Blogs from Hoi An, Quảng Nam, South Central Coast, Vietnam, Asia - page 9

At the beginning of 2013, Lifestart Foundation expanded their services to a government run shelter for disabled adults. Home to approximately 150 residents over the age of 16, the shelter provides a place to live for those whose disabilities have left them with nothing. The shelter sits within a walled complex, where residents share numerous cramped, bare walled rooms, sleep on low hard beds (normal for Vietnam) and wash in several large communal bathrooms. Most are unable to leave the grounds of the only place they will know until they die. Its easy for a place like this to be viewed negatively and understandably so if you focus on the bare rooms and lack of personal belongings alongside the sight of young adults bed bound by their disabilities, lying in rooms with a stench of urine ... read more

Geo: 15.875, 108.336Had a bit of a sleep in, then buffet breakfast again...Into Hoi An for some shopping before lunch - Kate is having some clothes made - a coat, 3 tops and 4 pants.Back to the resort to escape the heat, then a massive storm hit - wild winds, thunder, lightning and heaps of rain.Two hours later - clear skys and milder weather.The food/climate changes finally caught up with Derek - chicken soup for dinner and an early night.... read more

We left Phong Nha early on a day tour that would take us across to Hue. We went through the DMZ (Demilitarised Zone) which was the border that separated North and South Vietnam until 1975, and saw the Vinh Moc tunnels. It was an eerie experience to be in the tunnels, from 5 to 30m underground (though we think the hillside slope has something to do with the outrageous depth we supposedly went to). An entire village lived in these tunnels for over 4 years, and 17 babies were born in the maternity room (see picture below of what constitutes a room underground). It took them one year to complete digging the tunnels with shovels and picks. We ended up in Hue, and stayed at the DMZ Hotel, keeping with the theme of the day. We ... read more

For those of you back home who may think we are on a blissful retreat, think again. In fact there are times when we sure would like a little bit of peace and quiet! When we rented our little house we didn't know that it came with an entire family of squeaking, chittering and sometimes fluttering guests. Though the garden isn't large it does have a well established mango tree and many flowering plants as well as two ponds. So there is plenty of room for critters of all shapes and sizes to hang out. Sure, we are paying rent, but they have been here much longer than we have and even though some of them aren't as easy to live with as others (I'm talking to you red ants) generally, we all get along. In ... read more

Based upon the below advice from friends, I had planned on visiting the following places as South, Middle, and North, each with the indicated times below. The train from Ho Chi Minh to the middle of Vietnam was 18 hours, so Ashlee suggested we stop half way between Ho Chi Minh and Hoi An and spend a week at the beach in Nha Trang. Nha Trang was only about 9 hours north of Ho Chi Minh by train. I never say no to the beach. If you are traveling by train this might be a better mix. As some of you know, I work from my computer, so I can't move as often as some travelers. So I generally try to spend a week or more in each place and move residence (?) only on weekends. ... read more