Hello Vietnam!
Hello Vietnam! I know everyone makes the same joke. It am sad that Robbin Willliams is no longer alive. I grew up watching his movies and really like him as an actor, one of my all time favorites is Dead Poets Society, which is also a very sobering movie. I got side tracked. Let’s see Vietnam (Sapa, Halong Bay, Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City/Siagon)!
- Old Quarter: Town center and lake area
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- Cooking Class! Did you know that sandworms are a secret ingredient in Pho (well not in all Pho, but in my cooking class)? Aunt Grace he does the same thing that you do, he roasts his ingredients to bring out the flavors. I went to the market with the chef. I tried fertilized duck eggs and river worms w/ lime zest (Sorry Kris, I guess you have to be a award wining chef to get me to try the duck eggs). I did not think about it, I just ate it.
- Other areas in Hanoi (St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Temple of Literature, Lenin Park, Military History Museum, etc.)
Sapa: Beautiful mountain region in northern Vietnam
- The town center is very small and it is easy to walk from one side of town to the other.
- Hike to different villages: The Hmong women would come to town, practice their English and sell items. There is a picture of the hiking group and me with Sue and Sue Sue (I know I asked them for their real name, but they simplified their names so I would remember them). The women waited for us outside our hotel, walked with us through the different villages, and helped us walk though the rice paddies and ravines. The Hmong women are very organized, each person was responsible to a different person in our group. The hiking guide told us that she sees them every time she visits, so she knows them well. I bought some hand made textiles from them. I am not sure what to do with them, but Meg said that she would teach me to make shoes! I guess I will have my own custom made Sapa textile shoes!
- Cat Cat Village: Small ethnic village outside of Sapa. Same hiking group. Visited a traditional house and viewed traditional performances/costumes. It seems like everyone has black pigs!
Ha long Bay and Hang Sung Sot Cave: I have to get better pictures, but these will do for now!
Hue: Scooter ride through the country side and the Imperial City, Thien Mu Pagoda, Thanh Toan Bridge)
- Thien Mu Pagoda:
- Pictures around town:
- Than Toan Bridge:
- Imperial City: Katie will send me better pictures! I will post them when I get them!
Hoi An: This is a small town known for custom made clothes and shoes.
Nha Trang: Po Nagar Towers, Nhà thờ Chánh Tòa Kitô Vua (Cathedral), and beach area.
- Cathedral:
- Po Nagar Towers:
- Beach Area:
Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon: I don’t have any new pictures of Ho Chi Minh – I seem to be missing a couple of cities, I am sure I went to a night market or two. I caught up on American movies (Suicide Squad and Dr. Strange ) and ate popcorn for dinner! The movies are less expensive and they have every flavor of popcorn. I like plain popcorn, but you can get peppermint, BBQ, or caramel popcorn.
- See Random pictures with friends in Asia for pictures of Saigon.