Vietnam

In March of 2007 I visited Vietnam. I flew into Ho Chi Minh City previously known as Saigon. From there our group from Canada, South Africa, Australia and the UK would travel north over the next two weeks to Hanoi. One of the things Vietnam is most known for is the traffic. It takes a couple of days to get used to crossing a street filled with hundreds of vehicles. Most of the people ride motorbikes and they do not stop or slow down for passengers. When crossing a street if you walk slowly at the same pace the drivers will go around you.

Many Vietnamese awake early and by 6:00 am are out exercising in nearby parks. Their exercises consist of walking, stretching and playing badminton. The street markets also open early selling fresh fish, meat, fruits and vegetables for the daily meals. While there is not much to see in HCMC it is interesting to watch the people go about their routine daily activities.

After a couple of days we boarded a bus for Vinh Long where we had lunch at the home of Mr. Binh who served in the French War and the "American War". He left to fight the North only to return and find he had lost everything. Years later he was given the piece of land upon which he built his home. We left and got into small boats that were able to take us up the small canals of the Mekong Delta where we spent a night at one of the locals. All of the homes in this region are only accessible by small boats or motorbikes. We left the next morning for the Mekong to a floating market where fish, meat, fruits and vegetables are purchased for resale or personal use.

Taking an overnight train to the coastal town of Nha Trang we arrived at 6:45 am. For 65 cents three of us rented bicycles for the day. We eventually found the giant white Buddah at Long Son Pagoda and the Po Nagar Cham Towers built between the 7th and 12th centuries. Not many Vietnamese speak English and a few young women at a bakery found it amusing when I tried to imitate a train. According to our map a train track ran nearby the Buddah we were looking for. Nha Trang is known for its seafood so it was not surprising to see all the beautiful, blue fishing boats in the river harbor near the bridge we rode our bicycles over.

Another overnight train took us to Danang and by bus we arrived in Hoi An about 6:30 am. This was my favorite city and I plan to return to it and Hanoi on my next visit. Hoi An is small with a lot of preserved historical buildings. It is also a coastal town and sits on a river. Soon after arriving I walked through town and across the bridge to Cam Nam Island. Seeking a place to get out of the early morning rain I found a hair salon, massage and snack place. The friendly family invited me into their home for coffee. I made plans to return in the afternoon for a tour of the area on the back of a motorbike. Hoi An has great restaurants, art galleries and is the home of many tailors.

The next morning I made my way back towards the bridge and noticed the fish market activity near the river. While walking around the market a woman in a small boat waved for me to get into the boat with her. She paddled around giving me a different view of the market. On the motorbike my tour guide and I rode about 20 miles into Danang. There we shopped for clothing in the day market and explored a department store. On the way back to Hoi An we stopped at Marble Mountains where you can hike up the limestone peaks and admire the cave-pagodas.

Leaving Hoi An by bus we drove three hours over Cloud Mountain Pass to Hue. It was a beautiful drive up through the mountains overlooking the South China Sea and sandy beaches below. After arriving in Hue we walked to the Imperial City built in the style of the Forbidden City in Beijing where only the emperor and royal family were allowed. The next morning we boarded a Dragon Boat and went up the Perfume River. We visited a pagoda and two of the many tombs of ancient emperors. The emperors are laid to rest within the ruins of temples and courtyards in forests along the river where they once lived.

From Hue we took our last overnight train to Hanoi. Hanoi is quieter than Ho Chi Minh City and cleaner with its lakes and tree-lined boulevards. The streets are smaller and less congested with traffic. The French influence is obvious within the architecture and food. We stayed near Hoan Kiem Lake in the Old Quarter where the streets are narrow and busy with shopping. Sunday morning I visited the Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum and museum with hundreds of others. Thousands of people pay their respect daily to their hero whose body lies under glass.

After the rest of my group left I stayed in Hanoi for three additional days. I was up early each morning to observe the people as they made their way to walk around the lake and perform their daily exercises. I watched the women load their baskets with fresh fish, meat, fruits and vegetables to be sold throughout the day as they walked the streets till dark. In the morning the men congregate in small groups to drink coffee and smoke then spend the rest of their day sitting on their motor bikes offering rides to the tourists. Not many of the Vietnamese speak English but those that do will sometimes approach and want to talk and learn about you. They are hard workers and very friendly. I look forward to my return.