such trails in much warmer temperatures and higher humidity. I can appreciate better what it was like on the trail although we were dressed in modern high tech apparel it still was an ordeal. Ok I am 66 and had there not been an excellent group of American trained chiropracters in Hanoi I would not have been able to do the trip but we were only out there for one day and an hot shower good food and a comfy bed to retire to after glad I did not have to endure these conditions such as some of you may have.
