20 Countries 2020: Vietnam – My Travel Notions

The Vietnam War began a year before I was born in 1955, but the U.S. did not get involved until 1965 and the war did not come to an end until 1975. This was my limited knowledge and understanding of Vietnam.

Hanoi & Halong Bay

By the time we arrived at our hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Thursday, it was already late in the afternoon with sunset fast approaching. But it didn’t take long to figure out how stunningly vibrant this city is. I’m hoping to have a little time to explore on Saturday when we return from our Halong Bay boat cruise just to feel what it’s like to be in the midst of this vibrancy.

For now, here’s a taste of Friday morning Hanoi along with our journey to Halong Bay and the surprise of the Surprise Cave. I’m in Vietnam for the next eight days, the 7th country of my #20countries2020 with #intrepidtravel. Good morning and good day in Vietnam!

Me inside the Surprise Cave at Halong Bay in Vietnam. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Arriving in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Feb. 20, 2020)

Friday morning rush hour in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Like Laos, Vietnam is a communist country. But unlike Laos, communism is first where as in Laos, Buddhism is first. Although we only spent four hours driving to Halong Bay from Hanoi, there were already more patriotic communistic posters, along with this monument, here in Vietnam than I ever saw in Laos. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Our very comfortable private bus for our four hour drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay in Vietnam. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Our guide,Phuong (Fun) Le, explaining how the Vietnamese language, depending on one of six different tones, can make one word have several meanings. This on word Ma, depending on the tone or accent you use, can mean goat, mother, horse, cemetery or young rice. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Since property taxes are based on the width and generations of families living together houses are built up vertically in Vietnam. (Feb. 21, 2020)

These rice paddies are in neighborhoods between clusters of two and three story homes and businesses on our bus ride from Hanoi to Halong Bay. (Feb. 21, 2020)

We stopped at this pottery studio in Dong Trieu, Vietnam, a village where traditional pottery is made,on our way to take our boat cruise to Halong Bay. The white clay used to create the pottery is endemic of this province or area and the women free hand paint the designs. (Feb. 21, 2020)

The ceramic shop portion of the pottery studio in Dong Trieu, Vietnam, a village where traditional pottery is made. We stopped there on our way to take our boat cruise to Halong Bay. (Feb. 21, 2020)

A close-up of one of the plate designs in the ceramic shop portion of the pottery studio in Dong Trieu, Vietnam, a village where traditional pottery is made. We stopped there on our way to take our boat cruise to Halong Bay. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Tombs or the homes of the dead are usually buried on family property in Vietnam. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Farmland of a village in Vietnam. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Rice paddies in Vietnam. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Businesses and homes close to the rail road tracks running thru a village on our bus ride from Hanoi to Halong Bay in Vietnam. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Our group, with just our overnight bags, on our brief tether ride from the Tuan Chau International Marina Terminal to board our boat to cruise along Halong Bay in Vietnam. From left: Mark, Martha, Carol, Ian and Isabel. (Feb. 21, 2020)

On the top open deck of our private boat as we leave the Tuan Chau International Marina Terminal to start our cruise along Halong Bay in Vietnam. (Feb. 21, 2020)

No single room tonight onboard out boat cruise along Halong Bay. Carol, a single member on my Vietnam tour, and I shared this comfortable twin bed cabin with wall to wall windows of the protruding limestone islands of Halong Bay surrounding us. The cabin, with our own private facilities, also had air conditioning. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Lunch on our boat while parked along the cliffs that jet out along Halong Bay in Vietnam. The food was fried pieces of pork, cabbage, rice, fried fish fillet and my favorite spring rolls and I even had two glasses of Syrah wine and was able to walk up the stair and the stairs of the beautiful Surprise Cave, yet to come, but something did not sit well with me and I ended up having a bad case of diarrhea. It might not have had anything to do with the food, since I was the only one affected, but luckily, other than wiping out my system, I wasn’t nauseous or throwing up. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Halong Bay is dotted with sandy coves, grottoes and 1,600 limestone islands formed over millennia by wind and water erosion. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Back on the tether, from our boat parked along Halong Bay, to the Surprise Cave. (Feb. 21, 2020)

