2009 - Vietnam

1000places' photo

2009-04-07T10:11:50Z

This is a photo travel log of a trip we took from February 26 to March 12, 2009, to a country that has not only opened its borders but has warmly embraced its foreign guests.

2009-04-06T10:05:29Z

1000places
This is a photo travel log of a trip we took from February 26 to March 12, 2009, to a country that has not only opened its borders but has warmly embraced its foreign guests.

Our flights would take us first to Bangkok where we would overnight before taking departing the next day for Hanoi. From there we would work our way down the country by bus and plane.

2009-04-07T10:12:19Z

1000places
Our flights would take us first to Bangkok where we would overnight before taking departing the next day for Hanoi. From there we would work our way down the country by bus and plane.

Among the 15 of us traveling together (16 counting our trip leader) there would be several familiar faces. Our good friends Tom and Loretta would be joining us for their first OAT trip, whi ...

2009-04-07T10:12:36Z

1000places
Among the 15 of us traveling together (16 counting our trip leader) there would be several familiar faces. Our good friends Tom and Loretta would be joining us for their first OAT trip, whi ...

COLORFUL, COLONIAL, CAPTIVATING HANOI - Who in our generation would have thought that one day we would arrive as tourists in the city once thought of as the lead domino in the "Domino Theory ...

2009-05-05T08:06:35Z

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COLORFUL, COLONIAL, CAPTIVATING HANOI - Who in our generation would have thought that one day we would arrive as tourists in the city once thought of as the lead domino in the "Domino Theory ...

...and all of Hanoi seemed in a mighty rush to turn the country's tumultuous 20th century into a prosperous 21st. Nothing and no one seemed idle.

2009-04-29T05:38:27Z

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...and all of Hanoi seemed in a mighty rush to turn the country's tumultuous 20th century into a prosperous 21st. Nothing and no one seemed idle.

There were the ubiquitous bicycle riders. Just a few years back, this was the dominant form of transportation in the city.

2009-04-29T05:41:38Z

1000places
There were the ubiquitous bicycle riders. Just a few years back, this was the dominant form of transportation in the city.

Some vendors still rely on bicycles as mobile markets for their fruits and produce.

2009-04-29T05:42:54Z

1000places
Some vendors still rely on bicycles as mobile markets for their fruits and produce.

But today the main way to get around Hanoi is on a motorscooter. As we would see, it not only provides personal transport but also serves as a delivery vehicle for all sorts of merchandise.

2009-04-10T07:42:54Z

1000places
But today the main way to get around Hanoi is on a motorscooter. As we would see, it not only provides personal transport but also serves as a delivery vehicle for all sorts of merchandise.

Still, amid the frenzied chaos of Hanoi's traffic, we would see market women arriving from the countryside lugging their produce in large baskets attached to wooden shoulder yokes.

2009-04-10T11:01:11Z

1000places
Still, amid the frenzied chaos of Hanoi's traffic, we would see market women arriving from the countryside lugging their produce in large baskets attached to wooden shoulder yokes.

Even in a city where neon lights now illuminate once austere streets and skyscrapers are rising, there are still scenes like this that have remained virtually unchanged for centuries.

2009-05-05T22:43:51Z

1000places
Even in a city where neon lights now illuminate once austere streets and skyscrapers are rising, there are still scenes like this that have remained virtually unchanged for centuries.

Hanoi is a blend. The graceful architecture of the vanquished French forms the backdrop to the frenetic urban pace of a city that seems in perpetual rush hour.

2009-04-29T05:48:49Z

1000places
Hanoi is a blend. The graceful architecture of the vanquished French forms the backdrop to the frenetic urban pace of a city that seems in perpetual rush hour.

The "grand dame" of the city's French architectural legacy - the Hanoi Opera House - often seems strangled by the buzzing swarm of traffic that constantly encircles it.

2009-05-05T22:47:06Z

1000places
The "grand dame" of the city's French architectural legacy - the Hanoi Opera House - often seems strangled by the buzzing swarm of traffic that constantly encircles it.

There are grand villas for Hanoi's wealthy...

2009-04-10T07:44:25Z

1000places
There are grand villas for Hanoi's wealthy...

...and narrow "tubehouses" that may be the width of a single room but rise three and four stories high. One reason: Property taxes are assessed based on the width of the building.

