DaNang and Hanoi ... Two very different cities
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
We arrived our hotel in Da Nang late last evening. We spent some time admiring the night views from our balcony, happy that we had made the decision to fly to Da Nang.
We visited the Banh Mi Cafe adjacent to the hotel. The staff were very friendly and the café was beautifully decorated. Of course, the coffee was also delicious. Many options were available ranging from black coffee to coconut coffee.
Otherwise, it was a quiet day, planning the next days of our adventure, catching up and mailing out the blog and having an afternoon nap.
We had dinner at Ut Van restaurant around from our hotel. The food was delicious. Jim ordered Basa Fish in a clay pot with coconut juice and Saigon Beer and I had fresh spring rolls with shrimp and pork, grilled scallops with scallions and a mango smoothie. We both had mango sticky rice for dessert.
After dinner, we needed an ATM. The one closest to the hotel was out of order. The next best choice was across a busy intersection, several lanes of traffic turning corners or driving straight through. Although there are markings on the pavement to indicate where to walk, crossing the street is still a treacherous activity. Jim went by himself and came back safely with cash in hand. We were both relieved at his success with both elements of the outing. Whew!!
It is interesting that this is a society that remains based on cash transactions. Although it is possible to use a card for payment, the strong preference is for cash. As a tourist, we are often asked if we have American cash. Of course, we do not have any (never even thought about it) but we have learned that Vietnamese dong is preferred to a card.
One of the challenges of this hotel is the long staircase at the entrance. It is about 18 steps up from the sidewalk, slippery marble with no railing. Not my favourite thing. But we discovered that there is a second elevator that takes us to the garage in a lower level. From there, it is possible to walk up a gradual slope to the sidewalk. The elevator requires a code to operate, preferably with the assistance of a staff person. But we watched carefully as he entered the code into the keyboard and bingo! It has worked for us every time!! No need to disturb a staff member when we can come and go independently.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
It is a bright and sunny morning overlooking the South China Sea. We slept well last night after enjoying a meal at a nearby restaurant.
We spent some time in our room planning what the next few days would include. Jim also made arrangements for us to have a car and driver pick us up so we could comfortably visit several sites around the outskirts of Da Nang and be able to stop to take photos and look around at our own pace. It worked out beautifully.
In the early afternoon, a young driver arrived with a very comfortable vehicle and we headed off. He spoke very little English but had a great app on his phone where he could speak in his own language and it would translate it so that we could understand what he was sharing.
We first travelled along the seashore through some of Da Nang, enjoying the power of the ocean’s waves, breaking one after the other along the shore.
Sandy beaches stretched along many miles of the shoreline. Red flags were waving as a signal that swimming in the powerful surf was dangerous. Still, a few risky people were in the water trying to body surf as the waves broke over and around them.
Da Nang is blessed to have a long shoreline of beautiful beaches along the South China Sea. Although swimming was discouraged today, there were still hundreds of people, individuals, groups and families enjoying the proximity to the water.
Da Nang is also a major fishing port. Literally hundreds of small boats carry fishermen out far from the shore with nets to catch fish to sell to the markets. By the time we passed by, most boats had returned to more shallow water. There were still fishermen who were emptying their nets and preparing them for another fishing day tomorrow. The water they were fishing is the South China Sea.
We turned away from the beach and began to climb a tall mountain, exploring an area known as the Son Tra Peninsula. Local people call the are ‘Monkey Mountains’. We stopped several times along the way to look down at the city below us. What a vast city this is, stretching far from the shore in every direction possible. Most of the city has developed in the flatter land along the coast. Very few homes or private land were evident as we climbed higher.
We did see two varieties of monkeys that live in the higher ground. We were able to photograph both species. The first species were mostly on the ground and quite small.
The second species, Red-Shanked Douc Langures are considered to be among the most beautiful primates in the world, so named because of their red stockings. They mainly live in the trees, only occasionally coming to the ground. They are on the Endangered Species list. Sadly, they were shy today and we did not get any good photos.
Free range goats also populated the roadway. And some dogs as well. There are plenty of stray dogs that wander the streets and roadways of Da Nang.
Our driver was very familiar with the route we were following and knew where to stop for the best places for photographs. Sadly, today was a very hazy day with a limited range of vision. So our photos are not what we had hoped for. Nonetheless it was a very scenic drive.
One of the places we stopped was at a wartime airport with the shortest runway ever. It was located at the very top of the mountain. The pilots must have been highly skilled to be able to land any aircraft in such a small space.