View of the Halong Bay in Vietnam from outside the first cave of the Surprise Cave. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Me with a view of the Halong Bay in Vietnam from outside the first cave of the Surprise Cave. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Inside the vastness of the Surprise Cave at Halong Bay in Vietnam. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Halong Bay outside the Surprise Cave area in Vietnam. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Me on our boat anchored for the night at Halong Bay in Vietnam. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Our decorative dinner on our boat anchored for the night at Halong Bay in Vietnam. My stomach wasn’t ready for a big meal but this was a decorative meal with flowers made from vegetables. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Goodnight for now from Halong Bay in Vietnam. (Feb. 21, 2020)

Back to Hanoi

From a boat cruise along Halong Bay to the hustle of Hanoi and then boarding an overnight sleeper train to Hue, my Saturday in Vietnam was a full on contrast of adventures.

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, began as a small settlement along the banks of the Red River. It was founded as Thăng Long, the capital of Imperial Vietnam, in 1010 celebrating its 1010 in 2020. Thăng Long was renamed to its current name of Hanoi in 1831. In 1873, Hanoi was conquered by the French, and from 1883 to 1945, the city was the administrative center of French Indochina.

So here are more snippets of Halong Bay, Hanoi and my overnight train ride from Hanoi to Hue in Vietnam on my #20countries2020journey with #intrepidtravel.

Our Saturday morning views of Halong Bay as we made our way back to the Tuan Chau International Marina Terminal to board our mini van back to Hanoi before boarding our overnight train to Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 22, 2020)

Saturday morning views of Halong Bay, a UNESCO listed World Heritage. Halong Bay means “Bay of the Descending Dragon.” (Feb. 22, 2020)

Saturday morning views of Halong Bay in Vietnam. (Feb. 22, 2020)

For lunch we stopped at the Production Workshop for Disabled People or Hong Ngoc Shopping Center in Chi Linh on our way back to Hanoi from Halong Bay. It really is an incredible space of talented disabled craft persons. Although it was a food stop, it was also a buying opportunity for truly gorgeous pieces of art from sculptures to stunning silk thread paintings. (Feb. 22, 2020)

Artists working on stunning silk thread paintings…yes, using silk thread, not paint to create everything from portraits to beautiful landscapes at the Production Workshop for Disabled People also called the Hong Ngoc Shopping Center in the town of Chi Linh on our way from Halong Bay back to Hanoi, Vietnam. The framed pieces on the back walls are silk thread paintings. (Feb. 22, 2020)

I was taken by the artistry of these silk thread painters at the Production Workshop for Disabled People also called the Hong Ngoc Shopping Center in the town of Chi Linh on our way from Halong Bay back to Hanoi, Vietnam. The center’s artists also produce lacquered plates and vases, silk scarfs and more. (Feb. 22, 2020)

A close-up of one of the silk thread painted pieces at the Production Workshop for Disabled People also called the Hong Ngoc Shopping Center in the town of Chi Linh on our way from Halong Bay back to Hanoi, Vietnam. (Feb. 22, 2020)

A close-up of just one more of the silk thread painted pieces at the Production Workshop for Disabled People also called the Hong Ngoc Shopping Center in the town of Chi Linh on our way from Halong Bay back to Hanoi, Vietnam. (Feb. 22, 2020)

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, began as a small settlement along the banks of the Red River. It was founded as Thăng Long, the capital of Imperial Vietnam, in 1010 celebrating its 1010 in 2020. Thăng Long was renamed to its current name of Hanoi in 1831. In 1873, Hanoi was conquered by the French, and from 1883 to 1945, the city was the administrative center of French Indochina. (Feb. 22, 2020)

Street life in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Feb. 22, 2020)