2009-04-10T07:44:56Z

1000places
...and narrow "tubehouses" that may be the width of a single room but rise three and four stories high. One reason: Property taxes are assessed based on the width of the building.

LOCH NESS MEETS KING ARTHUR - The picturesque centerpiece of Hanoi is Hoam Kiem Lake, just a few blocks from our hotel. A tiny pagoda on an islet honors the legend of a 15th century giant t ...

2009-04-10T11:04:57Z

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LOCH NESS MEETS KING ARTHUR - The picturesque centerpiece of Hanoi is Hoam Kiem Lake, just a few blocks from our hotel. A tiny pagoda on an islet honors the legend of a 15th century giant t ...

And in fact, there are large tortoises in the lake - or at least there used to be. One was on display.

2009-04-10T07:46:00Z

1000places
And in fact, there are large tortoises in the lake - or at least there used to be. One was on display.

Hoan Kiem Lake is the setting for an early morning ritual that seems uniquely Vietnamese. Before dawn, the young and the elderly by the hundreds began gathering at the lake to exercise...

2009-04-10T07:46:16Z

1000places
Hoan Kiem Lake is the setting for an early morning ritual that seems uniquely Vietnamese. Before dawn, the young and the elderly by the hundreds began gathering at the lake to exercise...

Groups of women moved in delicate, choreographed rhythm, gracefully maneuvering brightly-colored fans....

2009-04-29T05:51:28Z

1000places
Groups of women moved in delicate, choreographed rhythm, gracefully maneuvering brightly-colored fans....

...while others, somewhat more frighteningly, brandished makeshift swords.

2009-04-10T07:47:04Z

1000places
...while others, somewhat more frighteningly, brandished makeshift swords.

Still others - again, both young and old - engaged in games of badminton.

2009-04-10T07:47:22Z

1000places
Still others - again, both young and old - engaged in games of badminton.

PEDESTRIANS BEWARE - There is a "rule of the road" in Hanoi: To cross a street, walk resolutely and slowly. Don't stop. The bicyclists and motorcylists are skilled drivers, they will a ...

2009-04-29T05:59:09Z

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PEDESTRIANS BEWARE - There is a "rule of the road" in Hanoi: To cross a street, walk resolutely and slowly. Don't stop. The bicyclists and motorcylists are skilled drivers, they will a ...

The Vietnamese seem to manage walking on the streets with no problems - even with heavy burdens. Why walk in the streets? Sidewalks are impassable - they are too valuable as parking lots ...

2009-04-10T07:47:57Z

1000places
The Vietnamese seem to manage walking on the streets with no problems - even with heavy burdens. Why walk in the streets? Sidewalks are impassable - they are too valuable as parking lots ...

Still, it's a little intimidating to cross a street when confronting this typical scene...and knowing that the motorcyclists pay as much attention to stoplights as they do to crosswalks.

2009-04-10T07:50:40Z

1000places
Still, it's a little intimidating to cross a street when confronting this typical scene...and knowing that the motorcyclists pay as much attention to stoplights as they do to crosswalks.

Despite the hazards, walking is an excellent way to see some of the best sections of Hanoi. Our hotel - the Thang Long Opera Hotel - was located just a few blocks from Hoan Kiem Lake and th ...

2009-04-10T07:51:00Z

1000places
Despite the hazards, walking is an excellent way to see some of the best sections of Hanoi. Our hotel - the Thang Long Opera Hotel - was located just a few blocks from Hoan Kiem Lake and th ...

We were just a short walk away from the French colonial-style Sofitel Metropole Hotel, built in 1901, and its sidewalk display of vintage automobiles.

2009-04-29T06:02:10Z

1000places
We were just a short walk away from the French colonial-style Sofitel Metropole Hotel, built in 1901, and its sidewalk display of vintage automobiles.

Inside the Metropole, our merry group of travelers gathered for drinks in the elegant atmosphere of colonial Hanoi

2009-04-10T11:07:29Z

1000places
Inside the Metropole, our merry group of travelers gathered for drinks in the elegant atmosphere of colonial Hanoi

A TOUR OF THE OLD QUARTER - One day, we boarded "cyclo-rickshaws" and joined Hanoi's frenetic, mechanized mayhem for a quick tour around the Old Quarter.