One of the most spectacular stops was at Linh Ung Pagoda (one of three pagodas with the same name. How confusing is that?) The Pagoda that we visited on the peninsula has the tallest Buddha, 67 metres high. It is pure white and contrasts beautifully against the blue sky. It is believed to protect the city from natural disasters and bring peace to its residents.
Along great stretches of the road and shoreline were chairs set up for passers-by. Even on this overcast and sometimes misty day, there were hundreds of people relaxing in the chairs enjoying the view over the ocean. An occasional mobile café was nearby to provide beverages and snacks.
Our final stop was a spectacular piece of architecture known as the Dragon Bridge. It is the world’s largest dragon-shaped steel bridge (are there others?), 666 metres long and 36.5 metres wide with 6 lanes of traffic. It opened in 2013. It crosses the Han River and is quite a remarkable structure, artistic and structural at the same time. It breathes fire on weekend evenings.
Da Nang appears to be a booming city. Businesses are flourishing; major construction projects underway and busy, busy streets. Our driver took us off the main road near our hotel into a tiny and crowded area. The streets were narrow and congested. The shops were small, lively and wide open for business. Restaurants galore!! He wanted us to see what all communities were like back in the day - small shops, lots of eateries, housing. It was certainly busy as we drove through.
Back at our hotel, it was time for dinner. We went next door to Nha Bep, another highly rated restaurant. We were not surprised to have a wonderful meal.
And now it is time for this day to end. It has been full of activity and learning … and great people and good food. Great memories to dream about.
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Another day that has dawned bright and cheery. Breakfast was again plentiful and interesting. Many unfamiliar elements are available on the buffet – vegetables, both raw and cooked that we have never seen; soup, different every day; pho made to taste; a variety of sauces, both spicy and mild (who knows which is which?); rice, of course; lots of fresh fruit, some of which is familiar; mixed salads; plain yogurt; a range of nuts (today I had almonds, walnuts and cashews with my yogurt; various bread items including small but tasty croissants with jam and/or butter; and the list goes on. Of course, we indulge in the familiar and taste some the unfamiliar. Eggs prepared to taste are available at the counter. Breakfast serves as lunch for us as well.
Our day started earlier today, since we had arranged for a guide to accompany us to the Ba Na Hills, a large, nearby cultural theme park that featured many unique structures and architecture. Some of the buildings reflected European architecture, especially the church and the castle. Other areas were primarily Asian – sculpted gardens, dragon motifs, Buddha statues. The park itself was enormous and was built on a mountainside. Access from one level to another was gained through rides on cable cars and funiculars. Two of the cable car lines we were on were almost six kilometers long and rose about 1400 meters. The ride took between 15 and 25 minutes. Quite spectacular. Most of the displays were stationary although there was one roller coaster inside a mountain and also a luge (called Alpine Coasters) on a very long and steep track. The rider could adjust the speed to match the level of fear involved. Needless to say, neither Jim nor I were interested in taking either of those rides.
As we rose from one level to the next, the atmosphere changed dramatically. Dense fog descended over the cable cars preventing us to see the views below. And by the time we made it to the top, it was actually raining quite hard. The weather was a disappointment, to say the least.
We stopped for lunch in a very European area where there was the offer of free beer and a dance performance. The beer was tasty, a bit like Guinness, but the dance performance was quite burlesque. Not our cup of tea.
We did enjoy the company of our guide who was very helpful carrying my walker up several sets of stairs and guiding us to the various attractions. All in all it was a pleasant outing.
When we returned to our hotel, we took advantage of the spa services, one free service for each of us. We chose to have a foot massage, delivered by two engaging young women. Although neither of them spoke English, we were able to enjoy the massage while communicating through a translation app on our telephones. A very pleasant way to spend an hour and recover from the vast amount of walking we did today.
By this time it was approaching dinner. It was then that we remembered we had booked a river cruise at 7 pm. So much for dinner. We organized a taxi ride who took us to the dock and we boarded just minutes before the boat launched. It was not a dinner cruise although they did provide some sliced watermelon and a bottle of water. However, the cruise was wonderful. We were able to see how beautiful Da Nang is and how proudly the city has enhanced the harbour area using coloured lights on buildings and bridges. It was quite spectacular.
Once we docked, Jim and I headed for a nearby café for a coconut coffee and a dessert. That was the extent of our dinner but a lovely ending to a very busy day.