The entrance to the Chua Cau Dong, Buddhist temple along a busy street in Hanoi, Vietnam, on the way to the Old Quarter. (Feb. 22, 2020)

Inside the inner courtyard of the Chua Cau Dong, Buddhist temple along a busy street in Hanoi, Vietnam, on the way to the Old Quarter. (Feb. 22, 2020

The altar inside the Chua Cau Dong, Buddhist temple along a busy street in Hanoi, Vietnam, on the way to the Old Quarter. (Feb. 22, 2020)

Views of the Old Quarter in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Feb. 22, 2020)

Our Vietnam tour group heading to our overnight train at the Hanoi Railway Station for our 14-hour train ride to Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 22, 2020)

I look all bright eyed and ready to go but I spent the day feeling slightly sluggish and drained from my little bout of diarrhea. Not sure what it was but whatever it was it passed rather quickly thru my system and although I was slightly tired and ready to rest on our overnight train to Hue from Hanoi, Vietnam, I at least felt so much better. (Feb. 22, 2020)

I was expecting our train cabin would be similar to what we had in Thailand where the seats convert into private sleeping bunks. But the Vietnam version was this, a sleeper compartment for four people. From left: Carol, Sunny, Steve and me. (Feb. 22, 2020)

Hue

I’ve never liked motorbikes of any kind but on Monday I rode on the back of one with a wonderfully skilled driver in a city where motorbikes dominate and truly had an incredible time as we meandered our way through Hue, Vietnam.

Check out my motorbike tour Hue sights during stops on my #20countries2020 tours with #intrepidtravel. Next stop is Hoi An, Vietnam.

This is how I spent my day on Monday, on the back of this motorbike with TonTon, having a great time tooling around Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Our group of motorbike drivers waiting for us outside of our hotel Hue, Vietnam, ready to whisk us off to a variety of sites along the city. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Our Intrepid Travel leader and guide, Fun, gave us several options for holding on to our driver or to the bike during our motorbike tour of Hue, Vietnam. You can hold on to the driver by his waist or shoulder or to the back holding onto the back grip. I chose my driver’s waist. Turning our heads while checking out sites was okay, but turning out bodies was not. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Fun, our Intrepid Travel leader and guide, on her own motorbike, with other group travelers ahead wearing the blue helmets during our motorbike ride through Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

On the motorbikes we got to travel through the smaller back roads through the rice fields and even the back streets of neighborhoods in Hue. (Feb. 24, 2020)

We made a quick stop at a duck farm during our motorbike ride through Hue. (Feb. 24, 2020)

We stopped to take in one of the oldest bridges in Hue, the Thanh Toan covered bridge built out of wood with a roofed tile over a small ditch in the Thanh Thuy village in 1776. Across the bridge is the Thanh Thuy villagers local shopping market. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Inside the Thanh Toan covered bridge built out of wood with a roofed tile over a small ditch in the Thanh Thuy village in 1776 of Hue, Vietnam. Across the bridge is the Thanh Thuy villagers local shopping market. (Feb. 24, 2020)

A shrine inside the Thanh Toan covered bridge built out of wood with a roofed tile over a small ditch in the Thanh Thuy village in 1776 of Hue, Vietnam. Across the bridge is the Thanh Thuy villagers local shopping market. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Me at the Thanh Toan covered bridge in Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Me at the entrance of the Thanh Toan covered bridge built in Hue, Vietnam, in 1776. (Feb. 24, 2020)

A close-up to the entrance of the Thanh Toan covered bridge built in Hue, Vietnam, in 1776. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Another view of the Thanh Toan covered bridge built in Hue, Vietnam, in 1776. (Feb. 24, 2020)

The Thanh Thuy village market across from the Thanh Toan 18th century wooden bridge where villagers shop at this local market for their fresh meats, fish, fruits and vegetables in Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Breezing through the pathways between the farmlands and neighborhoods in Hue, Vietnam, on our motorbikes. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Getting in a quick selfie at one of the few stop lights at a Hue, Vietnam, intersection. My group are the blue and white helmet wearers like myself. (Feb. 24, 2020)

