Checked in to May De Ville Hotel City Center 2, Hanoi after a 12 hour flight from Vancouver to Taipei and then 2 hrs 45 minutes to Hanoi. Cloudy 22C.
Map in hand and off for a walkabout.
Not much room to ‘walk’ on the sidewalk.
Vietnam electrical standards.
Video: Clothing for sale.
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Monument of Battle of Hanoi, Viet Minh soldiers detonated explosives in Hanoi, 1946, \240marking the opening salvo of the first Indochina War.
You can find just about anything for sale on the sidewalk.
Market has 3 floors.
Came across a wedding reception.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Late 10th Century Neo-Gothic style.
Bach Ma Temple
Video: Definitely have to walk on the street. Sidewalk is full!
Patriotic Monument.
Lots of restaurants on the sidewalk. Rich wasn’t thrilled with the little stools!
Vietnamese Women’s Museum.
Ly Thai To Park.
Temple of Literature.
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Overnight cruise to Halong Bay with Vega Travel. Travel by bus to the boat.
Sun is setting.
Video: How to get the note out without bottles falling over?
Hiking up to the caves.
We learn to make spring rolls.
Lunch on the boat.
On the boat.
Our guide has some challenges for us.
Dinner was several courses, all beautifully presented.
In the Caves.
Kayaking.
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After overnight on the boat, we start our second day.
Last view before heading down back to the boat, then bus to Hanoi.
Met our Intrepid Cycling group at the hotel, then walking to dinner with the group. Restaurants fill the sidewalks and it is difficult to manoeuvre.
Hike up the mountain.
Video: Passing time before we hike up the mountain.
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Went for a walk with our Intrepid cycling group. First stop was this hidden-away cafe famous for ‘egg coffee’.
Just up the street from our hotel we came across a soy flour factory.
Notice the microwaves?
We then picked up our bikes. Our guide, Danh, informed us that we were going to go for a ride around Hanoi. Yikes, we thought walking was tricky! He informed us of #1 Rule: ‘Don’t look over your shoulder—just go!’
Went to the restaurant Obama visited and had the same dish, Bun Cha and a beer. Sat on the same blue plastic chairs.
I was hesitant—but it was delicious! The place was crowded, and notice the seating.
Videos: Soybean factory.
A memorial to John McCain.
B-52 wreckage in Hutu Tiep Lake shot down shortly before the war ended. A brutal reminder of the human cost of the Vietnam War. Same kind of plane John McCain was in when shot down.
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Danh gave us all masks. So many people have fires beside the road and it can be difficult to breathe at times. We didn’t like them because they made your sunglasses fog up.
Rode along rice paddies.
Sign outside the women’s bathroom where some of us went for a beer before dinner.
After 72 Kms arrived at the Homestay where we will spend the night.
Enjoyable undulating ride.
Lunch. We really enjoyed the can of iced coffee that was available.
Video: Preparing for the rice to be planted. Water buffalo play a major role.
This is our bus. There is also a truck following for the bikes. Danh informed us of the mileage marker where we would have breaks. They generously provided delicious snacks and drinks.
We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Homestay.
Video: Spinning.
Danh and our host.
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This is our room where we slept last night in the Homestay.
Video
Rich had a run-in with a cactus and Danh is doctoring him up.
Great day of riding. 75 Kms.
Getting ready to leave.
Breakfast.
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Short 32km ride around the countryside.
Pineapple fields.
Lunch.
Two bunk beds in each room. It’s cold in here!
Yummy!
Back to Ninh Binh. After showering in day room of hotel we go out for cappuccino. After dinner catch overnight train to Hue.
Steve bought a bottle of cheap—really awful local wine!
Video: Making funeral flower arrangement.
Videos in pineapple field.
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Breakfast in Hue after overnight train.
Imperial City, Hue.
Walking tour of Citadel.
Ban uot, rice noodle sheets filled with pork, shallots & mushrooms—delicious!
Checked in to Gold 1 Hotel.
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Today we ride in our new shirts.
Slicing the ginger.
Checked into Like Hoi An Resort and Spa Hotel.
Thanh Toan Museum.
Video: Slicing ginger.
Tasting ginger chips.
Thanh Toan Bridge. One of the rare tiled-roof bridges left in Vietnam.
