On this leg of the TRIPPED Vietnam Motorcycle adventure, Finney finally must come to terms with the fact that she has to learn how to ride her own motorcycle. It would seem the Diemers drastically overestimated how comfortable riding two up on a small 125cc motorbike would be. In her first day of solo-riding, she is thrown from the frying pan and into the fire as she navigates gravel backroads, wet mountain highways, congested cities packed with trucks, as well as dodging the random cow or wedding reception.

The destination on this leg of the journey is Buon Ma Thuot, which, truth be told, the Diemers never learn to pronounce properly (not for lack of trying). Buon Ma Thuot is the center of Vietnam coffee growing operations and homebase for Trung Nguyen Coffee Village. On top of falling in love with the country of Vietnam, Tim specifically declares his undying love for Vietnamese Ca Phe Sua Da or Iced Coffee with Milk. Trung Nguyen Coffee Village is perhaps the best place in all of Vietnam to have a definitive “best” Ca Phe Sua Da.

While in Buon Ma Thuot, the Diemers also hop over to Lak Lake in the Dak Lak Province for a day trip. The main tourist draw here is of course elephant rides across the lake. However, upon encountering a very sad elephant chained up on concrete, the Diemers decide to skip perhaps the saddest elephant ride in Vietnam.