Vietnam 2008

In 2008 John (my husband) and I traveled to Hanoi Vietnam. The flight and stopovers took about 24 hours which was exceedingly tiresome but well worth it. We flew from Winnipeg to Chicago, then Narrita Japan and then Thailand where we had to board a smaller aircraft to get to Hanoi. This was our second flight to Asia the first was a much shorter flight time as we started in England.

Hanoi is an amazing city where people, motorcyclists, bicycles, cars and donkeys or ox all compete for space on the road. The only rule don't get killed. The people are very dexterous and business oriented. Running their own businesses mainly in their homes or on the streets. The rickshaw is a perfect way to see the city and most inexpensive. The people will barter so be prepared, you can always reduce the price of anything as there is always compitition to get your business but it is also nice to remember these people work hard and get very little.

Vietnam also has a class distinction which I did not expect. There were some people whom apparently we should not have spoken with!!! We did anyway. There were little thin old ladies carrying a yoke laden with fruit or other goods that you know must weigh a ton. Anyway one of these carriers was having trouble with getting the strings on each end to stay on the yoke at the same time. As she got one side on the other would come off and vice verse, so we thought ... give her a hand. She was very chuffed but looking around at those looking on they were not amused. Apparently she was one of those whom we should not have spoken to!!!!!!! To heck with that narrow minded thinking. Call me naive but in a country that has so many poor I did not think one poor would think themselves any better than another poor...but they do.







We had one huge advantage during our trip, John's son Darrel has lived in Hanoi for 5 years and has been in Asia for approximately 20 years. He has a lovely wife named Viet Anh and a beautifully smart 3 year old daughter Amy Anh who did her best to teach me some Vietnamese as she speaks two languages already.






They were so good taking us to so many sight I am sure many people would never see. They of course showed us the main attractions such as Ha Long Bay a beautiful area the Vietnamese are trying to have declared as one of the wonders of the world. This area has mountains jutting out of the water which they believe was a dragon and the mountains are the back of this dragon. They took us on a 'Junk' which is a wooden boat which looks much like a smaller version of a 1900 barge from the Napoleonic war but in good condition. It was just our group of 7 on this fairly large boat enjoying the awesome scenery. They served us a most delectable meal of an assortment of fresh fish, octopus and vegetables they even had french fries. They had a wide assortment of beer and other drinks. It was a meal set for a king. Yum Yum. They then took us into a cove where some of the brave swam in the sea and thoroughly enjoyed themselves including Amy Anh. After they were tired but refreshed we were taken to a cave lit up with colorful lights. There were some beautiful rock formation. We then headed back. Amazing just like the price. All this for under fifty dollars each.

Another place we visited was Hue and the Forbidden PurpleCity. The history and architecture is stunning. Hue is a beautiful city with very nice people. We stayed at the Imperial Hotel which is spectacular to say the least. Had dinner at a very private but luxurious restaurant with wonderful food (can't remember the name of it). We were able to go through much of the Forbidden City (very large) which was also under renovations - an ongoing job.

We were able to see three other wonderful sites in around Hue before we carried on to Hoi An another wonderful city where there main livelihood is clothing manufacturing. These are very talented people. My husband had a three piece suit made within 24 hours specific to his desires. I had a beautiful silk jacket made with embroidery again within 24 hours. This was just beautiful craftsmanship. There were many little restaurants one in particular was right on the river owned by a German Chef I think his name is Gustove. Made us a mouth watering most tender rack of lamb we ever had. We stayed at a beautiful resort within the city and minutes to the beaches. Wish we had stayed longer.