Vietnam in Photos

After 3 weeks in Vietnam I've found it very challenging to come up with a single entry to sum up my time here.  My experience in Vietnam seems to have been more complex and emotionally challenging than anything I've experienced so far.  While I had lots of very fun adventures and met really lovely, kind, and open Vietnamese people, I also experienced cultural difference that made me very uncomfortable at times and had a very heavy heart after visiting the War Remnants Museum in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).  These are not things I want to hide from or not share with others, but I feel they are better shared through conversation.  If it is of interest to you, please feel free to ask me about my experiences in detail some time!  I'm happy to share over a coffee, dinner, or a phone call.

So in this blog, I will share my best experience through photos instead!  Please enjoy!

Morning sunrise on Mekong Delta, Can Tho, Vietnam

Tour of floating markets in Mekong Delta.  Our tour and guide, Wing, were both fantastic!

Floating market, Mekong River Delta

Inside to old but still operational Post Office, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Independence Palace, HCMC

War Remnants Museum, HCMC.  In Vietnam this war is known as the American War rather than the Vietnam War.  This museum was very powerful for me particularly the Agent Orange Photography exhibits which were horrific, touching, and inspiring all at the same time.

Victim of Agent Orange address President Obama.

We managed a fun night out in HCMC.  

View of coffee farm outside of Da Lat.  In Vietnam "weasel coffee" is the most premium you can find.  It is also frequently called "weasel shit" coffee as literally that is where it comes from.  Caged weasels are fed coffee beans which are not digested by the animal however, something special and magical happens as they pass through the digestive tract of these rodents.  The beans are then collected from the excrement and made into your cup for Joe at 3x the price of a non-shit coffee.  Seriously.

Bottom of the Elephant Falls, Da Lat.  You can do whatever you want in Vietnam including risking your life to climb to the bottom of these falls.

View from the top of Elephant Falls.

Crazy House hotel and art in Da Lat.  Offers week day tours and weekend accommodations.  We met friends that actually stayed here!  It's a trip!

Views of Crazy House and Da Lat city.

Food market in Da Lat.  One thing we've learned the hard way is that often nuts are not roasted in Vietnam.  3 times we encountered peanuts and cashews that were not roasted.  They were soft and gross tasting.

After a fantastic day of motorbiking with friends from our Guesthouse and our hostess to the Elephant falls, coffee plantation, and hotpot lunch.

Our luxury hotel in Hoi An!  Good price, great pool, and fantastic breakfast buffet.

Hoi An is a clothes-making and tailoring capital in Vietnam.  This was definitely a highlight for me.  Here I am getting fitted for a winter coat!

Finished product and I couldn't be happier!  Now as long as my measurements never change...

Truly one of a kind!  A fun and fantastic experience!

Views of the river running through Hoi An.

Drinking fresh beer (bia hoi) at the lowest price point possible: 3000 dong/glass (approx 12.5 cents USD)

Custom boots to go with the custom coat!  Love them!  Now if only there was fall weather in SE Asia!

Picking up our appetizer of banh xeo (Vietnamese pancake) to take to another restaurant.

This restaurant had amazing pho but we wanted bahn xeo also.  This lovely lady just told us to go get the banh xeo take-away down the street and bring it to her restaurant.  She set up everything and gave us a much needed lesson on how to eat it.  Fantastic!

8 months of spending nearly all day of every day together and it doesn't get old.  143, Bread. 

Views of Danang City on our motorbiking adventure.

We motorbiked up to Lady Buddha.  Our Vietnamese sources explained that while most Vietnamese people are not particularly religious, many identify with Buddhism to some extent.  Vietnam also has 54 different ethnic minorities many of which have their own belief systems. 

Fishing is the culture and way of life in much of SE Asia.  These are typical fishing boats in Danang but something different than I had ever seen before!

One of the 3 unique bridges in Vietnam.  The dragon is an important creature in Vietnamese culture.  Note, Vietnamese dragons do not have wings.  Only "English" dragons have wings.

We went to the beach to watch the sunrise.   Through the mist we didn't see much of a beautiful sight but enjoyed watching the hundreds of early risers working out on the beach before 5am.  Danang.

No organised tours for us!  Motorbiking adventure in Dong Hoi to visit some of Vietnam's most incredible caves!

Beautiful landscape and countryside on the ride.  Dong Hoi. 

Paradise Cave (Thien Duong) was exquisite and spectacular!  A must-visit in Vietnam!

Stalagtites and stalagmites to no end!  Some forming right before our eyes!

Nature perfects beauty 

Daily life on the river.  Dong Hoi

Brandt held up the cave and saved 100000 people.  Ok, not really but I think he could :)

Entrance of a second cave visit, Phong Nha

Weekend streets of Hanoi.  Great street food dinners at great prices.  

Bamboo, anyone?

Before: lunch cooked before your eyes!  FYI: sidewalks are not for pedestrians here.  They are for cooking, motorbike parking, driving, and selling goods.  Walking only if you can navigate all that.

After: In my opinion, the pho is the best in the South but the bun cha (above) cannot be missed in the North.  SOOOO DELICIOUS!

B going for a trim!

Sun setting on our cruise of Ha Long Bay.

We did a 2 day, 1 night  cruise of Ha Long Bay to celebrate our Honeymoon.  

Our transportation, hotel, and dining car for the duration of the cruise. 

Life of those living in Ha Long Bay.  Although many people here were relocated by the government to the mainland, some families are still allowed to live on their boats or on a select few islands that are still privately owned by Vietnamese fishing families.  

All sails up!

View of the Bay after morning hike to lookout point.  Other activities included swimming in the bay, fabulous sunset kayaking, making spring rolls, relaxing, and eating more than we should!

Misty but beautiful views of the many (there are hundreds) limestone islands.