This is the Pagoda of the Celestial Lady, at the active Buddhist monastery of Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, Vietnam. Built in 1601, this iconic seven-story pagoda is regarded as the unofficial symbol of the city. (Feb. 24, 2020)

The colorful guardians of the gate at the active Buddhist monastery of Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

A close-up of one of the guardians of the gate at the active Buddhist monastery of Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Altar inside the active Buddhist monastery of Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

The Buddhist monastery of Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Thien Mu Pagoda garden area in Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Thich Quang Duc, a Buddhist monk, drove this vehicle to a Saigon intersection on June 11, 1963, got out of the car, sat down in the street and set himself on fire. His death was in protest against the Diem regime’s policies of discriminating against Buddhists and violating religious freedom. The monk’s vehicle is parked at the Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, Vietnam. Thank you Sofia, one of my tour mates for the photo. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Thich Quang Duc, the monk who set himself on fire in 1963 Saigon to protest against the Diem regime’s discriminating policies of the Buddhist faith. His actions along with a series of Buddhist monks who set themselves on fire brought the plight of Buddhists to the attention of the international community. This is a public domain photo I found online. It is
one of a series of photos taken by then Associated Press Saigon correspondent Malcom Browne.

A quick stop at a small village incense shop in Hue specializing in making incense. This young woman demonstrated how to rub the incense onto the colorful sticks. (Feb. 24, 2020)

The colorful incense sticks used to make a variety of wonderful smelling incense at a shop along the road in Hue. Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

A woman making the traditional symbol of Vietnam, the conical or cone hat called the Non La, used to protect one’s head during sun or ran or as a basket for vegetables to use when shopping at the market, or even as a bowl to relieve thirst when passing by a well. They are made with several layers of bamboo leaves. (Feb. 24, 2020)

A close-up if a woman making the traditional cone hat of Vietnam from layers of bamboo leaves at the Non La at the incense shop in Hue. (Feb. 24, 2020)

The Non La at the incense shop in Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Last on our motorbike stops of the day was this lakeside royal tomb complex of Emperor Tu Duc in Hue, Vietnam. Built by the emperor in 1867, Tu Duc lived a life of imperial luxury and carnal excess, with 104 wives and countless concubines (though no offspring). And, he is not even buried at this burial tomb. In fact, no one is sure where he and his supposed treasures are buried. (Feb. 24, 2020)

The expansive area of the lakeside royal tomb complex of Emperor Tu Duc in Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

The royal burial tomb of Emperor Tu Duc built by the emperor himself in 1867 in Hue, Vietnam. But he may not even be buried at this burial tomb. In fact, no one is sure where he and his supposed treasures are buried. (Feb. 24, 2020)

The royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc in Hue, Vietnam, with statues of dignified civil and military officers. (Feb. 24, 2020)

The statues of dignified civil and military officers at the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc in Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

A close-up of the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc in Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

A close-up inside the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc in Hue, Vietnam. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Heading back to our hotel, the Gold Hotel in Hue, Vietnam, after a morning and early afternoon motorbike ride through the city. (Feb. 24, 2020)

I was skeptical about riding on the back of a motorcycle, but this man, TonTon, who did not speak English, took very good care of me and I enjoyed the experience of getting around Hue the way the locals do. (Feb. 24, 2020)

Hoi An

I’ve fallen in love with the beautiful yellow warned French Colonial buildings and lantern endowed city of Hoi An, Vietnam. Yes, it’s very touristy but it’s also very warm, in a feelings kind of way yet hot in a temperature kind of way and rather charming. Recently declared a World Heritage site, Hoi An was a major international trading port during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

Today, parts of the beautifully preserved town retain the feel of centuries past. It’s also a shopping mecca, famous for its plethora of restaurants, novelty shops and tailors. That’s right, tailors abound here Hoi An.

Next stop, Ho Chi Minh City formerly known as Saigon in Vietnam. For now join me on a food tour and a snapshot of Hoi An in Vietnam, the 7th country of my #20countries2020 tour with #intrepidtravel.