Seafood restaurant for lunch.
Cool furniture.
Yummy dinner.
Rich at the top of 10 Km climb up Hai Van pass.
Hoi An is where you can get any item of clothing, bag or shoes made overnight. Just show them a photo and they measure you. Nearby is a bar called ‘Husband Day Care Center’.
Video: Nancy decides what to do with the rest of her bottle of wine to save for later!
Video: Our server teaches us a toast.
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It is raining this morning and Danh buys us ponchos for our 20 km ride around the countryside.
Danh is making us Fish & Chips for dinner at his friend’s place.
We enjoy a walk around Hoi An. I am getting a skirt and pants made.
Japanese covered bridge dating back to 18th century. \240Built by the Japanese then living in Hoi An as a way to reach the Chinese quarter across the water.
Vietnam plays in the AFC U23 Championship final today against Uzbekistan. Celebrations everywhere in anticipation of the game later today.
Fishing.
Watching the game.
The fish & chips are fantastic!
Video: On our ride we stopped to see lanterns being made.
Video: Even though Vietnam lost in an extra-time defeat everyone is celebrating their team’s first-ever appearance in the finals.
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Lovely undulating ride today.
Video: Mountain biker, Bruce, tests his skills.
Lunch.
Video: Down is easier!
After 85 Kms checked in to the Seagull Hotel, Qui Nhon.
Loved riding along the coast today.
It’s Brady’s 50th birthday and Danh has a cake made.
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Great riding day.
Will shortly arrive in Nha Trang and check into BIDV Hotel. 102 Kms.
Ah, Danh has cold beer waiting for us!
Video: Making bricks.
Lunch. Notice how Danh just takes over in the restaurant? Everyone knows him as ‘The Happy Buddha’.
Top of a big climb. Lovely views.
Video: Feeding her flock.
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Our second day at BIDV Hotel, Nha Trang. Getting ready for a day on the water.
Our walking tour guide.
Appetizer on the boat.
Rich & I go out for dinner. \240No, the stools are not comfortable!
Video: Making fish cakes.
We are going to get a ride in a coracle.
Fish cakes.
Video
Video: Preparing our lunch on the boat—delicious!
Video
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Getting ready to ride.
Video
Dinner.
Video
Stopped to observe these women at work.
Again Danh takes over and makes us a banana treat.
Checked in to the Sammy Hotel in Dalat. Highest elevation and cooler temperature.
Arrive at Dalat and stop at the ‘Crazy House’. 77 Kms today.
Video
It’s hot today, around 30C.
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Cooler this morning.
Whenever we stop for a break the drivers fill our bottles with fresh cold water.
Danh applies ‘curry seed lipstick’ to Robin.
Stopped at one of the many greenhouses.
Squid.
‘Processed’ coffee beans from the weasels..Yup, that would be weasel poop!
Rice wine.
It’s Anne’s birthday and Dahn gets her a beautiful cake.
Video: the weasel.
Some of our friends are happy to taste the weasel coffee.
Curry seeds.
Video: coffee
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Last day of our cycle tour. Just half-day, 40 Kms. Then will take the bus to our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Ride is done.
With our mechanic, Li. Such a wonderful experience. Total of 669 Kms of cycling.
Lunch stop.
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This morning we catch a bus to tour a farmhouse and Cu Chi Tunnels.
Video: Feeding the pig.
Video: Making Rice Paper.
Video: Entering a tunnel.
Visited a farmhouse.
Cathedral.
Various hidden traps.
Video: A trap.
Post Office in Ho Chi Minh City.
Francis is about to enter the Meeting Bunker. The tunnels were used by Viet \240Cong soldiers as hiding spots, as well as communication & supply routes, storage for food & weapons, hospitals & living quarters.
Here they made rice paper.
A new toy for Rich in our hotel room. We said farewell to our Intrepid cycling group this morning, but while we left for our day trip to the tunnels, our cycling guide, Danh, booked us in to a new hotel and had our luggage transferred over. We are now on our own.
Visited the Cu Chi Tunnels. They extend underground for more tha 250 Kms in the vicinity of Ho Chi Minh City alone and are part of a much larger network of tunnels in the country from which the Viet Cong launched a formidable offensive, safe from U.S. bombing.