Friday, January 23, 2026
It was an early morning today as we were checking out of our Da Nang hotel and heading for the train station to take train north to Hanoi. We have enjoyed Hanoi and especially the terrific service we have received at our hotel. But it was time to move on.
The train station was a busy place and as we awaited our train, the crowd grew bigger and bigger. Jim, of course, explored the station and discovered that there was a First Class waiting room. We were not travelling first class but we could wait in that area for a fee. Hmmm …. Could we afford the $1.00 charge to enter? Yes!!
We were led to soft chairs and given a bottle of water. We were the only people in the room. So quiet!!
A porter had adopted us and periodically dropped by to make sure he was the one who would transport our luggage to the train. The lady who was responsible for the room reminded us a few times that we were not to board Train 1 which stopped in the station just before our train, Train 4. She wanted to be sure we got on the right train. The friendliness of the Vietnamese people is one thing we will carry with us long after we return home.
We were not sure what the eating arrangements were on the train so Jim went outside the terminal where several vendors were selling their wares. We ended up with coffee, cashew brittle, some fruit and a sleeve of Pringles. Not healthy but would curb our hunger if food was scant on the train.
Finally we boarded. We had arranged a sleeping cabin as it is an overnight train. We were organizing our luggage when our cabin mate arrived. He had booked one of the upper berths. No English and no interest in interacting. He slept most of the day. We are not sure where he is getting off.
The train pulled out of the station and almost immediately it became clear how food worked on the train. At least five vendors pulled their carts through the cars calling out what they had to offer. Of course, we could not understand the language so we had to guess what they might be selling. Coffee, beer, soft drinks, packaged snacks, hot corn on the cob, skinny baguettes with a filling, and maybe some other things as well. The prices were ridiculously low. It was not going to cost much to eat today.
For the first part of the trip, we travelled along the coast of the East China Sea. We learned from our guide yesterday that the Vietnamese do not like the name of that body of water because it has the word China in it. They just call it the East Sea. We chuckled when we heard that story.
The scenery in the first couple of hours was spectacular. The coastline was beautiful and the shore varied from sandy beaches to rugged rockfaces. Of course, we were taking photos.
We passed through several small communities and enjoyed seeing the back doors and yards of fhe houses which we remarkably close to the tracks. Most were modest. Laundry hanging on the porches; motor bikes awaiting a ride; struggling gardens; several dogs; and clear evidence of children living there.
The train travelled slowly through the towns (probably a safety precaution) and only increased speed marginally when in the countryside. We travelled through quite a rugged terrain, peppered with long climbs, many tunnels, and meandering tracks. It was a great trip from a tourist perspective. We could see so much and take photos along the way… until it started to rain. Oh, did it rain!!
As we said farewell to the coastline at a town called Hue, the land levelled out and visible agriculture took over.
Market gardening was evident in almost every yard. Chickens, ducks and banana trees were plentiful. The speed of the train increased and so did the rain. Droplets on the windows made it challenging to take photos along with the increased velocity of the train.
Soon we left the town of Hue and headed into the deep countryside. It was a rice growing region. Enormous rice paddies were visible as far as we could see. Some were being prepped for planting; others had been planted earlier and the rice was developing well. The landscape was divided into large wet rectangles where the rice would grow.
We also saw some significant fishing areas. Nets that were positioned in large ponds and small lakes. It was not clear how the fish were harvested but there were sure to be plenty of fish to eat.
Banana trees were also prevalent, many with large bunches developing. It looked like there would be a great harvest.
Another feature in the landscape is the sight of cemeteries. Often, we have seen a modest shrive acknowledging the life of someone who has passed away. Most frequently they have been solitary markers. But in the region we have travelled today, we have seen several actual cemeteries with several grave markers, some quiet modest and others more elaborate. It would be interesting to know if they are family based or community developed.
And so the day went on. The rain stopped. And the landscape changed again. At the moment we are travelling on level ground through a forested area with occasional communities that have carved out room for living.
The communities are quite diverse. Along the tracks there are mainly very modest homes with small yards. Further from the tracks, the houses are much larger and some look very elegant. Colour is a feature of most homes. Bright paint livens the homes. Business areas are also quite varied, again ranging from quite modest and a bit chaotic to well stocked and organized shops with a range of products. It is amazing what can be seen from a train window.
A few cars and hundreds of scooters are visible, either parked haphazardly or in chaotic formation on the streets. Honking is a feature of driving everywhere. We have learned that a honk indicates to other drivers that “I am coming through”. Courtesy is paramount on Vietnamese roads. And it seems to work.