2009-04-10T07:53:13Z

1000places
A TOUR OF THE OLD QUARTER - One day, we boarded "cyclo-rickshaws" and joined Hanoi's frenetic, mechanized mayhem for a quick tour around the Old Quarter.

Loretta is in place and ready to rumble through the Old Quarter....

2009-04-10T07:53:56Z

1000places
Loretta is in place and ready to rumble through the Old Quarter....

...while Pat and Eleanor are probably wondering at this point whether "cyclos" have seat belts.

2009-04-10T07:54:46Z

1000places
...while Pat and Eleanor are probably wondering at this point whether "cyclos" have seat belts.

MARX IS PROBABLY SPINNING IN HIS GRAVE - Hanoi's Old Quarter has been a cauldron of commerce for nearly 400 years. Every square inch throbs with centuries-rooted capitalism.

2009-04-10T07:55:52Z

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MARX IS PROBABLY SPINNING IN HIS GRAVE - Hanoi's Old Quarter has been a cauldron of commerce for nearly 400 years. Every square inch throbs with centuries-rooted capitalism.

As it has been for centuries, the Old Quarter is a tree-lined labyrinth of merchant shops...

2009-04-10T07:56:48Z

1000places
As it has been for centuries, the Old Quarter is a tree-lined labyrinth of merchant shops...

...virtually of them overflowing with goods. Each of the Old Quarter's 36 meandering streets was originally named after an artisan trade: Hang Chieu, or "mat street;" Hang Dieu, or "pipe s ...

2009-04-10T07:57:08Z

1000places
...virtually of them overflowing with goods. Each of the Old Quarter's 36 meandering streets was originally named after an artisan trade: Hang Chieu, or "mat street;" Hang Dieu, or "pipe s ...

Shops, merchants, and merchandise - piles and piles of products - line the Old Quarter's cramped streets.

2009-04-29T06:50:00Z

1000places
Shops, merchants, and merchandise - piles and piles of products - line the Old Quarter's cramped streets.

Even where the sidewalks are under repair, hawkers still ply their products.

2009-04-29T06:45:36Z

1000places
Even where the sidewalks are under repair, hawkers still ply their products.

Masses of delivery motorbikes swarm through the Old Quarter - most loaded to the max. Yes, that's toilet paper.

2009-04-10T08:01:54Z

1000places
Masses of delivery motorbikes swarm through the Old Quarter - most loaded to the max. Yes, that's toilet paper.

Bicycles are piled high with goods being delivered to local shops.

2009-04-10T08:02:35Z

1000places
Bicycles are piled high with goods being delivered to local shops.

And when we thought we had seen everything, we came across this delivery boy with, yes, a sofa strapped to his motorscooter.

2009-04-10T08:03:24Z

1000places
And when we thought we had seen everything, we came across this delivery boy with, yes, a sofa strapped to his motorscooter.

Obviously, to make the rounds in the Old Quarter, you have to have wheels - even pink ones.

2009-04-10T08:05:36Z

1000places
Obviously, to make the rounds in the Old Quarter, you have to have wheels - even pink ones.

Some of the local vendors were content to sit and watch daily life - and the tourists - pass by....

2009-04-10T08:06:08Z

1000places
Some of the local vendors were content to sit and watch daily life - and the tourists - pass by....

...while others seem to enjoy the parade of camera-toting foreigners that came careening by them.

2009-04-10T11:09:48Z

1000places
...while others seem to enjoy the parade of camera-toting foreigners that came careening by them.

Crossing intersections in the Old Quarter today poses more of a challenge than in the less-congested past, but Hanoians seem to cope just fine.

2009-04-10T08:07:38Z

1000places
Crossing intersections in the Old Quarter today poses more of a challenge than in the less-congested past, but Hanoians seem to cope just fine.

As our ride came to an end, Jeanne and Loretta seemed to enjoy the experience (or maybe they just liked being in front of me).

2009-04-10T08:08:10Z

1000places
As our ride came to an end, Jeanne and Loretta seemed to enjoy the experience (or maybe they just liked being in front of me).

A MONUMENT TO "UNCLE HO" - Our cyclos dropped us off close enough to walk to Ba Dinh Square and the imposing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It was on this spot on September 2, 1945, that Ho Chi Min ...

