December 31, 2016
So here we are in Vietnam, a place that used to strike terror in my heart many, many years ago as a student when I waited with baited breath to know what the draft number of my friends would be. And now it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, and I know why. This is an amazing, exciting, colorful country with a rich, ancient history, lovely people, and absolutely delicious food!
We began our adventure in Hanoi with its tall, narrow buildings touching each other, spaghetti wiring, jumble of motorcycles, bikes and pedestrians, and streets alive with every activity imaginable from cooking to dentistry. Walking across the street is an adventure in itself as street lights are rare and even when there are lights, motorcycles do not necessarily stop. I was told to “just go!”
Everywhere you look people are out on the streets, sitting on tiny little stools, eating at tiny tables, washing dishes in buckets of water on the sidewalk, selling and cooking meats, cutting hair, and whizzing by on motorcycles. The motorcycles don’t just carry people. They carry whole families as well as all kinds of goods and wares from tires to chickens. There is a beautiful tree lined lake in the center of town, with a lovely red bridge where it is popular to take wedding pictures and many wonderful restaurants. We found a fish restaurant where the fish were swimming in tanks in a warehouse.We enjoyed a fabulous lunch of fish, spring rolls, salad, soup and 20 beers (for 10 of us) for $10 a person!
Hanoi is known for its noodle soup, and it is a breakfast specialty to have chicken noodle soup. Another specialty is traditional Vietnamese coffee. A small tin of coffee is placed above a cup with condensed milk and the coffee filters down into the cup. You stir and drink. Delicious! Oh, and the money – 22, 300 dung equal a dollar so a meal costing 1 million dung is about 50 American dollars!Here are some of the highlights of our visit to Hanoi:
- Ho Chi Minh – We filed past the dictator lying in state in the huge memorial built in his honor. He looked rather small and yellowed.
- Maison Centrale also called the Hanoi Hilton – the prison where American pilots, including John McCain, were held prisoner.
- Military Museum where planes, tanks, bombs and other military paraphernalia were displayed. One of the members of our group came across the exact type of tank that he and 2 other soldiers spent one year in during the Vietnam War. Quite emotional.
- Bike/Carriage ride through the streets – seeing it up close and personal!
Another highlight was the visit to Halong Bay, one of the most beautiful places on Earth. We traveled by bus for 4 hours over a rather bumpy road to spend a night on a lovely boat in the bay. Halong means “descending dragon” and legend has it that the while the dragon was eating oysters he spewed forth the pearls which created the thousands of tiny, mountainous islands that dot the bay. We visited a couple of the islands, climbing into a cave and then up on rocks and steps for a panoramic view. We visited an oyster farm, and enjoyed great food and a night of dancing on the boat.
We left Hanoi on the 29th and flew to Danang in Central Vietnam. This is a much different city, much more metropolitan with wider streets and even street lights that talk to you. It is the home of the famous China Beach. We drove a short distance to Hoi An, where we are staying at a lovely resort. This is an absolutely charming town, with a river running through it, a dragon bridge, and tiny streets bedecked with colorful lanterns. If only it would stop raining!! It has been raining here since November 20th, and this is the dry season! Who says there’s no global warming? The rain did not stop us from touring the town with dripping umbrellas, flip flops, and water rising up in huge ponds. Tonight we will party at the resort and will most likely have to walk to the restaurant in bare feet to preserve our shoes. It should be quite a night!
Since we are 12 hours ahead of you I want to be one of the first to wish you a very, happy, healthy New Year! I hope the coming year brings you whatever it is the you most desire. I certainly pray that it brings you love, peace, and contentment. See you in 2017!
Much love!
Lyn