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Vietnam, so they will have you believe, is still communist. To me it seems like a teenager; rebeling against the heritage millions died for, because other than the red flags and the obvious amount of state control, it isn't much different in many respects to its neighbours.
Hanoi was our first port after a not-so-grueling 24hr bus ride from Vientianne. Hanoi is a great city, so busy with mopeds round the clock that unless your willing to step out into what seems like a stampeed of motorised animals you wouldn't get very far. uncle Ho (Ho chi Minh) rests here, 10 months out of every year, in a glass coffin. Its free to see him but it's a quick visit and he looked suspiciously like a wax-work to us - not much time or expertise to examine though! The parks around the city are a class act, its like you've put some 'anti gym-machine glasses' on when everywhere you look there are people walking or running, interrupting their own rhythm by sticking out a limb at a random angle every stride, jumping strangely or just walking like they learned from John Cleese - good fun to watch!
The
water puppet shows, conducted in a theatre on the edge of a lake to the South of the old town, is a must. I'm not going to explain why because even with my power of description, I would do it no justice, surffice to say if your ever in Hanoi, go!
From Hanoi we took a 3 day trip round the 3000 islands off the coast at Halong Bay. Legend has it the Islands were created by a Dragon that came down from the highest peak and carved his way through the land with his body, but I'm not convinced. Really beautiful scenery (one would expect nothing less from Vietnam) and really good times with plentiful characters, Vodka, a head injury and a fair share of angry monkeys!
We arrived at Titop island (named by Uncle Ho after the Russian pilot who flew him into Vietnam during the war) for a panoramic view of the area. To reach land we had to jump across another boat with quite a low roof. I went for it landed well with one foot and the captain grabbed my arm and pulled me in with all the strength of a sailors arm,
in-doing-so he smacked my head on the roof of the boat causing me to tumble into the ocean like a gull after a fish - only with a little less grace!
The trip included a trek through a jungle engulfed hill with Mr Choa (Mr Joe to you or me), a 71 year old Cat Ba Island resident who apart from being the fittest 71 year old on the planet (after Jimmy Saville of course) is the only person I've ever met able to write perfectly in a language of which they cannot speak a word. The last part of the trip was a swim to Monkey Island. A really small paradise with a white beach, turquoise sea and numerous families of monkeys behind a foot high wall. It's really cool to see monkeys in the closest thing to a nautral habitat I've ever encountered, but there is one drawback - they can attack you! Our trip to Monkey Island lasted around 5 minutes before we were driven back into the sea by a number of rampaging furballs - ah well!
The Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) was a liitle different to what a few of us had imagined. The
defiant roots of foliage gas pierced Agent Orange's skin with a little help from 32 or so years and various regeneration projects. This has made the land in the area, although not alive with the sounds and sights a jungle terrain should, at least hopefully green. The tunnels used by the local community and as part of the transportation networks known as the Ho Chi Minh trails were a real eye-opener. Whole towns would live in these for 5 or more years, children were born here, many died. The museum was typically one-sided with many pictures of American soldiers fleeing from various scenarios and a few American helicopters and planes.
Enough of the history, shopping... If any of you are sat thinking you could use some cheap tailored clothes and a beach holiday - get yourself to Hoi An. The best thing about Hoi An for me was the fresh beer on the riverside and at only 2000VND (8p) a drink and the beach. For most of the ladies and a few of the guys it was the unfeasable amount of clothes shops, you've got to understand, the women here are the best sales people you could meet- making
it near impossible to leave without several packages to ship home. The beach at Hoi An is great in the late afternoon, full of locals having dinner while the kids kick jelly fish with bare feet. I got talking to a family who invited me to sit with them and gave me fresh crab and beer and then got Charlotte, Mike and Fiona to join, good times.
Ho Chi Minh city is a sprawling place with an area a little like Khoa San in Bangkok for the travelling community. We wouldn't stay here too long, long enough to visit the war Remenants museum and take a day trip to the Mekong Delta. The War Remenants museum was one of the most upsetting places I've been in my life. I've heard people say that TV and film desensitises us to violence and suffering- well having seen Arnie shooting everyone in sight and Taranteno's best efforts I wasn't even close to being ready. Amongst the worst were deformed babies in jars, pictures of massacred women and children, remains of soldiers and horrible images of deformed and injured children. Interesting but hard going to say the least.
The Mekong Delta was
a funny trip - the guide continually sang songs he had translated into English and it was like being in honey I shrunk the kids in all those reids. We were treated to some traditional song and music during lunch by the worst band in existence. It was OK though, the guide pounced on the opportunity to sing us a song...
You have come to Vietnam
From England, from America, from Europe, from India, from Australia, from New Zealand, from China...
You can see the scenery, the hills, the trees, the rivers, the DMZ,
By Plane or by train or by open tour bus, or by Cyclo or by motorbike....
Vietnam in our hearts, Vietnam in our minds x 10.
Speak soon.
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Plummy & Lynds
non-member comment
Ho Chi Minh, dmz and Mr Choa
well 8p for lager cant get better than that but I bet it will, Paul who said that isnt a good look for you let me know and i'll sort em. Going good guys i will catch up next time see ya!!