2009-04-29T07:04:10Z

1000places
A MONUMENT TO "UNCLE HO" - Our cyclos dropped us off close enough to walk to Ba Dinh Square and the imposing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It was on this spot on September 2, 1945, that Ho Chi Min ...

"Uncle Ho" never wanted a mausoleum to be built. He asked that upon his death he be cremeated and his ashes placed in three urns on hilltops in the north, central, and southern regions of t ...

2009-04-10T08:09:17Z

1000places
"Uncle Ho" never wanted a mausoleum to be built. He asked that upon his death he be cremeated and his ashes placed in three urns on hilltops in the north, central, and southern regions of t ...

Ho Chi Minh would also have been appalled at the money spent to construct the massive museum that tells his life story. The massive, stark white building, opened in 1990, is a Soviet-style ...

2009-04-29T07:06:14Z

1000places
Ho Chi Minh would also have been appalled at the money spent to construct the massive museum that tells his life story. The massive, stark white building, opened in 1990, is a Soviet-style ...

Much more in keeping with Ho Chi Minh's lifestyle is his simple stilt house just around the corner from the mausoleum. This was Ho's home from 1958 until his death in 1969. There are only ...

2009-04-10T08:10:11Z

1000places
Much more in keeping with Ho Chi Minh's lifestyle is his simple stilt house just around the corner from the mausoleum. This was Ho's home from 1958 until his death in 1969. There are only ...

In the park-like setting around Ho Chi Minh's home, we found the One Pillar Pagoda, perhaps the most elegant pagoda in Hanoi, although its quaint style is marred somewhat by the massive conc ...

2009-04-29T21:19:40Z

1000places
In the park-like setting around Ho Chi Minh's home, we found the One Pillar Pagoda, perhaps the most elegant pagoda in Hanoi, although its quaint style is marred somewhat by the massive conc ...

Inside the One-Pillar Pagoda is a statue of the multi-armed Hindu god Vishnu surrounded by a collection of offerings.

2009-04-10T08:11:12Z

1000places
Inside the One-Pillar Pagoda is a statue of the multi-armed Hindu god Vishnu surrounded by a collection of offerings.

Also in Ba Dinh Square is the ocher-colored Presidential Palace built in 1906 as the residence and headquarters of Indochina's governor-general. When the ascetically-minded Ho Chi Minh assu ...

2009-04-29T21:22:21Z

1000places
Also in Ba Dinh Square is the ocher-colored Presidential Palace built in 1906 as the residence and headquarters of Indochina's governor-general. When the ascetically-minded Ho Chi Minh assu ...

MUPPETS WITH A SPLASH - Our second night in Hanoi we attended the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater, Vietnam's premier venue for mua roi nuoc (water puppetry), an art form that dates back more ...

2009-04-10T08:13:29Z

1000places
MUPPETS WITH A SPLASH - Our second night in Hanoi we attended the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater, Vietnam's premier venue for mua roi nuoc (water puppetry), an art form that dates back more ...

An orchestra opened the show with flutes, percussion, and a dan bau - a one-string zither - playing traditional Vietnamese folk tunes.

2009-04-10T08:14:36Z

1000places
An orchestra opened the show with flutes, percussion, and a dan bau - a one-string zither - playing traditional Vietnamese folk tunes.

Then the "master of ceremonies" appeared. Uncle Teu, an ever-smiling buffoon dressed in a loincloth and waist coat, is apparently the most beloved character in Vietnamese water puppetry. N ...

2009-04-10T08:15:28Z

1000places
Then the "master of ceremonies" appeared. Uncle Teu, an ever-smiling buffoon dressed in a loincloth and waist coat, is apparently the most beloved character in Vietnamese water puppetry. N ...

Soon the action in the pool heated up as peasants and warriors battled dragons and other sea creatures.

2009-04-10T08:16:07Z

1000places
Soon the action in the pool heated up as peasants and warriors battled dragons and other sea creatures.

Admittedly, we didn't understand many of the plots in the 45-minute performance, but it was obvious that the stories were drawn from Vietnamese legends and myths.

2009-04-10T08:16:59Z

1000places
Admittedly, we didn't understand many of the plots in the 45-minute performance, but it was obvious that the stories were drawn from Vietnamese legends and myths.

