Destination: Vietnam

Gallery: Messy Weekend

Thu, 2 Aug 2007 | By ktphelan1980 | Photo Gallery

Personal Space A Non-Concept in Asia

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 | By laurelmarshall | Views [16271]

One of the characteristics of America, that we've come to really miss over the past months in Asia, is having our personal space, and others respect the concept of personal space.  People in general here do not share the same priority that we place ... Read more >

Tags: Culture

Two Days on a Junk

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 | By laurelmarshall | Views [1669]

With our time limited to only a week now in Hanoi, we decide to forego the train and biking adventure up to Sapa, that would literally take us more time in travel time than actual adventure biking time.   Instead, we spend a couple of days on the ... Read more >

Tags: Adventures

Someone Please Silence the Kem Man

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 | By laurelmarshall | Views [1275]

Hanoi is full of sounds, the streets are humming at a very early hour of the morning.  Communist propaganda blares from the megaphones strapped atop telephone poles.  It starts with singing and changing at 6:00 a.m.  The megaphone is prominently ... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing

Same Same but.....Different: Vietnam

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 | By rjallen | Views [3324]

Same Same But Different... It's perhaps the official slogan of Vietnam.... And Cambodia for that matter.  Simply the phrase refers to the sameness of everything. You might have one street where every vender sells backpacks.  A whole street of backpacks ... Read more >

Tags: Adventures

Gallery: Vietnam

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 | By katiedoestheworld | Photo Gallery

Hanoi: Capital of Copy Cat Scams

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 | By laurelmarshall | Views [5037] | Comments [1]

Countries in Asia are known for their cheap mass production of fake goods.  We see it all around us:  shops lining the streets and market stalls with copy CD's, DVD's, and latest software prominently displayed.  Western brand name goods, logos purposefully ... Read more >

Tags: Scams & Robberies

Gallery: around na trang

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 | By lissaur | Photo Gallery

Land 'O Beers

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 | By laurelmarshall | Views [1027]

One aspect of Vietnam that was a pleasant surprise (especially for Darrin) is that beer ("bia" in Vietnamese) is plentiful and cheap throughout the country! The bottled varieties (like Saigon) were a decent deal at $0.50 to $0.70 cents ... Read more >

Tags: Party time

Gallery: Halong Bay

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 | By jamie_candice | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Hue

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 | By jamie_candice | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Hoi An

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 | By jamie_candice | Photo Gallery

Pig Disease: Do I Need a Doctor?

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 | By laurelmarshall | Views [1241]

We began hearing from some restaurants around Hoi An, that "pig is finished."  We were told it was "bad"... "pig is sick, like chickens used to be," they tell us.  We wondered, however, why some restaurants still serve pork ... Read more >

Tags: Doctors, hospitals & health

Hotel Receptionist Cum Personal Groomer

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 | By laurelmarshall | Views [1909]

The Asian fascination with our hairy western bodies continues to amuse us.  It's not just here in Vietnam, we've experienced it Laos on the local boat, the man rubbing Darrin's hairy leg, then exposing his smooth sleek leg to draw the comparison. Children ... Read more >

Tags: Laughter

Swimming with the Locals

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 | By laurelmarshall | Views [954]

Our travels take us on board a motorbike that Darrin has hired for half day and we carefully make our way to the beach of Cu Dai, where we kick it under umbrellas in beach chairs sipping down beers and fruit smoothies.  The beach extends all the way north ... Read more >

Tags: Culture