One of the side-trips we took while in Vietnam in '04 was a cruise on Halong Bay. And when the agency offered me a kayaking option, I took it. Neither H nor I had any experience kayaking, but I thought it sounded interesting. It was one of the best parts of any trip we've taken.

Halong Bay has hundreds of limestone islands that appear impossibly tall for their width. It's a very surreal seascape and makes for an almost magical experience. Continue reading »

Flickr Photoset: 

Source: Flickr

Mai Chau

For our first trip out from Hanoi, we headed west into the mountains. The hill tribes in this part of the country are not ethnically Vietnamese, but are related to other tribes throughout southeast Asia. We stayed near Mai Chau, in a White Thai (referring to their clothing) stilt house. It was good to get out of the city and experience rural life. Near the town of Mai Chau, the Vietnamese government designated a few villages to be tourist villages. This lets the tribes make the tourist bucks, as well as allowing for the remaining villages to retain their non-tourist character. Our village was Pom Coong.

Ma River Excursion Continue reading »

Hanoi Old Quarter
Continue reading »

We spent the last days of our trip aboard a ship cruising Halong Bay. I 'd figured that it would be a welcome respite from the busy-ness of the rest of the journey. A time, dare I say it, to relax -- at least for an hour or two. We also went sea kayaking through the caves & lagoons and amid the islands of Halong Bay. Continue reading »

This was our first time traveling in developing countries. And let me tell you, that'll set you thinking. A journey to a poor country will change you. It'll make you think of social justice, the fairness of life, and the definition of poverty -- and not just a little. I spend days turning it over in my head. Continue reading »

Now that the jet-lag has changed into just waking up at 5 am, it’s time to mention the folks that made this trip an extraordinary one.

Vietnam

The staff at the Phan Thai Hotel in Hanoi, especially Loan, Phoung, Huong, Huong, and Mien (Mr Hangaroo) on the morning shift, were simply wonderful. For as many times as we came & went—leaving bits of luggage each time—they were attentive, competent, and friendly. They truly made Hanoi feel like our home. Continue reading »

I've seen many strange things during our visit here: large bowls of congealed blood in the market, women carrying burning charcoal fire and food to cook on it through the streets, huge complexes throughly carved with intricate designs.

But nothing has been more strange than having a driver.

For temple touring it makes sense -- the temples are so very far apart. But even in town, going 3 blocks for dinner requires a driver. And I say required because no one walks except children. Continue reading »

We just got back from Mai Chau, a remote village in the mountain area northwest of Hanoi. We stayed in a stilt house right in the village -- the people sleep and eat upstairs. The village was composed of maybe 10-15 houses. Continue reading »