Part 1
We start our exploits in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. Our first impression of this city is absolute awe struck. The traffic here is unbelievable. You DO NOT want to be renting a car if you plan on visiting the city. No and No.
Street signs, lights and lines on the road don’t mean shit! Get from A to B and not get killed is the name of the game from what we are seeing. Controlled chaos.
Our first cab ride from our apartment is a stinky one. Reid compares it to the Falher Pirates dressing room. Rotting fruit in the middle console may have something to do with it.
First thing is first. We must find data for our phones. We are pleasantly surprised when we find out that 60GB of data will cost us $13USD. Boy do we get it in the tailpipe back home. Cab rides are also cheap here. $0.61CDN/km gets you where you need to go.
Unfortunately Vietnam didn’t get the toilet technology memo. Regular old crappers in every room. NO BIDETS. I am saddened.
Coffee here in Vietnam is also much different then back home. I black coffee, hot consists of 3 shots of espresso, or so it may seem.
I quickly remedy this problem by making friends with our local bakery dude, Duc, and explain the Canadian way we make coffee. Not to be rude but it isn’t a big issue. He expresses his enthusiasm in helping a tourist and I have made a new friend.
After a rousing game of “do some homework”, we grab a cab and head off for Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The OQ has been in existence since imperial times and was once a residential, manufacturing and commercial centre. It is now the MECCA for cheap shopping and people watching.
A haircut and a beer is the order of the day after booking some of our tours leaving from Hanoi. Ha Long Bay and Tam Coc.
A special treat was meeting up with the Eliuk Family from Edmonton. We were both featured in a Global News Interview before we left on our trip. They have been a couple steps ahead of us but we finally caught up with them. A nice night of great food and conversation takes the edge off of the insanity the Vietnam has so far proved to be.
An early morning bus ride to Ha Long Bay was less than impressive. Don’t buy the cheap transportation out of town. You get what you pay for. Mini seats crammed into the space provided. Not comfort at its finest…
Check out the LONGER VERSION for a more in depth play by play.
Ha Long Bay has been a must see on my list of Vietnam things to do so a few piss offs along the way will be easy to take once we see the magnificent spectacle that the limestone karsts of the Bay represent.
Unreal… Not Great Wall of China unreal but something that will be etched into my memory forever.
Its December now and we are in Vietnam!
It’s the weekend and the streets of the OQ are riddled with dancing, music and games. Our exploration will be short today as an early morning trip to Tam Coc is next on our list.
We do not scrimp on transportation this round. The bus back from Ha Long scared the shit out of us enough that a luxury limousine bus was a no brainer. The people we met in the tour this time around made it all worthwhile. A couple of newly wed Aussies, a cool cat from Vancouver and a couple from… LACRETE, ALBERTA! Hahahaha. Small, small world I tell ya.
The river cave system of Tam Coc is another UNESCO World Heritage Site and made for some great photos and experiences. From our boat driver who rows with his feet to the tops of the mountain peaks, We had a great day of exploring and learning.
The Suzuki Cup Semi Finals for the AFF are being played right now and Vietnam is in the thick of things. It is great to be involved in sport way over here. Such passion and excitement in the streets shown for their Asian football team. TVs line the sidewalks and scooters litter every inch of walking space.
Tomorrow we head to Danang! Danang me Danang me, why don’t you get a rope and hang me! Nothing like some more Robin Williams quotes to sooth the soul.
The beaches of Danang are some of the best in the world. We do get a hint of sun for a couple days but nothing like we would have hoped for. Nonetheless, we have sun and sand for the first time on our trip.
The next day sees us headed for Hoi An, land of the tailors. The weather called for rain so we chose this day to go and get fitted for my custom- tailored suit. Kimmy Tailor catches our eye and has good reviews so on in we go to get fitted by none other then Edmontonian Doug Le.
This is top notch service with great prices and an insane turn-around time. I will be picking this suit up tomorrow already. Check out the LONGER VERSION for more details.
We got to experience our first Bia Hoi, a sweet Vietnamese foot massage and our first monsoon like downpour all in one day. Thanks Hoi An!
Our next day starts off with a bleak weather forecast but as in Alberta, if you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes. The sun is shining in these whiteys from the north. Pass the sunscreen… Not a bad day on the beach. Early to bed for these sun-drenched Canadians.
Another day in Hoi An but at least it was sunny! I pick up my suit today plus we do a bit of send home Christmas shopping.
Things I’ve noticed about Vietnam.
1 Beer is insanely cheap
2 Suits are also cheap
3 Pho is also cheap
4 You can eat drink and clothe yourself for mere dollars a day
5 Traffic is crazy. Scooters are prevalent.
6 Once you commit to crossing the street, just go or you will die.
7 It’s not that clean. A lot of trash everywhere.
8 The beaches are sick. Some of the coolest I’ve seen.
9 If you are a single male, drugs and boom boom will be offered.
Another shot at the beach is cut short due to rain but we wait it out and sun once again pokes her head out for a tease. Off in the distance, a massive Lady Buddha statue pokes out from the treetops. Tomorrow we must mail our box of gifts and useless travel items home so the plan is a date with this Lady…
Our van driver, Dragon and the Ruby Light Hotel agrees to haul us around for a cool $400,000VND to mail some stuff and visit the statue on this, our last day in Danang. We had hoped that it would be a bit cheaper but $200 is the cost to ship the 10kg box home to Canada.
The Lady Buddha is no disappointment. That’s for sure. Standing 30 stories high and looking over the entire monkey island, we are in awe of her beauty. It is such a peaceful feeling even though it is very crowded. Well worth the trip out.
Our time in Hanoi, Hoi An and Danang were filled with ups and downs. Lots of good and some bad but all in the name of travel. Our next couple weeks plan to be filled with more sun, relaxation and a visit with an old friend.
Stay tuned…
Another amazing read….I feel like I am there with your family experiencing all theses wonders of the world! You have to take the bad with the good don’t you….all part of your wonderful memories made with your family!
One of your best posts to date! You’ve got a knack for putting the reader on the street next to you (trying not to get hit by a scooter). Fantastic. Going to go read the long version. All my best to la famille.