Vietnam - October/November 2013
What an amazing country - 23 days was great but I now have another bucket list to see more of Vietnam!
My husband and I spent time in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) visited the Mekong Delta - enjoyed a boat ride, visited Turtle Island and watched coconut candy being made, travelled by longboat through the maze of small canals. Another day was Cu Chi Tunnels, the tunnel complex was amazing, and not to be missed! City tour of Saigon with a visit to the Presidential Palace which revealed the history of Vietnam’s turbulent past, the Cantonese Thien Hau temple where we made a wish and lit incense, also visited the first museum of traditional medicine. Flight Saigon to Hue - Emperors’ tombs, the UNESCO Imperial Citadel, and the Thien Mu pagoda, Khai Dinh Royal Tomb, Tu Duc Royal Tomb, and an incense making house finishing off with a cyclo ride. En route from Hue, over the Hai Van Pass where I was offered beautiful pearls and local grown coffee - the best in Vietnam I was told!
On to Danang - visit to the Cham Museum showcasing objects of architecture and sculptures of the Hindu-influenced ancient civilization of the Champa people. On to Hoi An - the World Heritage listed ancient town and port with an eccentric mix of Western and Eastern architecture. It was a prosperous trading port back in the 17th century. The town of tailors - great for men’s suits/shirts,(had to buy another suitcase) also a silkworm factory where you see all the stages of making the silk, and the end product of the most gorgeous silk embroidery and scarves, pictures, jewellery wraps etc. and at night Hoi An becomes the unique pretty town of lanterns and candles. Enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Ancient Faifo restaurant. Flight Danang to Hanoi - quick overnight stop and then a very exciting road trip to Halong. Our daughter was teaching English in Halong for 3 months in her gap year, a hug was warm and wonderful! Enjoyed 2 nights in Halong catching up and managed to get a cabin for our daughter too so we could share Halong Bay. Transferred to the pier and boarded our junk, The Jasmine. Lunch and then visited the Tien Ong cave and the Cua Van fishing village which exists totally on the water. Back on the boat. and watched a cooking class and then enjoyed sunset on the top deck before dinner, cruising almost silently through the maze of islands...
Next morning was a Tai Chi class on the upper deck. Transferred to a smaller boat and enjoyed a buffet breakfast as we cruised deeper in Halong Bay to Cat Ba Island. Here we hopped off the boat and onto pushbikes for a leisurely ride along the waterfront then through the forest to Viet Hai village. After lunch a kayaking trip off the side of the boat - with much laughter trying to steer a kayak. Another delicious meal and Mai Tai. Our last day on the boat, we visited a small beach on Ti Top Island & climbed to the top of a hill for a 360o fantastic view of the islands. Back to Halong, bid farewell to our daughter and headed back to Hanoi. Two nights in Hanoi, visited the Temple of Literature, and the Museum of Ethnology, which gave a fascinating insight into Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority groups. Walking tour through the old quarter and a show at the water puppet theatre. Short flight back to Saigon, bit of last-minute shopping at the markets, enjoyed our last dip in the rooftop pool, and then Saigon to Sydney...
Next time...will hopefully get to the mountainous region of Sapa and down to the French influenced Dalat, Nha Trang region for the coffee, Con Doa Island in the south for relaxation, the list goes on...