Me standing in front of the second gate entrance to the Quan Cong Temple built in 1653 in partnership with Chinese immigrants and the local Vietnamese. It was dedicated to Quan Cong, a prominent mandarin of the Han Dynasty, who lived in the time of “Three Warring Kingdoms” (3rd century AD). “He was a talented and virtuous general, a symbol of courage, loyalty, piety moderation and righteousness in the feudal time of China. Though restored many times in (1753, 1783, 1827,1864, 1904 and 1966), the temple’s original structure has been kept almost the same,” according to Hoi An Tourism. (Feb. 25, 2020)

The elaborate second gate entrance to the Quan Cong Temple in Hoi An, Vietnam. (Feb. 25, 2020)

A close-up of the elaborate second gate entrance to the Quan Cong Temple in Hoi An, Vietnam. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Front entrance to the Quan Cong Temple in Hoi An, Vietnam. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Inside the Quan Cong Temple in Hoi An, Vietnam. (Feb. 25, 2020)

The altar inside the Quan Cong Temple in Hoi An, Vietnam, decorated with statues, flowers and fruit. (Feb. 25, 2020)

The decorated inner courtyard of the Quan Cong Temple in Hoi An, Vietnam, with the large spiral incense hanging from the exterior, have yellow prayer cards attached . This temple, typical of ancient architectural constructions, was built by the Minh Huong people (Chinese immigrants) together with Vietnamese people. (Feb. 25, 2020)

A collection of beautiful lanterns hanging from a shop in the Old Quarter of Hoi An, Vietnam, should be dubbed “Lantern City.” It is quite the tourist draw of Vietnam but is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Feb. 25, 2020)

The lanterns decorating the streets in the Old Quarter of Hoi An in Vietnam. (Feb. 25, 2020)

These wheelchair-looking bikes lined up against he street in the Old Quarter of Hoi An in Vietnam are cycle rickshaws that provide short distance transportation around the Old Quarter. These local modes of transportation are human powered cycle rickshaws for hire. A type of tricycle designed to carry passengers in addition to the driver. Oddly enough these are known by a variety of names including pedicab, bikecab, cyclo, or trishaw. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Walking thru the Old Quarter of Hoi An in Vietnam. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Personal tailor shops like this one in the Old Quarter are literally all over Hoi An in Vietnam. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Remnants of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year 2020 in Hoi An, Vietnam, that officially took place from January 25th to January 27th. (Feb. 25, 2020)

The entrance to the Japanese Covered Bridge is considered to be one of the famous tourist attractions in Hoi An, Vietnam. First constructed in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link it with the Chinese quarters, the bridge over the centuries has remained relatively faithful to the original Japanese design. (Feb. 26, 2020)

This Japanese Covered Bridge in the Old Quarter of Hoi An in Vietnam reflects reflects a fusion of indigenous and foreign cultures (principally Chinese and Japanese with later European influences) that combined to produce this well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century and why it Hoi An’s Old Quarter is a UNESCO Heritage site. (Feb. 25, 2020)

The Japanese Covered Bridge in the Old Quarter of Hoi An in Vietnam. (Feb. 26, 2020)

The walking, motorbike and bicycle Hoi An bridge from the Old Town to Hoi An’s Riverside on the banks of Thu Bon River, that flows into the East China Sea. (Feb. 26, 2020)

The lantern boats resting during the day along Hoi An’s Riverside on the banks of the Thu Bon River looking onto the Old Quarter. (Feb. 26, 2020)

A sculpture along Hoi An’s Riverside on the banks of the Thu Bon River looking onto the Old Quarter. (Feb. 26, 2020)

The Riverside bars and restaurants along Back Dang street across the river linked by a walking bridge to Hoi An’s Old Quarter in Vietnam. (Feb. 26, 2020)

The Hoi An bridge from the Bach Dang street on the Riverside looking into the Old Quarter. (Feb. 26, 2020)

