Blogs from Vietnam, Asia - page 8

We had a full day of splendid sailing after departing Phnom Penh. Sailing the Mekong River during daylight was one of the highlights of this trip. We watched life on the Mekong with its many villages, temples, farmlands and we even spotted a reclining Golden Buddha near the shores. We captured a lovely sunset photo featuring a red sun! We had a long delay at the Vietnamese Border, I presume due to Vietnamese border issues. We didn't plan our trip very well as we started in Vietnam, flew to Cambodia then returned to Vietnam on the cruise. As a result, the Vietnamese embassy made us pay for 2 visas (one time entry only) which set us back about $900! So plan to do Vietnam in a one time, one month visit or you will pay the ... read more

We are so glad that we added Hoi An to our itinerary! What a treat just walking around the streets! No wonder it is a protected UNESCO site - it is maintained in all its historical glory! You can buy a pass and visit up to 5 of their historical sites sprinkled all through the old town. We visited temples, assembly halls and a theatre that featured local musicians and showcased traditional Vietnamese dance. I am sure the dancers that got to be dragons and roosters loved performing those roles as much as we loved playing Disney characters and Storm troopers in our earlier dance Days!!! Darold joined his fellow monkey (statue) at one end of the famous Japanese Covered Bridge (the other end was a dog) - the 2 Chinese animals signs bookended the bridge. ... read more

Some fascinating facts about Vietnam The country’s best coffee is made from weasel poo It’s made from civets, a type of weasel with these incredible noses to let them sniff out the best beans. Once they’ve found them, they chew them, swallow them and, as nature would have it, they poop them out, at which point the beans have become a little fermented and apparently all the better to make your cup of Coffee with. Vietnam is the world’s largest exporter of cashew nuts Interesting Vietnam fact for you: they produce 60% of the world’s cashews The world’s largest cave is here Hang Son Doong Cave is the biggest cave worldwide at over 200m high, 175m wide and 9.4km long. Also known as the Mountain River Cave, it was first discovered in 1990 and you’ll find ... read more

Can’t believe we are on the final day already but what an adventure ! So ready for the next one !!! This morning another early start visiting the Cu chi tunnels made by the Viet Con during the war ( unlike Vinh Moc tunnels dug to protect a village ) 7 am we boarded a speed boat for 1.5 hours to reach the tunnels . What a place ! Such clever people . And small people ! The tunnels and escape holes were tiny !! We crawled down a short section ! Not sure how they ran down them with guns !! Incredible place , so glad we visited . Back to the city on the boat , final shopping for souvenirs . Took the open bus tour for an hour then managed to fit in ... read more

Cycling grannies ! Left Phu Quoc behind on a fast … 2.5 hours… ferry to Rach Gia packed with people and motorbikes A drive to Can Tho for our homestay in the Mekong Delta . Met by our lovely host Susan . Our room was nice with super floral mosquito nets and a urinal you almost put your face into using the toilet ! A lovely lunch to follow and then on the bikes for a whistle stop tour of the locality seeing Guavas, pomelos , jack fruit , rice, local ducks , mangroves ,. Even stopped at a family cutting down their coconuts, Granny on the floor wielding a huge knife just chopping them apart next to her bare feet! Have us some juice to try . A Buddhist pagoda, Khymer , 300 years ... read more

Toured the islands in a speed boat … Sooo many fish !! Amazing snorkelling not without some strong currents ! Followed by a wonderful Bbq lunch with some epic prawns. ! And of course we realised even with the cloud, whilst snorkelling , we would get sunburnt …. Then an amazing massage on the beach to follow … want to bottle that experience up and take it home !!! A stroll to the night market . Why do they feel the need to dye dogs ears and tails !!.. Watched a man with a chainsaw bigger than him , on a roof cutting timbers to dismantle it wearing flip flops ….. Night market was nice but definitely put on for the tourists, but worth the visit . Surprisingly nice fish shaped ice cream for pudding Why ... read more