Vietnam Summer Travels

As I have been away for a while, my parents decided to come out and visit me.  I was not going to entertain them in one place for (almost) three weeks, so I planned a trip around Vietnam, it was also a good excuse for me to see the county as well (not that I needed one).

We spent a few days in Saigon, taking it easy, letting my parents get used to the traffic and climate.  The normal tourist sights were ticked off; Opera House, War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels and (something I hadn't done before), the Cao Dai Temple.  The Cao Dai religion has only been around since 1926 and is a mix of Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, they believe in the Supreme Being and that all religions have the same origin.  It is very interesting, but looks very regimented.  I won't be converting.

The Eye - the symbol of Cao Dai

From Saigon we went to Hoi An, a very touristy but lovely old fishing village and port.  It is very small - almost impossible to get lost, and full of shops and old buildings.  I loved Hoi An, especially the lanterns that are dropped from the bridge at night.

A bus took us to Hue, the old capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty that lastest until 1945.  Unfortunately the city was heavily bombed during the Vietnam War, so there is a lot of reconstruction work underway, especially of the Old Palace.  It is sobering to remember how much is destroyed during war.  Our second day in Hue was spent on a boat tour up the river stopping off at Pagodas and old houses, and on the way back, three tombs of the Nguyen Emperors.  I was surprised at how big the tombs were, and how many different parts there were to them.  One of them took about ten minutes to walk from the first gate to his grave at the back, through lots of gates and temples.  A lot of work and money went into the tombs, and as a result one of the emperors wasn't popular due to the tax increase for his tomb.  It was stunning - everything was highly detailed - but it did look as if he was trying too hard.  The last tomb we visited was far less flashy, and by all accounts he was a popular ruler.  In fact, people were still leaving offerings by his sarcophagus. 

Detail from one of the tombs - made out of broken bits of pottery

Hanoi was next on our list, and as I'd been there before, I acted as tour guide.  I'm not sure how effective I was, as I'd been there for a total of two days.  But we did the same sights I did before.

Ha Long Bay is as beautiful as ever, this time we did the three day tour, and the extra night was definitely worth it.  We went further into the Bay, cycled through a village on one of the islands, and had to carry our bikes through the grass on the way back to go around the rice harvesting machine.  A motorbike was coming in the opposite direction.  I'm not sure how he manouvered it!  I still love Ha Long Bay, but my favourite place in Vietnam is Sapa.

The mountain town of Sapa and the surrounding villages are populated by the minority people, they make their living through rice, farming and tourism.  It is very touristy.  Our tour was two days, and walking through the town to start we were surrounded by lots of women in traditional dress asking us our names, where we were from, and about our lives.  They didn't leave us alone, and eventually we discovered they were from the village we were walking to and were to keep us company and answer our questions.  It was fascinating talking to them about their way of life.  They are very proud of their schools, but when their children are not in school, they have to help work.  A lot of the childrens work seemed to be looking after the water buffalo, (when they aren't pulling ploughs in the fields).  The water buffalo are amazingly patient.  Children were jumping, climbing and trying to leapfrog on them, kicking them, sitting on them.  The animals did not even blink. 

The scenery was stunning, for someone who has lived in a city for the past 8 months with only occasional trips out, it was fantastic to be in the countryside, walking, with no motorbikes and peace and quiet.  The rice paddies are a brilliant design.  They have been built into the hills in huge steps.  Everywhere you look there is rice growing.  I'd imagine the rain we had on our second day was welcome for the rice.  Not so much for us though!  My trainers will never forgive me for walking up muddy streams and down slippery paths in the rain.

Our guides

We got to lunch on the first day, and the village women suddenly opened their baskets and started selling us their goods.  Having two or three women all surround you shoving their bags and bracelets and material in your face is rather intimidating, but I managed to escape with two bags (both of which I wanted).  It was less funny the second and third time it happened - with the other women who accompanied us for less time.  The homestay that we stayed in was great.  Delicious food.  Rice wine - which I won't be having again voluntarily as it is not a pleasent taste!  Overall, Sapa is beautiful and the people are extremely friendly.  My favourite place in Vietnam by far.  Definitely worth the creaky sleeper train up there.

Now I am back in Saigon getting ready to start teaching again on Tuesday.  I had just over a week to plan my lessons until the end of August.  Maths, English and Science for 2 grade levels.  Challanging, but it is now largely done.  I am looking forward to getting back into classes, it is far too boring sitting in the office all day with nothing to do, or planning lessons all day.  I like being more active and seeing the students.  Though in a weeks time, after a crazy schedule, I might be saying something different.

Today, I went to a 3D Art Exhibition. It is THE best art show I have been to. The paintings were designed so that people could act like they were in it. We stood on rickety bridges, got eaten by dinosaurs, snakes, giants and storks, blow-dried a soldiers long hair, got taken around in a carriage, pushed the leaning tower of Pisa up, and lots more. It was so much fun. The brilliant way to spend a weekend.