Most of my Intrepid Travel group members and I decided to take the optional food walking tour offered by Urban Adventures, the day tour company under the Intrepid Travel umbrella. Our first stop was this rather busy sandwich place that featured by the late chef Anthony Bourdain on his ‘No Reservations.’ The sandwich and the shop both carry the same name, called Banh Mi Phuong. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Workers at Banh Mi Phuong preparing the sandwiches, by the same name, at the sandwich shop in Hoi An, the first stop of our Urban Adventures food walking tour. The sandwich, Vietnamese sandwich, a fusion of French and Vietnamese cuisine, consists of a fresh French baguette, pâté, meats, a special sauce and fresh herbs. (Feb. 25, 2020)

A basket full of Bánh Mì Phượng sandwiches at the place with the same name as the sandwich in Hoi An during an Urban Adventures food walking tour. There were three sandwiches to choose from, pork, chicken and egg. (Feb. 25, 2020)

My half of a very delicious pork Bánh Mì Phượng Vietnamese sandwich in Hoi An during an Urban Adventures food tour, was rather delicious. The sandwich, Vietnamese sandwich, a fusion of French and Vietnamese cuisine, consists of a fresh French baguette, pâté, meats, a special sauce and fresh herbs. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Pretty much most of my Intrepid Travel tour members took the Urban Adventures food walking tour in Hoi An, Vietnam. Here are are smacking down on our Bánh Mì Phượng sandwich at the place, with the same name as the sandwich and made famous by the late American chef Anthony Bourdain who visited the sandwich shop during the making of his food travel TV show ‘No Reservations’. In the show he declared their Bánh Mì to be the best sandwich he had ever eaten. It comes in a variety of versions including pork, chicken, eggs, tuna and other choices. But I went for the pork and it was delicious. (Feb. 25, 2020)

I just love the lanterns around Hoi An, Vietnam. As night falls the lanterns look even more beautiful. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Vendors selling fresh vegetables to bamboo hats just outside the Central Market in Hoi An. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Inside the Hoi An Central Market where different vendors provide the local Vietnamese foods like chicken rice, Quang noodles, white roses, fried wontons, the Vietnamese pancakes and other specialties. (Feb. 25, 2020)

I am literally sitting on an aluminum bench at the counter in front of the Mint Tu stall inside the Central Market in the Old Quarter of Hoi An in Vietnam. This stall has been operational for 50 years with two generations of mother and daughter operating it and serving a menu of local foods including what we’re about to have as a part of our 2nd Urban Adventures food tasting tour…the rice pancake. (Feb. 25, 2020)

The rice pancake at Mint Tu inside the Central Market in the Old Quarter of Hoi An, Vietnam. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Me sitting at the aluminum counter trying out the rice pancake at Mint Tu inside the Central Market in the Old Quarter of Hoi An, Vietnam. (Feb. 25, 2020)

The lanterns, hanging in shops and along the streets in the Old Quarter in Hoi An, get turned and sparkle at night. (Feb. 25, 2020)

The 3rd stop of our Urban Adventures food tour for the Hoi An White Rose and Wonton a rice paper dumpling at Vuon Hua. (Feb. 25, 2020)

The famous Hoi An White Rose, a rice paper dumpling with minced pork or shrimp; and a Wonton, more like a Mexican open Taco with a topping of tomatoes, pineapples and shrimp at Vuon Xua or Old Garden in Hoi An, Vietnam. (Feb. 25, 2020)

And, for the 4th stop on our Urban Adventures food tour, was an alleyway in Hoi An’s Old Quarter for the best chicken rice made at this street stall by Madam Lam. (Feb. 25, 2020)

