The sign says welcome to Noi Bai Airport. Hey, weren’t we just here? That was all of two days ago. It feels like it was two months ago. We’ve been busy. Here’s a Northern Vietnam recap. Continue reading “Northern Vietnam Recap”
Where Worlds Collide
Just outside Hanoi, Vietnam, a farmer grows rice on a small plot of land, the same way it’s been done for hundreds of years. Just beyond his parcel of land, a new, modern factory pumps out the latest Nokia mobile phones. This is where worlds collide. Continue reading “Where Worlds Collide”
Grandpa’s Bones
In the West, when a loved one passes, we grieve, we honor them with a funeral, then we get on with our lives. In Vietnam, honoring one’s ancestors is a larger part of life. And for some traditional families in the north, when, say, grandpa passes on, that includes doing the right things with grandpa’s bones. Continue reading “Grandpa’s Bones”
Ahhhh… Life in the Country!
It’s not Sunday, but we’re on a “Sunday Drive” from Ha Long Bay to Hanoi, Vietnam. Other than the modern highway we’re on and the occasional tractor, it appears that farming life in this part of Vietnam goes on today much as it has for hundreds of years. Continue reading “Ahhhh… Life in the Country!”
Invading Mongol Hordes! Yikes!
After a spectacular sunrise on Ha Long Bay, it’s time to head back towards Hanoi. We’ll drive parallel to Vietnam’s Bạch Đằng river, the scene of something that has rarely happened in history – the rout of an invading Mongol army. Continue reading “Invading Mongol Hordes! Yikes!”
Waking Up on Ha Long Bay
We made it! We’re finally cruising on Ha Long Bay. No doubt about it, this place is amazing. We’ll cruise around the bay this afternoon and spend the night on the boat. I’m looking forward to waking up on Ha Long Bay. Continue reading “Waking Up on Ha Long Bay”
Woo-Woo’s Dark Side
While visiting Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, I was involved in an eerie woo-woo experience. The spirit world is alive and well in Vietnam. It can be comforting and positive. But not all spirits are comforting or positive. One could say they’re part of woo-woo’s dark side. Continue reading “Woo-Woo’s Dark Side”
Woo-Woo is Alive in the Far East
I recently had a woo-woo experience that I won’t soon forget. We were at a pearl factory showroom at Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay. Based on that experience, there’s no doubt in my mind – woo-woo is alive in the Far East. Continue reading “Woo-Woo is Alive in the Far East”
Close Encounter of the Woo-Woo Kind
Before boarding a boat on Ha Long Bay, we stopped at a pearl factory – the ideal place to buy pearls, eh? Travel books advise tourists to bargain when in Vietnam, but when I tried to bargain at the pearl factory, I had a close encounter of the woo-woo kind. Continue reading “Close Encounter of the Woo-Woo Kind”
From Noodles to Oodles
If you drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay you may see, rising up from an otherwise rural setting, a gleaming, modern city complete with parks, lakes, and luxury accommodations. It’s creator is a guy who started by selling instant noodles. Now he’s the richest man in Vietnam. You might say he went from noodles to oodles. Continue reading “From Noodles to Oodles”