Late in the day, we were able to order a meal from the train staff. What arrived was indeed a surprise. It was a container of delicious and attractive food, heated to just the right temperature. Broasted chicken, rice (of course) bok choi and a delicious sauce that we added to the rice. There was also a serving of omelette and fried flavoured tofu, presumably to satisfy the vegetarians on board. We thoroughly enjoyed the meal and were surprised at its quality.
Dark will soon be upon us and our observations for this day will end. We will arrive in Hanoi at about 5 am so we are going to try to get some early sleep and arrive somewhat rested. Sleep came easily for Jim (as it usually does). I was less comfortable on the hard bench and only snoozed occasionally. Nevertheless, the next phase of this adventure will soon begin.
Saturday, January 24, 2026
The train pulled into the station promptly on schedule. A wonderful porter helped us with our bags. He put the two heavy ones and suggested that I, too, could ride in the cart as it was a long walk to the taxi stand. With the support of my walker, I insisted on walking myself but he was right. It was a LONG way, especially at 5 am, having had very little sleep. But, I made it. The taxi Jim had booked from the train arrived promptly and we were on our way to our next ‘home’, a small, remodelled and very clean hotel in the heart of Hanoi.
Once settled, I opted for sleep before anything else. Jim continues to research and plan so, when I got up only a few hours later, he was ready with plan for the next three days. First on the agenda was a delicious breakfast that included lots of fresh fruit, vegetables cooked appropriately crisp and eggs, made to order. Tofu was also available but no yogurt (my favourite). We wondered why but have not thought of a rationale. Meat was available on the buffet so it had nothing to do with vegetarian fare. Hmmm … happily, the little shop across the street does sell yogurt so I was able to have my morning fix.
Following breakfast, we spent some time in our room making plans for the day and reviewing some options when we join our tour later this week. Many things, of course, are laid on by the tour company but there is still ample free time with several optional choices. We checked the online reviews for these activities and made some decisions about which ones we would choose.
In doing this research, we learned that Vietnam is, in some ways, a very conservative country. There are a number of places to visit that have very specific dress codes and other rules. No short skirts for women, shoulders must be covered on both men and women, no hats, no photography, no cameras, no shoes, long pants only, no shorts, total silence, no handbags or backpacks. These vary from place to place but it is good to know the rules ahead of time rather than be disappointed at the point of entry. Whew!! What a lot to keep track of.
We finally ventured out into the community around our hotel. Although it was early in the day, the streets were already busy,
pedestrians everywhere and vehicles of all types divided into about 5 lanes of traffic in a two lane street. It was wild and horns were honking.
Our first destination was the Museum of Women.
This was a fascinating place as it explored the role of women in various international conflicts, in particular the Japanese takeover from the French; the return of the French, leading to the division of fhe nation into North and South Vietnam; the Vietnam War between North and South Vietnam, which led the American troops to fight communism. Women were in the front line in leading troops, preparing munitions, digging trenches, making uniforms and other apparatus, preparing food, and more. Several women were arrested and executed for their participation. Other themes in this museum included family life, professional accomplishments, child-bearing and child-rearing; and fashion. Overall, it was an illuminating and fascinating museum, providing insight to the role of women in Vietnamese history and culture.
We left the museum and headed for a much needed coffee break. We chose to go to a Highlands Coffee outlet, one of many scattered throughout Vietnam. This one was very large and set on the shore of a large inland pond that was well populated with swan boats, propelled by pedalling. Several were out on the water, usually with young people happily floating about while the rest (about 100) swans were tied up for the winter, awaiting a season when more people would want to be out on the water. Today was far too chilly for that.
After our coffee, we realized we had not eaten breakfast and it was dinnertime. Tonight we headed for a Vietnamese restaurant, Chao Ban, that was listed as one of the top ten in the city. It did not have a Michelin star but it had received a Michelin heart (does that mean it is on the way to greatness?). Our meal was delicious and leisurely, involving several courses of interesting foods, each of which we enjoyed thoroughly. We took a taxi back to our hotel, continuously astounded at the successful movement of traffic on incredibly crowded streets.
Now back at our hotel, we are settled in for the night. Another busy day lies ahead tomorrow so we really need to get some sleep. Good night, all.
Sunday, January 25, 2026
It was an early morning start for us as we headed out to ‘beat the line’ at Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum.