My tour group digging into the chicken rice at Madam Lam’s food stall in an alleyway in Hoi An’s Old Quarter. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Madam Lam’s rather tasty chicken rice in Hoi An’s Old Quarter before I added soy sauce and spices that kicked it up a notch. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Walking through the lanterned-lit streets of the Old Quarter in Hoi An, Vietnam. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Inside our 5th and final Urban Adventures food walking tour was the Culantro restaurant with its beautiful entryway in Hoi An, Vietnam. That’s not my group pictured at the entryway but I loved it just the same. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Our final stop was for desert at the Culantro restaurant in the Old Quarter of Hoi An in Vietnam for a sticky rice dessert that you eat right out of the banana leaf. (Feb. 25, 2020)

The sticky rice desert inside the banana leaf at the Culantro restaurant in the Old Quarter of Hoi An in Vietnam had a piece of coconut in the center and tasted like thick jello. The coconut tasting crackers in the green package ended up being my favorite. (Feb. 25, 2020)

The Hoi An walking bridge across the Thu Bon River to the Riverside all lit up at Hoi An’s Old Quarter in Vietnam. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Our wonderfully located Thuy Duong 3 Hotel in Hoi An, Vietnam. Goodnight and goodbye to beautiful Hoi An. (Feb. 25, 2020)

Today was a free day in Hoi An and I most definitely took it easy. Got some writing in and walked around the Old City for a last time view of this beautiful place. I’m having lunch and getting some writing done at the restaurant next door to my hotel. Tomorrow, we take a plane ride back to Ho Chi Minh City. (Feb. 26, 2020)

Back in Ho Chi Minh City

Took a short morning flight on Vietnam Airlines back to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s capital city. Although the knowledge of the Coronavirus was in the air (a bad pun, I know) it had not become a travel concern. But that would change as I continued with my travels. After landing, we took a sightseeing bus tour around the city stopping in at the War Remnants Museum to discover some of the sobering stories to understand the context of the war with the USA, and its impact on Vietnam and its citizens. Vietnamese civilians, this remarkable, deeply moving museum is an essential visit.

The Da Nang International Airport for a hour and a half flight back to Ho Chi Minh City for a brief a sightseeing bus tour around the city and a stop at the War Remnants Museum. (Feb. 26, 2020)

American planes parked in the front entrance of the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. (Feb. 26, 2020)

The War Remnants Museum entrance in Ho Chi Minh City. The museum documents the many atrocities documented during the Vietnam War. (Feb. 26, 2020)

There are a number of displays regarding the atrocities of the war inside the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. This document, written by Ho Chi Minh, was announced in public on Sept. 2, 1945 and led to the independence of Vietnam. (Feb. 26, 2020)

There are several photo exhibits inside the War Remnant Museum documenting the atrocities of wars in Vietnam. (Feb. 26, 2020)

The iconic napalm bomb photograph, by Nick Ut, of children fleeing after their village was torched by a South Vietnamese Air Force Skyraider. Ut worked for the Associated Press and won a Pulitzer Prize for capturing the horror of the Vietnam War. (Feb. 26, 2020)

A photo of the Mỹ Lai Massacre, the murder of unarmed South Vietnamese civilians by U.S. troops in Sơn Tịnh District, South Vietnam, on March 16, 1968 at the War Remnant Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. Between 347 and 504 unarmed people were killed by U.S. Army soldiers. This photo was taken by U.S. Army photographer Ronald L. Haeberle on March 16, 1968, in the aftermath of the Mỹ Lai Massacre showing mostly women and children dead on a road. (Feb. 26, 2020)

View of Ho Chi Minh City. (Feb. 26, 2020)

Mekong Delta

A day on the Mekong Delta, about a two hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City, was how I spent my next to last day in Vietnam on Friday.

We took a private boat to the island of Ben Tre to visit the coconut gardens, take road ride in a small rowing boat called a sampan, take a tuk-tuk tour while learning about local life and how they make a living making coconut products from candy to brooms.