Once the paddy waters of a rice field served as the stage, but today most shows play out in special theaters. Puppeteers standing in waist-deep water behind a curtain manipulate marionettes ...

2009-04-10T08:17:48Z

1000places
Once the paddy waters of a rice field served as the stage, but today most shows play out in special theaters. Puppeteers standing in waist-deep water behind a curtain manipulate marionettes ...

As the show drew to its climax, there was a parade of puppets....

2009-04-10T08:18:23Z

1000places
As the show drew to its climax, there was a parade of puppets....

...followed by the appearance of the puppeteers for their bow to the audience.

2009-04-10T08:19:00Z

1000places
...followed by the appearance of the puppeteers for their bow to the audience.

Its modern exterior stands out in sharp contrast to its contents, but if you want to get a quick education on Vietnam's 53 ethnic minorities, there is no better place than Hanoi's Museum of ...

2009-04-10T08:19:58Z

1000places
Its modern exterior stands out in sharp contrast to its contents, but if you want to get a quick education on Vietnam's 53 ethnic minorities, there is no better place than Hanoi's Museum of ...

We spent a couple of hours at the museum, mainly wandering the open-air exhibits where several minority groups have constructed faithful replicas of their traditional homes. This one is the ...

2009-04-10T08:21:19Z

1000places
We spent a couple of hours at the museum, mainly wandering the open-air exhibits where several minority groups have constructed faithful replicas of their traditional homes. This one is the ...

The 138-foot-long Ede house is remarkable for its length, but some of the homes in this minority culture can stretch to an astonishing 650 feet - the length of two football fields. Less tha ...

2009-04-29T05:09:22Z

1000places
The 138-foot-long Ede house is remarkable for its length, but some of the homes in this minority culture can stretch to an astonishing 650 feet - the length of two football fields. Less tha ...

The most eye-turning exhibit in the museum may have been this tomb of the Gia Rai people. The Gia Rai believe in the existence of giang (genies) and hold rituals connected to their genies. ...

2009-04-29T05:13:11Z

1000places
The most eye-turning exhibit in the museum may have been this tomb of the Gia Rai people. The Gia Rai believe in the existence of giang (genies) and hold rituals connected to their genies. ...

...some of which display, uh...let's say conspicuous...anatomical parts.

2009-04-29T06:01:51Z

1000places
...some of which display, uh...let's say conspicuous...anatomical parts.

This is another tomb at the Museum of Ethnology. This one is typical of the tomb the Cotu people would construct for the rich and high-ranking members of their society.

2009-04-29T05:19:14Z

1000places
This is another tomb at the Museum of Ethnology. This one is typical of the tomb the Cotu people would construct for the rich and high-ranking members of their society.

The Museum of Ethnology is a favorite spot for wedding photographs, we were told. The reason: Many ethnic minority members can't travel back to their traditional homes, so they use the Mus ...

2009-04-10T08:25:36Z

1000places
The Museum of Ethnology is a favorite spot for wedding photographs, we were told. The reason: Many ethnic minority members can't travel back to their traditional homes, so they use the Mus ...

VIETNAM'S FIRST UNIVERSITY - If Vietnam has a seat of learning, this is it. Van Mieu, or the Temple of Literature, was established in 1070 to honor and study Confucius.

2009-04-29T21:28:08Z

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VIETNAM'S FIRST UNIVERSITY - If Vietnam has a seat of learning, this is it. Van Mieu, or the Temple of Literature, was established in 1070 to honor and study Confucius.

The Temple of Literature served as the center of education of "mandarins" - scholar-bureaucrats. Once they entered into the temple through the Great Portico, they immersed themselves in poe ...

2009-04-10T08:27:05Z

1000places
The Temple of Literature served as the center of education of "mandarins" - scholar-bureaucrats. Once they entered into the temple through the Great Portico, they immersed themselves in poe ...

From 1070 to 1919, Vietnam's best and brightest gathered in the temple, all striving for recognition as a tien si (doctor laurate). Those who succeeded were honored with an engraved stela m ...

2009-04-29T06:01:50Z

1000places
From 1070 to 1919, Vietnam's best and brightest gathered in the temple, all striving for recognition as a tien si (doctor laurate). Those who succeeded were honored with an engraved stela m ...

