Vietnam 2009

Nearly a year in the planning, we finally made it to Vietnam in Summer 2009. Three weeks of travelling the length of the country by train - a great adventure. We flew into Ho Chi Minh and spent a few days visiting the Cu Chi tunnels, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and Tay Ninh temple. Then we flew to Hanoi to explore the old quarter, had an overnight boat trip around Halong Bay. Then we got the train to Hue for a few days before getting the train to Da Nang to explore round there. From there we flew to Nha Trang as there were no train tickets available. We had a few days on the beach there as well as a visit to the mud baths at Thap Ba. The final train journey took us back to Hi Ch Minh City where it all started. The photos (from top left) show us enjoying a beer at a nice restaurant in Hanoi, the beach at Hoi An and Halong Bay. Further down, we meet our match at the Cu Chi tunnels near Ho ChiMinh, visit the Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, enjoy the famous lanterns of Hoi An and take a leisurely rickshaw ride to the sites.

The Coa Daist ceremony at the temple in TayNinh was amazing - as was the overnight cruise around Halong Bay with the ladies paddling out to the junks to sell their wares. The lady on the beach in Nha Trang is selling lobster which she BBQ'd before your eyes. Below are the impressive ruins at My Son and amongst the pictures of trains and scooters is a photo of us meeting up with the fantastic family we met on the overnight train to Hue. They had invited us out for a meal and far too many beers!