On the Trail of Uncle Ho - Vietnam: Photos 42 to 60

Borders are rarely this significant. Usually the fact that some imaginary line on a map has been crossed does not actually show itself on the ground. The Laos-Vietnam border is different; we went from a steep, almost vertical, climb up through thick jungle to a sudden line of no trees, flat, bare ground and huge excavators eating away more of the hillsides. Suddenly there was a 6 lane road and houses everywhere. These houses were not the bamboo and hardwood huts we were used to, they were tiny concrete boxes, housing large families plus their motos.

Now “motos’’ (scooters and motorbikes) are everywhere too. There is a serious fashion business going on in Moto helmets too - you can get them in all colours with attachable sun brims in baby pink. The women also are seriously into covering up. Really most people here wear more “Hijab” than in Iran, but it is all about staying pale in this fierce sun.

The road from the border was brand new and enormous but had no traffic, there were street lights and people, there were shops with stuff in them, that stay open after dark!!!All of this was so novel after a

Full Text Entry: On the Trail of Uncle Ho - Vietnam

I've been following your trip for some time now ie a couple of years! The blogs have suddenly stopped - have you finished?

I was in the US Air Force and was stationed in Pleiku from May of 1968 until May of 1969, at the height of the war. But I have many fond memories of my year there, and would share some with you, if interested. Thanks for your blog, it is very interesting.

I've been following your trip for some time now ie a couple of years! The blogs have suddenly stopped - have you finished?

I was in the US Air Force and was stationed in Pleiku from May of 1968 until May of 1969, at the height of the war. But I have many fond memories of my year there, and would share some with you, if interested. Thanks for your blog, it is very interesting.