I just talked with some tourists last night that complained their open tour bus abandoned them out in the middle of nowhere--the hot desert in the full heat of the day. They road the Hanh Cafe bus and requested several times to be dropped off at the Canary Resort, which the company repeatedly promised to do. Instead however, the bus left Mui ne and went back out to the highway. When the tourists pressed the driver, an argument ensued and the driver allegedly threw them out onto the highway. They tourists were left to find their own way--40km--back to Canary. I have spoken with the Hanh Cafe office and they believe the story may in fact be true, though they are waiting to speak with the driver to hear his side of the story.
Meanwhile, yesterday I waiting on the street for the bus with some friends who are members of a highlands minority. We were waiting for the Suoi Cat bus that runs from Mui ne to Phan Thiet. When the bus stopped my friends asked if the bus was going to Phan Thiet. The driver said yes, so we quick hugged and then they jumped into the doorway----only to be pushed back out, the door pulled shut, and the bus sped off----only half-full. It appears Suoi Cat hates dark-skinned minorities.
Later that night while drinking with some friends near my room, one of them, who lived up on the new highway from Mui ne village to Sea links, told me something horrible but nonetheless expected. On the new road, at the exit leading to the Ham Tien (Rang) market, there have already been 4 deadly accidents since the road opened just a few months ago. 4 lives lost for no reason... and this is only 1 of 4 intersections on the road.
Premier resort destination for the entire country--so why do we continue to operate like a inept third-world backwater?
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