Vietnam
May 10 – August 7, 2017
At a cafe playing games to help evaluate a team-building event organized by one of our new friends Victor, an entrepreneur from the States but of Vietnamese descent. Definitely starting to feel more settled in here……..
These railing-less bridges into people’s gardens were everywhere on the island, and people would ride bikes and scooters over them! I was amazed at first, but then considering the traffic the scooters and bikes are able to navigate in the city, it made sense.
John and I took bikes around a small island in the Delta. It was so neat seeing the small huts and gardens, and wonderful having quiet paths with no scooters in sight.
The women rowers looked so elegant in their matching purple tops, and their balance and strength amazed me.
In a row boat (sampan) to navigate the shallower waters on our way to lunch.
The Cai Be floating market. We arrived too late in the morning to see its busyness, but it was neat seeing the boats and the people who live and sell in them.
Our Mekong Delta boat tour! We were with Spanish, Swiss, and Vietnamese tourists. It was a wonderful day.
On the two-hour drive to our Mekong Delta tour. Our driver stopped to see if we wanted to buy snakes or rats from these young boys to eat later.
District 7, Koreatown. Such cute (and quiet) streets, stationary stores and cafes.
The War Remnants Museum. A mix of horrifying, heartbreaking, and then heartwarming to see how much has been forgiven and repaired, in the country and between people, since then.
One of our favourite parts of town, Turtle Lake, and one of its many cafes.
The river at dusk. It was really nice sitting at a cafe overlooking it.
Walking along one of the rivers in town. It was really nice to have the walking path and flowers, and we did see some people using the exercise equipment.
I love the common use of hammocks, and the many places people find to put them.
Walking around town at night, looking for dinner. It wasn’t the most walkable area, with scooters often coming uncomfortably close on either side. This is quite common though. We rarely see people walking.
Walking into town not far from our apartment. The volume of goods carried on scooters or pushed by hand never fails to amaze me.
Sunny view from a mall foodcourt.
Fellow painting an alley beneath Pasteur Street Brewery Co.
Night activities along the river.
The Factory art gallery and coworking place near our apartment in the expat neighborhood.
Turtle Lake, downtown Saigon.
Rainy day in a restaurant along the river.
Sarah made fast friends with the restaurant owner who shared durian with us.
Empty Saigon lot.
Fellow resting in a hammock in his bus.
Child waiting for his family to pick up food.
Typical Saigon rush hour.
Chilling at the river cafe.
Typical cafe, with typical cigarettes and lighter.
On the 65th floor of the Lotte Observation Deck Sky Walk, the first sky walk built in SE Asia………definitely a little nervous.
Another cute neighbourhood along West Lake.
Fishing in West Lake, the largest lake in Hanoi and around which we’ve learned most of the expats choose to stay. There are many neat stores and cafes.
The colourful neighbourhood near our second AirBnB.
We stumbled across this B-52 war monument blocks from our AirBnB, in the middle of a residential neighbourhood. John was in heaven.
Our second AirBnB, run by Quirien and Resy from the Netherlands. It almost feels like we’re sleeping outdoors, and the breeze is wonderful in the heat.
The Temple of Literature, where many parts date back to 1070. It was surreal to think about, especially being used to young Canada.
Enjoying another roadside restaurant. We order best when the menu has photos or we can just point at what we want, like we could here. For $2.50, it was a delicious, filling meal.
Exploring more small roads and off-the-beaten-path neighbourhoods.
Hoan Kiem Lake, with the Turtle Tower in the centre.
So many colourful and animated streets.
One of many cute cafes we have spent afternoons in, reading and drinking Vietnamese coffee and smoothies.
A residential area we stumbled across by going down tiny alleys.
Roadside haircut. I see these a lot, but am not brave enough to try one………
Exploring the Old Quarter. So many neat gift shops and cafes.
Another great view. Mrs. Tin, our host, swims in the public pool several days per week.
City view from our 19th floor AirBnB with Mrs. Tin. This view from our bedroom made staying home sick much more bearable.
Enjoying a drink near the lobby of our high rise during a tropical downpour.
Construction workers. The lower one is welding without fall protection, the other is smoking while watching, also not tied in.
Vehicles and pedestrians must cross this flooded road to get to our building complex.
Typical scooter load.
A scooter “parkade”. The fellow is collecting parking fees.
Scooter traffic around Turtle Lake in downtown Ho Chi Minh.
Metro construction in our district, District 2. New high rises visible in background.
View from our window. Lots of scooters and construction. The metro construction is visible in the foreground.
The cats are warming up to us……..
So good seeing Nicole for longer than one day over Christmas.
My friend’s apartment in District 2 of Ho Chi Minh, where we will be for most of our stay to look after their cats while they travel. It’s a wonderful trade.
Examples of traps used by the Viet Cong during the war. It was a lot to take in.
Entering the 100m section of the Cu Chi Tunnels available to our tour. It’s impossible to imagine what life was like for those during the war. We had to crouch, or even scoot on our backs, to make it through, and we learned that some fighters would stay in these for weeks to months at a time.
Along with the national flag, the Communist Party of Vietnam hammer and sickle flag is commonly seen too.
Part of downtown Ho Chi Minh. It feels very clean here.
The children seem much more comfortable than me on the bikes. The government has enforced helmet-wearing to help with the high traffic mortality rate, but I haven’t yet seen a child wearing a helmet.
The lovely woman who ran our An Thoi hotel, who invited us to eat with her family on our last day.
Walking around An Thoi. We loved going for walks and exploring the small alleys and exotic produce stalls.
Ho Chi Minh City, known as the land of scooters. There is no subway or skytrain and cars are very expensive.
Children playing in An Thoi, the harbour town in Phu Quoc where we continued to stay for a week after the resort.
It was a very relaxing two days.
Dinner with Katherine, a great high school friend now visiting from the UK. We found a stall just outside the resort to save some money, and the soup was delicious, as has been all our food in Vietnam so far.
The fanciest breakfast buffet I’ve ever had, and included with my friend’s Marriott points. It was our breakfast and lunch combined each day!
The French Colonial-style resort. Not fully opened yet, it often felt eerily empty and quiet.
JW Marriott Resort, Phu Quoc, where we stayed (for free) for two nights with a high school friend of mine. A shock from our usual travel style……..
Shack in An Thoi.
An Thoi harbour. The concrete structure is for an 8km long cable car installation to be completed next year to help attract tourists.
Sarah walking down a path by the harbour in An Thoi.
View from our hotel in Phu Quoc, Vietnam (island town of An Thoi).