Good Morning Viet Nam!!!!!

Is this the Face of a Happy Camper or what?

We arrived in Viet Nam last week and have been lovin' life since we got here. Though sharing a boarder with the Chinese Viet Nam is a world away in culture, cuisine, and cacophony? (Ah - the elusive third rhyme in alliterative verse).

As lead-off hitter for the Viet Nam vs. China comparison, we head to the storefronts of Ha Noi. While restaurants just 165km North in China have Dogs, Snakes and Odd-shaped Rodents as their "tantalizing treats" in the window (See the "China Part 4" post for further detail - arguably one of the better posts) the restaurants in Ha Noi dangle these.....
Apparently the French left more behind than simply appalling city planning and white flags.

But seriously, the French influence here is amazing. I have been able to enjoy French press coffee, Pain au Chocolat, and Escargot - and that's just from the street vendors!
Curbside Baguette anyone?
Every nook and cranny of Ha Noi's Old Quarter is filled with French atmosphere. For example, here's a Nook I passed the other day
And here are some neighboring crannies
The French architecture extends from major municipal and cultural buildings such as the Opera house (you read that right - Opera) and Cathedral to each and every street corner. It's just Grand.
But it's not all fun and games people. Actually, it is. For example - crossing the street. While this is a lost art in the West, where LED's flash the ubiquitous "walking man" and droves of pedestrians mindlessly have faith that the "walk / don't walk" machine would never place them in harms way, in Vietnam it remains a highly interactive experience. The best method we've derived so far is to concentrate on making eye contact with 17 or so motorists simultaneously while slowly placing one foot in front of the other and not stopping for any reason. NOT STOPPING FOR ANY REASON.
Should you fail to heed our waring, you could be met with this fate....
Note the Heels!

I've witnessed at least one motor bike accident per day in Ha Noi - don't worry, nothing serious.

Ingrid and I have enjoyed Ha Noi so much that we've camped out here for an entire week - Sans a three day trip to Ha Long Bay (keep reading young Skywalker - patience).

Though there is much more for us to see during our adventures, at present, we'd strongly recommend this location to anyone looking to escape to the East and bask in a very special city.

Ladies and Gentlemen, for your retinal pleasure, allow me to introduce - Ha Long Bay.
Unlike the Karst limestone topography in China, shaped by millions of years of caustic erosion, the Karst limestone topography of Ha Long Bay was formed when an enormous dragon fell from the heavens and landed in the Bay of Tonkin. As the giant dragon thrashed about, it's tail formed depressions that were filled by the ocean and Ha Long Bay was created.
(Ha Long means "where the dragon descends into the sea" - how they get all that from "Ha Long" is beyond me)
We took cruised for three days aboard a mighty vessel
Explored the limestone caves found throughout the islands - Quick Fact - "Hospital Cave" served as a secret hospital during the American War.
Summited the towering island peaks
kayaked among the plethora of promontory - "I know, I know, Cut your hair"
and did it all under the watchful eye of our very own dragon.
The time afloat was a welcomed respite from urban life, however even at sea, we were unable to avoid the "Hello, buy something" call of vendors.
In a few hours we begin our journey South along the Viet Nam coast. Wish us luck and pray we don't encounter any dragons....


Yeaaah!
Me joudsime Vietnami. Kuigi Ha Nois ujuma veel ei laheks, on siin siiski monus ja voib paikse paistelisel paeval isegi lyhikese varukaga ringi kaija.

Nagu Adam mainis, on siin kovasti yht koma teist Prantslastest maha jaanud alustades saiakeste, kohviga ja lopetades hoonetega. Nii siis kui ma yks paev Prantsusmaale peaks minema voib mulle tunduda, et olen jalle Viet Namis.

Ok, nyyd siis selgus, et need ilusad Lime stone(kivi) maed mis on mu lemmikuteks saanud, jooksevad Hiinast kuni Viet Namini valja. Et seda ilu jalle nautida, votsime 3 paevase laeva reisi, Ha Long Baylt, kus yhe oo veetsime laevas ja yhe Cat Ba saarel. Seal turnisime magede otsa, kaisime koobastes ning soitsime systaga magede ja vee kylade vahel. Kui ilm oleks ujumis kolblik, siis vist veedaks seal kandis vahemalt nadala voi rohkem.

Seikluseid jatkub aga koikjal ja alati. See et sind yhest bussist 3 x edasi tagasi tostetakse, kuna tootajad on pidevas segaduses on taiesti tyhine ja loomulik. Ja nagu yhel teisel laeval juhtus olema, ei olnud yhel paaril isegi lubatud toit tellitud ja hotelli ruumist ei tahtnud keegi juttu teha. Sellest seiklusest pajatas kogu seltskond lausa mitu paeva raakides et kuidas see klient(suur mees) hakkas siis olle jooma ja keeldus maksmast,enne kui asjad on korda aetud ja neil noutud asjad olemas. Enne kaptneniga kakluseks minemist lahendati asjad siiski ara. Parast jarjekordset bussist bussi inimeste nihutamist selgus, et see "suur mees" oli Eestlane ja mul oli voimalik kuulda nende poolne originaal juhtum eesti keeles.

Vietnami peamiseks liiklusvahendiks on mootor rattad ja kuna kohalikud on juba synnist saati rataste otsas yles kasvanud, ei ole naistel mingi probleem kimada ringi korge kontsa jalanudega.



Teede yletamisel avastasime Adamiga, et foori tuld pole motet oodata, kuna liiklus ei peatu kunagi. Nii siis yletasime teed sammu haaval, lastes soidukitel nii eest kui tagant mooda kimada.

$1.- = umb. 15000.- Dongi. Oobimine $1.-6.- oo.
Toit(praad) ligi $1-2.- Olu (umbes .-20 kuni $1.-) on odavam kui mahl($1.-).