Me drinking the coconut water out of an actual coconut on our private board ride along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

My Intrepid Travel tour group boarding our private boat Friday morning to explore the Mekong Delta and the island of Ben Tre in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

My selfie Friday morning on board our private boat to the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Views along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

A stop at a a coconut farm on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam with a walk through this village and the tropical forest of trees. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Me at a coconut farm on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

A bridge from the trunk of a coconut tree on a coconut farm on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Our transportation of sampans, small rowing boats, with rowing guides for a canal ride on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

On our sampans, small rowing boats, for a canal ride on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. From top: our boat driver, Barbara, Tommy, Carol and me. Thanks Phuong, our wonderful Intrepid Travel leader whom we fondly called Fun, for the photo. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Wearing the traditional Vietnamese cone hats as helmets during our small row boat or sampon ride thru a canal ride past water coconut trees on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. My group selfie with Carol, Tommy, Barbara and our boat driver paddling us down the canal. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Coconut trees along the narrow village canals during our small row boat ride on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Coconut trees with mud soaked banks along the narrow village canals during our small row boat ride on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Views along the narrow village canals during our small row boat ride on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Came across this woman quite greet us during our small row boat ride through a village on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Approaching the bridge where our small row boat docked to enjoy a cold drink and a snack of rice paper coconut chips with sesame seeds on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Our small row boat let our group off at the dock of this village to enjoy a cold drink and a snack of rice paper coconut chips with sesame seeds on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

The place where we stopped to enjoy a cold drink and a snack of rice paper coconut chips with sesame seeds on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

The very tasty snack of rice paper coconut chips with sesame seeds that we enjoyed after our small boat ride and before our tuk-tuk ride on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Village woman making the rice paper coconut chips with sesame seeds on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

On our tuk-tuk ride around the coconut villages of Ben Tre island along the Mekong Delta to check out how the locals make a living creating coconut products like brooms and coconut fibre mats. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Village views of coconut trees and coconut farms on our ride on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

We stopped at this village, on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, to watch this woman make indoor and outdoor sweeping brooms out of coconut husks. These large brooms are outdoor sweeping brooms. (Feb. 28, 2020)

The large brooms made from the fibers in f the coconut husks on the coconut farming island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

A boat filled with coconuts along a low tide dock on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

A village store where coconut candies are made and sold on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

A local village woman making coconut candies are made and sold on the island of Ben Tre along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Waiting for a local motorbike rider to exit a transport boat so our group can get onto our boat for a 20 minute boat ride along the Mekong Delta to another village on the island of Ben Tre for a seafood lunch. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Stopped for lunch at a village restaurant on the island of Ben Tre in the heart of the heart of the Mekong Delta to enjoy some seafood specialties. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Ate lunch at a a village restaurant on the island of Ben Tre sampling the regional specialties such as the famous elephant ear fish. Then some more cruising down the Mekong Delta before returning via bus to Ho Chi Minh City. (Feb. 28, 2020)

A close-up of the famous deep fried elephant-ear fish with its scales and fin for lunch at a restaurant in the heart of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Views along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam as we make our way back to our bus for our two hours or so drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. (Feb. 28, 2020)

Our Intrepid Travel guide, Fun, setting up our treat of coconut water along the Mekong Delta to our bus for the 2-hours drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. (Feb. 28, 2020)

More Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, also known by its former name of Saigon, has actually gone by several different names during its history, reflecting settlement by different ethnic, cultural and political groups. Between the 8.9 million people that live in the city and the 7.4 million registered motorbikes, this city bubbles with life.

Saigon was renamed for Ho Chi Minh, Uncle Ho, as he is called by locals, who established the Communist-ruled Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945 and defeated the French Union and its colonial rule for independence which ended in 1954.Then came the Vietnam War from 1955 to 1975 which the communist government of North Vietnam backed by the Soviet Union and China against South Vietnam supported by the United States. The fall of Saigon in 1975 effectively marked the end of the Vietnam War.

My last full day in Vietnam, which I spent walking around the busy downtown area of Ho Chi Minh City, a walk through the city checking out a variety of sites including the Reunification Palace and sky views of the city from the 52nd floor of Bitexco Financial Tower.

Plus my last day in Vietnam was also the beginning of my next tour to Cambodia. But more on that in my Cambodia post.