Word on the street has it that by 8 am, opening time, there are often several hundred people in line to see Ho Chi Minh’s vault. Upon entry, everyone has to have all handbags and electronic devises (including phones) searched via a conveyor belt through an xray machine. In addition, just like airport security, each person had to pass through a metal detector to ensure that they were not carrying anything dangerous. It is a time consuming process.
So we skipped an early breakfast and got into a taxi almost at first light (at least it felt that way). We arrived just about 7:30 am and were ushered into a very comfortable waiting area. Chairs were provided and a movie about Ho Chi Minh was playing on a large screen, in Vietnamese, of course. We waited with a growing crowd until we were invited to line up at the entrance and proceed one by one through the security measures.
Because I was using my walker, we were pulled out of the line and I was given a wheelchair for Jim to push and they stored my own walker. We had to wait until all the early arrivals had been screened and then it was our turn. Jim sent his wallet and phone through the device. I had not carried anything with me so as to avoid much of the security.
Other visitors were directed to walk quietly along a long covered walkway. As it felt like rain was coming, they were all protected from the wetness. Remarkably, there was very little chatter from the crowd. They had collectively been well versed in the need for silence.
Jim and I and the wheelchair had no such cover. We were accompanied by a uniformed woman who guided us along a pathway adjacent to the covered one. Happily it did not rain. It was a very long walk. And as we drew closer to the Mausoleum, several military guards were positioned along the way.
There were seven sets of stairs (ranging from 4 steps to 7 steps) to reach the level of the vault. Four strong military men were assigned to assist me. I remained in the wheelchair and they lifted the chair and me to ascend each set of steps. Clearly, they had done this many times before and were well trained to give value to the safety of the passenger, me! I was somewhere between nervous and in awe of the smooth carriage.
When we reached the room where the vault was on display, total silence was required. We walked around the grave on all four sides of the room. A bright light shone on the model of Ho Chi Minh’s face and upper body on top of the gravesite itself. It was clear from the size of the crowd, the adherence to silence and the reverence we felt in that room, that Ho Chi Minh was indeed held in high regard by the Vietnamese people. The crowd moved collectively at a moderate pace which enabled hundreds of people to pass through this esteemed location in an orderly fashion. No stopping and no photographs.
Of course, what comes up must go down, so again I was accompanied by four strong young men who carried the wheelchair down the seven sets of stairs. At the bottom, I said thank you to them but received no acknowledgement that they had even heard me. True military style … and on to the next.
We were accompanied by a guide back to the entrance where we exchanged the wheelchair for my own walker. The mausoleum had opened to the public at 8 am and by 8:25 we were back on the street hailing a taxi.
The taxi dropped us off close to our hotel (our own street is closed to traffic on Sundays. We are not sure why.) and we strolled along the crowded sidewalk, taking photos of the activity on the street. Women cleaning vegetables to use in cooking; a Bonne Mi shop where they prepare sandwiches; people sipping coffee in small groups on low stools; a bicycle rickshaw awaiting a customer; a lady selling flowers at the curbside; scooters and more scooters parked in an orderly fashion on the sidewalks; scooters loaded with boxes, bags, people and other things moving along the street; displays of products for sale, especially woven hats and t-shirts. And that was all along just one block to our hotel. What an amazing culture, this is.
Breakfast was delicious – salads galore, fresh fruit, beautifully carved, eggs cooked to taste, pho (beef or chicken) and buns and bread. I brought my own yogurt today, knowing they did not stock it.
And now we are back in our room. Jim is napping and I am writing. Soon we will head out on another adventure. We do not have to go far to find something interesting to watch.
Later in the afternoon, we strolled over to a nearby lake. There was clearly something going on there. The surrounding streets were closed to traffic and there were crowds of people all around the shore of the lake. Hundreds, yes hundreds of young women were there dressed in very formal gowns, posing for photos.
Hair done, make-up done, beautiful attire. What we learned was this was a preliminary activity leading up to Tet, the Vietnamese New Year’s celebration on February 17. According to one young woman I spoke with, the girls all dress up and pose for photos which are then posted on social media prior to Tet. They want to look their finest for the Tet photos.
We meandered the streets, astounded at the size of the crowd. Bicycle rickshaws were loaded with families touring around the neighbourhood.
Many small electric busses were offering neighbourhood tours and those busses were full to the max. There is an ornate red bridge leading to a temple on an island. Throngs of people were strolling to and from the temple. We stopped for some coffee and simply watched the crowd. Fascinating.
One unique thing was the barber who strapped his chair to a tree and set up for business. We were fascinated that several men actually stopped b for a haircut. Of course, other vendors who were strolling the street approached us to buy a myriad of items – fruit, flowers, children’s toys, jewellery, shoeshines (even my running shoes were of interest), etc.
