Destination: Vietnam

See Ya Vietnam...OR "Photo You Buy!"

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 | By hannahandemma | Views [941] | Comments [3]

In one of the easiest decisions we've ever made, we have decided to change our flight plans and head out to Laos a couple of days early. I don't mean to be too hard on poor Hanoi, but it just really isn't our scene. Ha Long Bay was pretty cool however ... Read more >

Tags: backpackers, ha long bay, hanoi, vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and the Mekong Delta

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 | By alistair | Views [1004]

Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon as it is still referred to locally is a sprawling city of some 8 million people (and apparently 6 million motorcycles). It’s hard to say where the city starts or ends as the roads in this part of the world are inevitably lined ... Read more >

Tags: ho chi minh city, saigon

You Think You Know But You Have No Idea... OR Getting Pinched By Old Ladies

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 | By hannahandemma | Views [954] | Comments [2]

After a brief but fun 48 hour stop-over in S. Korea (where we went to a coffee shop and had our feet nibbled by fish - Weeds-style), we are finally in the 'Nam. Despite all of Hannah's extensive research (the woman takes OCD to a whole new "As ... Read more >

Tags: culture shock, hanoi, south korea, vietnam

Hoi An, Nha Trang & Saigon (HCMC)

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 | By stackattack | Views [480]

So before I delve into more storytelling I forgot to mention one thing in Hanoi - I was at a cafe having breakfast and this random Vietnamese man was taking photos of me and wouldn't stop! I tried to ask what he was doing and all he said was that he ... Read more >

Hanoi & Hue

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 | By stackattack | Views [444] | Comments [1]

Hanoi just got more and more chaotic! The next day we went to Halong Bay which is about 3 hours north of Hanoi. The weather wasn't the greatest but we sailed on a 'junk' boat all day inbetween limestone rocks and walked through caves. On the way home ... Read more >

Travelling in Cambodia the country of genocide and temples.

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 | By treefrog | Views [3610] | Comments [1]

I know Cambodia is not at the top of everybody’s sightseeing list but I think it is an absolute must see. We took the bus from Saigon to Phnom Phen, a very dirty and bumpy 6-hour drive. We quickly learnt that toilets are nearly non-existent ... Read more >

Tags: angkor wat, cambodia, janline smalman, phnom pehn, siam reap, sianoukville, travel

Gallery: Vietnamese Food!!

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 | By treefrog | Photo Gallery

My Vietnamese food experience

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 | By treefrog | Views [4125] | Comments [3]

You can’t help but fall in love with Vietnamese cooking or drinks.   Its hot most of the time, well it only cools off a bit during rainy season and only for the hour or two that it’s raining.   I fell in love with Vietnamese ... Read more >

Tags: food, janaline smalman, saigon, travel, vietnam

Vietnam Medical Trek - mission accomplished!

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 | By scholarships | Views [4461] | Comments [2]

Maranatha Hay, winner of our Travel Documentary Scholarship has just returned from the lush Mai Chau Valley in North Vietnam. Maranatha trekked deep into the valley with a group of Doctors to set up health clinics to offer vital medical services to the ... Read more >

City of Motorbikes

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 | By miss_b | Views [452]

So it only took 24 hours to get from Chch to Vietnam! Delayed 5 hours in Auckland due to thunder storms, and missed my connecting flight in Singapore. But I made it. Ho Chi Minh/Saigon is absolutely crazy. There are motorbikes EVERYWHERE. Had 2 days ... Read more >

Goodbye and Good evening, Vietnam

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 | By maranathahay | Views [926]

August 31st, 2009 This place is breathtaking. Craggy rocks covered in green jut out of jet blue waters.  Today we swam in salt water that was so warm, it was like a bathtub. Throughout the day, we hiked through a cave, kayaked, and ate a lot of seafood.... Read more >

Tags: cave, good bye, halong bay, health insurance, japan, kayak, los angeles, narita, seafood

Crash and Burn

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 | By maranathahay | Views [749]

August 30th, 2009 Today we leave for Bao La and my mentorship behind as we press on to our luxury boat “Jewel of the Bay”. Trent won’t be joining us because his ticket says he needs to go home. I’ve learned a lot about Australians and Australian pop ... Read more >

Tags: agent orange, augie march, australians, bao la, crash and burn, documentary, film making, jewel of the bay, mentorship, peace village

Agent Orange

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 | By maranathahay | Views [747]

August 29th, 2009  We’re leaving the clinic tomorrow for a pleasure cruise on Halong Bay, so I need to find my story today . I started out by following various families go through the clinic experience. Trent thought the story would be more powerful ... Read more >

Tags: agent orange, genetic mutation, motorcycle, story, vietnam war

Hanoi(ed)

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 | By ryanandjo | Views [2484] | Comments [3]

The train system is recommended for travel between destinations in Vietnam, with the reunification express connecting HCMC to Hanoi. Having done so many bus journeys recently we decided that we would mix it up and pay the little extra for the train ... Read more >

Tags: cat ba island, halong bay, hanoi, lao cai

Don't let the bed bugs Bite

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 | By maranathahay | Views [3354]

August 28th, 2009 So, about that bad karma.  Today I’ve been up since 3:00 and it wasn’t due to the usual suspects. (Those being roosters, cicadas, and people using the bathroom.)  At three I woke up because I heard the crinkling of candy wrappers ... Read more >

Tags: 3:00 am, bad karma, bed bugs, beetle, candy wrapper, grapes of wrath, mosquito net