No, I am not adopting a child in Vietnam. This morning we rose early again for a visit to the ruins of My Son. They were very interesting, pocked as they are by B52 craters and bullet holes. I don't have the patience to upload photos so if you are interested you know what to do. (Google images, no?) After this I am going to the market for a quick pedicure and then out to the beach on a rented bicycle via rice paddies and lotus flower farms. Ahh...this is the life. [View Full Entry]

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Yes, what I wouldn't give for a better camera about now. There are too many photo opportunities and too little time to wait for my camera's delay. Yesterday we began the day with a Cyclo ride to the impressive Citadel in Hue. Later we checked out of the hotel to drive down the coast and ate a nice seafood lunch at Lang Co beach in a thunderstorm where the rain poured sideways. Beautiful and cooling. After lunch we continued over the Hai Van pass, past China Beach and Danang on our way to Hoi An. Seeing a bunker left over from [View Full Entry]

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Hoi An is a beautiful town, with a lively market, tailoring and jewelry making. [View Full Entry]

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Motorbike is one of the most common means of transport in Vietnam, next to bicycle and Cyclo. The Vietnamese bicycle may be ridden by two schoolgirls ambling across town or a merchant carrying anything from chickens to Coca Cola on the back of the bicycle. Today we went on a motorbike tour through the city and countryside of Hue. The entire family often travels on one motorbike, but we sped around town in pairs; one driver and one passenger. Tomorrow we visit the Citadel of Hue via Cyclo and then head to Hoi An for 3 days. Hopefully I will have [View Full Entry]

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Where to begin? Yesterday we went to Halong Bay, where we spent the night on a "Junk." It is absolutely one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. We hiked into a cave, swam at a small beach and also jumped off of the roof of the boat into the water. You'll have to google it for now as there is a long line of people waiting for this computer. This afternoon we returned to Hanoi where we spent 3 hours on mountain bikes, cycling through rice paddies and small villages as children sang out "hello, hello" along the [View Full Entry]

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A million tourist a year still haven't been able to ruin the beauty and serenity of Halong Bay. [View Full Entry]

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These are some images from One Temple Pagoda in Hanoi. [View Full Entry]

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Ho Chi Minh that is. Today we went to the Masoleum, where Ho Chi Minh's embalmed body is kept on view to the public. Wow! Later we took a side alley and encountered what appeared to be a Vietnamese wake. There was a small coffin under a tent, with an altar, a photo and offerings. The tent had an official looking permit on it and it looked as if the body would be on view for 5 days. Let's hope he had some of those chemicals Ho Chi Minh has running through his veins. We also walked about 8 miles, visiting [View Full Entry]

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I made it to Vietnam! I honestly can't remember a smoother trip. My flight was delayed 1 hour into Hong Kong so making the connection was stressful, but that happens in Newark and Chicago too. I can't really say a 13 hour flight feels much worse than a 7 hour flight. It is long and cramped but you know at the end it will be worth it. I met Samantha at the baggage claim, her flight came in 3 minutes after mine and we were in the same baggage carousel. What are the chances? We breezed through customs, grabbed a taxi [View Full Entry]

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Hello. I am traveling to Asia for the first time this July. I arrive in Hanoi July 11. [View Full Entry]

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