In the Temple's "Great House of Ceremonies" there is a statue of the man himself - Confucius - the "Teacher of Ten Thousand Generations" as a placard reads.

2009-04-10T11:15:15Z

1000places
In the Temple's "Great House of Ceremonies" there is a statue of the man himself - Confucius - the "Teacher of Ten Thousand Generations" as a placard reads.

At the far end of the temple complex, there is a reconstructed museum - Thai Hoc Hall. Inside is a statue of Chu Van An, Vietnam's most respected educator who taught in the 14th century.

2009-04-10T11:15:48Z

1000places
At the far end of the temple complex, there is a reconstructed museum - Thai Hoc Hall. Inside is a statue of Chu Van An, Vietnam's most respected educator who taught in the 14th century.

A large brass bell hung outside Thai Hoc Hall at the rear of the Temple of Literature. Possibly it was used to summon the mandarins for their daily studies or to religious ceremonies.

2009-04-10T08:29:28Z

1000places
A large brass bell hung outside Thai Hoc Hall at the rear of the Temple of Literature. Possibly it was used to summon the mandarins for their daily studies or to religious ceremonies.

A PLACE OF REMEMBERING - In almost every Vietnamese village in the north, there is a war memorial cemetary. Here North Vietnamese soldiers and Viet Cong killed during the Vietnam War - or ...

2009-04-29T22:31:02Z

1000places
A PLACE OF REMEMBERING - In almost every Vietnamese village in the north, there is a war memorial cemetary. Here North Vietnamese soldiers and Viet Cong killed during the Vietnam War - or ...

At this gravesite, we encountered a solitary man lighting incense and quietly staring at the tombstone. We walked cautiously around the markers, fearing that we were disturbing the man's so ...

2009-04-29T05:34:06Z

1000places
At this gravesite, we encountered a solitary man lighting incense and quietly staring at the tombstone. We walked cautiously around the markers, fearing that we were disturbing the man's so ...

He approached us - not to rebuke but to shake our hands and thank us for visiting ground that was sacred to him. We learned that the gravesite was that of his older brother - a Viet Cong - ...

2009-04-10T11:19:20Z

1000places
He approached us - not to rebuke but to shake our hands and thank us for visiting ground that was sacred to him. We learned that the gravesite was that of his older brother - a Viet Cong - ...

But the man was genuinely glad to meet us, moving through our group until he had shaken every hand. Alhough he spoke no English, we learned through our trip leader that he had a son studyin ...

2009-04-10T11:19:53Z

1000places
But the man was genuinely glad to meet us, moving through our group until he had shaken every hand. Alhough he spoke no English, we learned through our trip leader that he had a son studyin ...

COUNTRY MARKET - Most trip leaders can't resist a local market, and our's in Vietnam was no different. After our stop at the cemetary, we stopped at a roadside market.

2009-04-10T11:20:25Z

1000places
COUNTRY MARKET - Most trip leaders can't resist a local market, and our's in Vietnam was no different. After our stop at the cemetary, we stopped at a roadside market.

It had rained the night before, and the walkways through the open air market were mostly deep mud puddles. But the damp weather didn't dampen the smiles of the local vendors as we "xin chao ...

2009-04-29T22:31:06Z

1000places
It had rained the night before, and the walkways through the open air market were mostly deep mud puddles. But the damp weather didn't dampen the smiles of the local vendors as we "xin chao ...

We gamely made our way past women selling trays of unidentifiable slabs of meat while swatting away pesky flies.

2009-04-10T11:22:35Z

1000places
We gamely made our way past women selling trays of unidentifiable slabs of meat while swatting away pesky flies.

THIS IS NOT YOUR LOCAL KFC - If you wanted your chicken fresh, the local market was the place to shop.

2009-04-10T11:23:02Z

1000places
THIS IS NOT YOUR LOCAL KFC - If you wanted your chicken fresh, the local market was the place to shop.

During our stroll through the market, we came upon shoppers both old...

2009-04-07T12:22:55Z

1000places
During our stroll through the market, we came upon shoppers both old...

...and young.

2009-04-07T21:46:17Z

1000places
...and young.