Inside the Post Office.
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Reunification Palace, formerly known as Independence Palace, served as home and office of the South Vietnamese President during the Vietnam War.
War Remnants Museum.
From 1961 to 1971, the U.S. Army sprayed about 80 million litres of toxic chemicals, 61% of which was Agent Orange—over nearly 1/4 of total area of South Vietnam, some areas sprayed more than 10 times.
Kitchen.
The President’s bedroom.
For receiving coded intelligence messages.
Many of us remember this image. During the Vietnam War 3 million Vietnamese were killed (among them 2 million civilians), 2 million people injured, 300,000 people missing.
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Sewing business on the street near where we are going to catch the bus to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Spray-everywhere shower.
Similar electrical as Vietnam.
Dinner.
Video: Crosswalks mean nothing!
Arrived at our hotel in Phnom Penh.
Video: traffic
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Hotel lobby.
Video: view from the Tuk Tuk.
Silver Pagoda.
Dinner.
Our Tuk Tuk driver. It was called the ‘jungle Tuk Tuk’.
Video: Musicians
Royal Palace.
Walk along the Mekong River.
A very somber visit to the Killing Fields.
Our Tuk Tuk driver waited for us then drove us to the Genocide Museum. A tough day.
Signage can be difficult—but we can read this!
Video: from the Tuk Tuk.
Bathroom sign.
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Arrived in Siem Reap, Cambodia by 7-hour bus ride. Taking Tuk Tuk to our guesthouse.
Thinking this isn’t the best route.
Our Tuk Tuk driver convinces us to hire him to take us to the sites we want to visit over the next few days. He has a 15 year-old son and pays US$150/month for his son to attend a school where he can learn English.
Going over a bridge in repair on our walkabout.
Our room at Residence Wat Damnak.
Spray-everywhere shower.
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Our Tuk Tuk driver picked us up at 5 am to drive us to see sunrise at Angkor Wat. Unfortunately not the best day.
We didn’t try this.
Video
Met our friends Sue & Steve from our cycle tour for dinner. Tomorrow they are taking the bus to Phnom Penh.
Videos: Monkeys
Missed breakfast this morning so we were served a complimentary lunch by the pool.
Video: Disabled Musicians
Video
Bayon Temple has 216 smiling faces of a \240Buddhist figure. You see these faces from all angles. Amazing!
Very vibrant night life.
Video
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Laundry is done overnight.
Sticky rice for sale.
Our driver buys us sticky rice.
Videos:
Permanent houses are built on stilts so that they are above high water level.
Drying shrimp.
Today we visit a floating village.
Boys on their way to school.
Drying fish.
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Our last breakfast in Siem Reap.
Arrived at our hotel in Vientiane, Laos. We found a ‘safe’ in the closet!
Our guesthouse is down this narrow road.
Workers installing lights.
A 640ml beer costs US $1.20
A final walkabout before heading to the airport for a flight to Vientiane, Laos.
Photobombed by our guesthouse manager.
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Walkabout in Vientiane.
Wat Si Saket
Patuxay Park.
Victory Gate of Vientiane, resembles the Arc de Triomphe.
Enjoyed an Iced Coffee.
Monument in Vientiane.
Salad for lunch—a pleasant change.
Pha That Luang
Wat Chan
Presidential Palace.
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Catching a flight at Wattay International Airport, Vientiane to Luang Prabang.
Walkabout in Luang Prabang after checking in to Sokxai Residence.
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Early each morning before sunrise hundreds of monks from 35 temples walk in silence, meditating as they collect their daily alms from devotees. Buddhist practice of making merit, a symbiotic relationship between the monks and alms givers. If you wish to take part there is food available to purchase as offering to the monks.
Making treats on the sidewalk.
Needed to get our toenails cut in anticipation of an upcoming trek so we both got a pedicure. No Color—Can$5.
Selling little birds in baskets.
A Valentines Day walk along the Mekong River.
Visited the UXO Lao Visitor Centre where we learned of the hell the country went through and how, to this day over 300 innocent people are killed each year from cluster bombs that failed to explode.
Between 1964 and 1973 the U.S. dropped over two million tons of explosive ordnance. Laos is the most heavily bombed country per capita in the world.
Climbed 328 steps up Mount Phou Si and got a magnificent view.
