Destination: Vietnam

Rain, floods and a Giant.

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 | By supertopoz | Views [684] | Comments [3]

It did not stop raining since I came to Hanoi, not to worry though there are different kinds of rain. Mostly it ranges from heavy rain to torrential rain, heavy rain seems okay.  But after 5 hours of torrential rain yesterday, things took a turn ... Read more >

Cuc Phuong National Park

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 | By seesea | Views [1780]

It rained hard in Hanoi on Thursday night so we weren’t surprised – disappointed but not surprised – when it was raining this morning.   We packed some essentials in our day packs and a laundry bag and left our luggage at Lucky 2.   Kxuyen, our guide, ... Read more >

Hanoi Museums

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 | By seesea | Views [3808]

We are running short of places to visit in Hanoi.   This morning we walked to the French Quarter to the Vietnam History Museum.   Vietnam’s history goes back 30,000 years and they have the now familiar Stone Age relics to prove it.   We followed ... Read more >

Back to Hanoi & on to Sapa

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 | By kim_gilmour | Views [609] | Comments [2]

Hi everyone! This will most probably be my last posting until we return home. We arrived back in Hanoi last night from Siem Reap and we take an overnight train up to Sapa in the mountains tonight. We are taking it easy today in Hanoi as we both are exhausted ... Read more >

Gallery: 7 Weeks in Saigon and All I Got Was Goddamn Dengue Fever!

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 | By willpeach | Photo Gallery

Trekking Around Sapa

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 | By seesea | Views [1863]

Hiking is the main activity around Sapa.  Weather in the mountains can be uncertain, but not on Monday.   It was certainly raining and foggy.   And the trails were certain to be muddy and slippery.   No doubt about it.   So we put on our rain gear ... Read more >

Gallery: Sapa 2

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 | By houdyman | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Sapa

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 | By houdyman | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Halong Bay 2

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 | By houdyman | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Halong Bay 1

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 | By houdyman | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Hanoi

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 | By houdyman | Photo Gallery

Our own entourage

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 | By houdyman | Views [846]

Took the night train from Hanoi and arrived into Lao Cai, about 1.5 hours away from Sapa the final destination for a overnight trek and homestay. After a cramped minibus ride to Sapa we arrived at the hotel handling our tour and were met by 20 local ... Read more >

Seventh Wonder of the world?

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 | By houdyman | Views [885]

After a cramped minibus ride to Halong Bay we boarded our junk boat for lunch. Halong means descending dragon and legend has it dragons came to fight the devils who were going to attack the villagers. The locals also believe dragons never left and help ... Read more >

Hanoi is hopping...

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 | By houdyman | Views [698]

I toured Hanoi for the day including visiting the infamous Hao Lo prison otherwise known as Hanoi Hilton. This is where American POWs were held during the Vietnam war including John McCain. It was a quick tour and the prison actually has more interesting ... Read more >

Bac Ha Market

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 | By seesea | Views [1728]

Saturday night’s ten-hour, 340 km train ride from Hanoi to Lao Cai was hardly the Orient Express but it is the most convenient way to reach Sapa and Vietnam’s hill people.   We shared a sleeper coach with a couple of like-minded travelers from Christchurch, ... Read more >