Back on the road, we passed this horse-drawn wagon - drawn by a very small horse. These diminutive horses are common in Vietnam and are related to a breed that originated in Mongolia.

2009-04-07T21:47:06Z

1000places
Back on the road, we passed this horse-drawn wagon - drawn by a very small horse. These diminutive horses are common in Vietnam and are related to a breed that originated in Mongolia.

ACROSS THE RIVER TO THO HA - It was on to the village of Tho Ha, located on an island in the middle of the Cau River and reachable only by ferry.

2009-04-29T22:30:50Z

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ACROSS THE RIVER TO THO HA - It was on to the village of Tho Ha, located on an island in the middle of the Cau River and reachable only by ferry.

As we crossed the river, we passed this woman fishing in the muddy waters while paddling her sampan (canoe) with her feet.

2009-04-10T11:24:20Z

1000places
As we crossed the river, we passed this woman fishing in the muddy waters while paddling her sampan (canoe) with her feet.

Tho Ha was a picturesque village. It actually dates back to the 10th century when it was one of northern Vietnam’s key pottery producers.

2009-04-10T11:24:59Z

1000places
Tho Ha was a picturesque village. It actually dates back to the 10th century when it was one of northern Vietnam’s key pottery producers.

Today Tho Ha is known for its production of edible rice paper used throughout the country to wrap spring rolls and other delicacies. Literally the entire village seems consumed by this indu ...

2009-04-29T21:57:18Z

1000places
Today Tho Ha is known for its production of edible rice paper used throughout the country to wrap spring rolls and other delicacies. Literally the entire village seems consumed by this indu ...

An old building, full of architectural charm, had been turned into a place to stack the racks of rice paper.

2009-04-10T11:27:21Z

1000places
An old building, full of architectural charm, had been turned into a place to stack the racks of rice paper.

There were racks of rice paper everywhere there was an open space - including this large field. And more were on their way. (The black cannister-like objects are blocks of charcoal used fo ...

2009-04-10T11:27:56Z

1000places
There were racks of rice paper everywhere there was an open space - including this large field. And more were on their way. (The black cannister-like objects are blocks of charcoal used fo ...

In one of the village houses, Jeanne tried her hand at making rice paper....

2009-04-10T11:28:22Z

1000places
In one of the village houses, Jeanne tried her hand at making rice paper....

...as did Loretta....

2009-04-10T08:36:02Z

1000places
...as did Loretta....

...with somewhat dubious results (they are supposed to be round and flat).

2009-04-10T08:36:24Z

1000places
...with somewhat dubious results (they are supposed to be round and flat).

As we strolled through the sleepy village, we came across...

2009-04-10T08:36:43Z

1000places
As we strolled through the sleepy village, we came across...

...mothers cooking lunch for their children alongside the road...

2009-04-10T08:37:06Z

1000places
...mothers cooking lunch for their children alongside the road...

...cute little old Vietnamese women (this one was about four feet tall)...

2009-04-10T08:37:22Z

1000places
...cute little old Vietnamese women (this one was about four feet tall)...

...cute little kids...

2009-04-10T08:37:41Z

1000places
...cute little kids...

...more cute little kids...

2009-04-10T08:37:59Z

1000places
...more cute little kids...

...and the ubiquitous Vietnamese "delivery truck."

2009-04-10T08:38:56Z

1000places
...and the ubiquitous Vietnamese "delivery truck."

But the highlight of our visit to the village was our time spent with this man, a former Viet Cong who had fought in Saigon in 1975, then later against the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.

2009-04-10T11:29:36Z

1000places
But the highlight of our visit to the village was our time spent with this man, a former Viet Cong who had fought in Saigon in 1975, then later against the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.

He invited us into his immaculately clean home where he began by serving us rice wine which we downed with a hearty "mot (one), hai (two), Ba (three)...YO!"

2009-04-10T08:39:33Z

1000places
He invited us into his immaculately clean home where he began by serving us rice wine which we downed with a hearty "mot (one), hai (two), Ba (three)...YO!"

Then for the next half hour or so, he entertained us by singing and playing several instruments. Loretta obviously was delighted by his musical skills....

2009-04-10T08:39:49Z

1000places
Then for the next half hour or so, he entertained us by singing and playing several instruments. Loretta obviously was delighted by his musical skills....