As dark fell, the crowd did not diminish but the coloured lights came on and illuminated buildings, the bridge and the trees on the shore of the lakes. Eateries had lines of people and cafes were totally filled. Traffic had been restricted in the area so most people were strolling on the streets.
We stopped at a park bench to relax and were approached by a young girl, perhaps 10 years old, who wanted to practise her English. We had a lovely conversation using her impressive knowledge of English which she had learned in school. Her dad was thrilled that she had met us and took many photos of all of us.
When she left, another young girl, aged 11, also approached us for a conversation. She was so sweet and we chatted for a good length of time. Her dad was also thrilled that she had met us. He did not speak a word of English. She had also learned English in school and spoke fluently. Photos and a video will help this family recall the encounter.
Soon, it was time for us to get on with our next activity, a Vietnamese food crawl. We met Jilly, our guide, at the appointed location. A woman from Austria was a terrific companion. There was also a young woman from Melbourne, Australia, although she did not engage much in the conversation. We walked and walked and walked, stopping at five different eateries to try some Vietnamese foods – soup, vegetables, a rice dish, more soup and finally dessert. Coffee completed the evening. It was all delicious and excessive. Far too much food to eat it all. The neighbourhood we were in was crowded with pedestrians and vehicles. The sidewalks were jammed with merchandise that had spilled out of the shops so we walked on the road, narrowly dodging cars, scooters, and other pedestrians. It felt like chaos but Jilly described it as normal Sunday behaviour.
We completed the tour on “Train Street”. Literally a narrow corridor with shops, cafes, bars and eateries on both sides, Down the middle were train tracks, and yes, several times a day a real train would slowly pass by on those tracks. There was a lengthy warning bell and within minutes a real train made its way along the tracks.
We were almost close enough to touch it. This train was a passenger train. People on the train were waving out the windows and we, on the sideline, were waving back. It was quite a unique experience.
Having walked enough, we took a taxi back to our hotel. I am not sure we would have found our way otherwise. We were very tired. No problem falling asleep tonight.
Monday, January 26, 2026
Today is our last full day in this part of Hanoi. Tomorrow we will move to a new hotel and join the group of people who will travel with on tour of the Mekong River, parts of Laos and then Cambodia. Sixteen days in all. A new experience for us, being with a group of strangers for that long. I hope we like them.
So, what have we not done that we want to do. First up, a tour of the area. Normally we would go on the top of a Hop On Hop Off bus ut today is damp and chilly. Not conducive to open air travel. So, we opted for a 10 passenger mini-bus with open sides. There was a very brief commentary along the route as we passed by the many important and notable components of the neighbourhood. We tried to take photos as we travelled with some reasonable success.
We started at the lake we had enjoyed yesterday. Many young well dressed women were still coming to the lakeside to have their photos taken. We travelled through a substantial business area, viewing clothing shops, jewellery shops, hat and shoe shops, many eateries and cafes as well as variety stores and drugstores and the occasional laundry. The streets were thronging with people and scooters.
We moved on to some more major streets where we passed by government buildings, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, major recreational areas, a very large cathedral, several markets, and a very large lake right in the middle of the city.
Our little bus managed to navigate with trucks, cars, innumberable motor bikes, bicycle rickshaws, pedestrians, and full sized busses. Wide thoroughfares and skinny passages. The sidewalks were jammed with pedestrians and vendors, carrying baskets over their shoulders, pushing carts loaded with merchandise, sitting on curbs prepping food, wheel barrows filled with fruit, food carts with food prep occurring ... it was an amazing experience simply to drive through the city.
We returned to our starting point and immediately went for a coffee, the mainstay of life. But this time I had hot chocolate made with coconut milk which was delicious. Jim's coffee was very good as well. We sat in a corner cafe and watched the world go by. We also had a mundane errand to run ... laundry was ready to pick up at a nearby laundry service.
We made our way back to our hotel and enjoy our room for the afternoon. Jim was fatigued so he had a good sleep and I worked on this diary and photos. We will make it an early night tonight as tomorrow is a big shift in our travels.
Thank you for taking me back to Vietnam and Cambodia! We travelled on our own for a week Singapore to Hanoi before joining a Mekong River cruise in Siem Reap. We love river cruising and everyone is usually kind and friendly. We also took a cruise on Lan Ha Bay and had a nighttime squid fishing experience!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your blogs!!