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Tuk Tuk to bus station in Luang Prabang.
Van to Luang Namtha (7 hrs—no air conditioning)
Checked in to the Amandra Villa, Luang Namtha. Spray-everywhere shower.
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Meeting our guide, Eh, and two gals from Switzerland for a two day trek in the jungle and one day cycling.
Video: This gal is carrying up water for the toilet.
Dinner. No utensils or plates.
Spotted a huge butterfly.
Our overnight accommodation in this hill tribe village.
If you want to bathe, here is the river.
Our toilet is in here.
Taking a break. Our guide ate some live ants!
Yup, the toilet.
Kitchen.
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It is cold in the morning so Eh starts a fire.
Morning coffee.
Laundry in the village.
Our accommodation for the second night. Managed to find beer for sale.
Dinner.
Video: one of our guides was given a couple chicks to take home. The other guide went down to the river early in the morning and caught a bunch of frogs to take home.
We all sleep in this room.
Lunch.
A feast of frogs. We did not partake!
We get a ride across the river to the village.
Video: Crossing the river.
Video: Our guides with their chicks and frogs.
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Making breakfast.
Rice grinding machine.
Video: All kinds of animals near our hut.
The frogs have layed eggs.
Lunch.
There is a road into this village (built by the Chinese). Our bikes have arrived.
Breakfast.
It’s a rough road.
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Bought a bus ticket to Chiang Rai, Thailand. The usual two seats on each side of the isle but then each side has another seat that folds down. Absolutely no place to walk in the isle.
It was 8 hours to get to Chiang Rai, including one van, three buses, and three Tuk Tuks.
Clock tower.
Our favourite hotel, Baan Jaru, Chiang Rai.
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Dropped off our laundry. Will pick it up later.
Hilltribe Museum
Wat Phra Chom Thong
Video: Clock Tower
Local park with huge flower displays.
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Got picked up and heading to a day trek in the jungle to hilltribe villages in this area.
The pork is on the fire.
Our guide cutting bamboo.
Making chopsticks for us to take home.
Our guide gets us to help carry bamboo to our lunch spot.
Cutting onions and peppers for the omelette.
Stopping for tea.
He gathers banana leaves for the table.
One bamboo vessel has an omelette, one has vegetables and one has sticky rice.
Arriving at a village where the truck meets us for the ride back to Chiang Rai.
All the meal is served on the banana leaves.
Tea plantation.
There are 3 Italians on our trek.
Our guide, Tom, made each of us a bamboo cup and engraved our name in Thai.
Preparing the pork.
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White Temple.
Video: Do you hear the rooster on our bus?
Lovely lunch at Chivit Thamma Da Coffee House, Bistro & Bar
Firefighter Bike.
Blue Temple.
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Checking out and taking a 3 hour bus to Chiang Mai.
Our TV in Chiang Mai.
Museum visit.
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Wat Prathat Doug Suthep
Chiang Mai Walking Street. No shortage of massages.
Dinner
Video: Blind Musicians
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Our flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok was just 1 hr 15 min but we were served a meal.
Beer on our deck.
Street Bar.
Robin, from our cycling tour suggested that in Thailand I should try a soup called Khao Soy. Found it on the menu at Madame Musur. It was delicious!
Street food.
Massages.
Our hotel in Bangkok, Pak Ping The Cozy Living.
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The best and easiest way for us to get around in Bangkok was to take boats.
Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Grand Palace.
Wat Pho
Wat Phta Chetuphon.
Video from the boat.
Video: Heavy rain for about an hour.
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At the train market, 100 Kms outside of Bangkok.
Salad & pizza for a change tonight.
We then got a ride on a long tail boat where we met our van for the drive back to Bangkok.
Video: Passenger train coming thru the market.
Sales on water and land.
A further 30 minute drive to the floating market.
Visited the Jim Thompson house (no photos inside). He was famous for developing the silk industry in a Thailand.
Video: watching the boats.
Video: Sales on the boat
Video: the boats.
Video
Video
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Our last day in Bangkok. Getting around by boat.
Our last dinner in Bangkok. It is a Buddhist religious day so no alcohol is sold in stores or restaurants.
Video: From the boat.
One of the ferry boat stops.
Video: Collecting fares.
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