2015 - Vietnam - Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) - September

Saigon - September 2015 - Part 1

(Click the photo below to be taken to the video)

Vietnam - Mekong Delta - Part 3

More Video from our Trip - The Mekong Delta- Part 1

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It's been a while since my last post

Happy Holidays to everyone. I just wanted everyone to know that I am still working on posting our photos. Once I am finished processing them I will post a link to all of them in a slideshow.

I should also mention to first time readers that this was a trip for personal healing and also to see the country. Though I had been in country before I had never been there in times of peace. This vistit showcased the people and the country in present day not as it was during the conflict.

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At the end of each blog entry there is a place where you can make comments. I would very interested in your comments both positive and negative.

To see early posts on the planning of the trip scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Older Posts" on the lower right of the page.   I am glad you came to my blog to read what I have to say.

Thanks

Our last train ride in Vietnam - The train from Hue to Hanoi - A video Slideshow

This is the last of our train ride videos. This leg was from Hue to Hanoi. What a great ride. Enjoy the video slideshow below.

Click the photo below to be taken to the video slideshow

Enjoy!

Selfies and pictures of Martha and myself

Hello all,

Martha and I are still sorting through our photos and videos. Once everything is sorted we will be posting meaningful thoughts, photos and videos.

But for now, this is a video slide show of photos we took of one another and also selfies.  Enjoy.

Click on the photo below to be taken to our video slideshow (click the lower right of the video window to go to full screen)

Oh, the food, the drinks, and the Pina Coladas I have loved!

I have no idea how, but we lost weight on the trip!  The food and drinks were amazing! Everything was so good no matter where you eat. Martha's was on a continuing quest for the best Pina Colada  in Vietnam and I have to say, she left very few stones un-turned. 

Click on the picture below to be taken to a video slideshow of the food and drink and of course Martha's search for the perfect Pina Colada while we were in Vietnam. Please click the "full screen icon on the lower right of the video window.

Day Eleven - Arrival at Halong Bay

We finally arrived at Halong Bay at 13:20 (local). We are now in the passenger terminal waiting to board our junk. I am looking forward to relaxing with an umbrella drink on deck.

The photo below was our only image of the Bay as we approached by car.

Martha's Notes:

We finally got on board the boat about 1:30 or 2 pm, and cruised into the bay for a couple of hours.  We anchored around 4 for the night and Chuck and I joined in the kayak adventure with the rest of the passengers.  We had a little difficulty, as we've never kayaked together.  But we made it.  Sadly, Chuck got his foot caught trying to get out of the kayak and onto a ladder back onto the boat.  He twisted his knee, adding one more injury to his list.  

We had dinner and drinks after the kayaking.  Our dinner included morning glory salad with chicken, oyster cakes, boiled shrimp, steamed rice, noodles, clams and fish.  After dinner, we had drinks and visited with the other passengers.  I think Chuck really enjoyed having people who speak English around, so he could share some of our stories from the trip.

The other passengers on the trip are:  a retired couple from Australia who live near the ocean and travel extensively in their "caravan"; two young women from New Zealand, one a teacher and one radiologist, I think; a family of six -- the grandparents live in Australia, and their daughter, her husband and their two children live in Hong Kong- he was a computer guy; a family of four from Australia - the husband was a construction worker and the wife was a nurse; and a couple from Canada who were retired geologists.

It was a little disappointing when they shut down the bar and all the lights and there was nothing to do but go to bed at 10 pm.  We went to sleep quickly, though.  Unfortunately, the beds on the boat were harder than any bed I've ever slept in and I tossed and turned all night trying to get comfortable.

Vital Statistics

Date - Monday, September 28

High Temperature - 93 degrees, Heat Factor- 105 degrees

Day Eleven - Halong Bay - Transit to the Bay

Today we embark on what should be the most beautiful part of the trip, Halong Bay. We leave for a four hour drive to the vast at 07:40 (local). The background photo of this blog is a net photo of the Bay.

This entire area of Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay is a "World Heritage Park."  I have read that this is one the top diving places in Vietnam. 

I understand that there is some pollution near marina areas do to the Japanese tsunami. Reportedly the vast bay is clear of debris and quite beautiful. There will be lots of photos.

Martha's Notes:

Our trip to Halong Bay was by shuttle (a passenger van).  We were on the van with a family of four from Australia and two young women from New Zealand.  Along the way to the Bay, we stopped for a rest stop at a workshop for disabled people where they made and sold artwork.  They did not allow photographs, so we can only share the photo of our purchase there -- a small Happy Buddha!

Our second stop was a village where we were treated to a water puppet show portraying rice farming in Vietnam.  We then had lunch with multiple courses -- shrimp cakes, banana leaf salad, steamed rice, noodles, morning glory greens and french fries.