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  1. #1
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    A short holiday in Vietnam (Saigon, Da Nang and Hanoi)

    First stop, Hanoi. This will be our first trip to Vietnam. Starting off with the second day,......






    Pictured above: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and The Presidential Palace and a pond in the compound.

    Below: The Temple of Literature




    And a visit to the Vietnam Ethnology Museum


    During our first night in Hanoi we were introduced to a Vietnamese family where we ate dinner. The mother did most of the cooking. The father was a Vet and two (of five) of his twin daughters spent most of their time talking to us. The tour company we use understands we enjoy learning about different cultures when we visit different countries so they set the dinner up for us. One of the twins works for the same tour agency we use in Thailand.






    We stayed at the Sofitel (Legend Metropole) while in Hanoi. Our room,….












    Little more of the hotel. If you’re thinking about staying at this hotel you might want to consider requesting a room in the older part of the building/s.




    Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Bunker








    This time of year we’ll usually do a short vacation in Thailand, but we decided Vietnam now and the Thai trip after the New Year celebration due to a couple snags.

    If you’re thinking about visiting Vietnam with your Thai spouse, you’ll find they will not need a Visa. However you might. Open this site: Vietnam Embassy (When the page opens click on Vietnam Guide then click, Vietnam Visa then click, Vietnam Visa Exemption) to see if you’ll be required to get a Visa to visit Vietnam.

    Something to think about while spending some time here. The Vietnamese Dong


    You might want to make yourself a little chart, so when someone tells you a bowl of soup will cost you 29,000.00 VND you will not be shocked.

    Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

  2. #2
    ความสุขในอีสาน
    nigelandjan's Avatar
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    Great stuff as always from SL ,, superb accommodation 5 stars ,, although I could probably only afford the room downstairs in that one

  3. #3
    I'm in Jail

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    How much to stay in the bomb shelter, could be right up Nigels alley?

  4. #4
    Harbinger of Doom

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    Your carbon offsets must be enough to reforest the whole fucking Amazon single-handed.

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat
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    Wonderful photos mate, love the bomb shelter history bit. Thanks for sharing

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat
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    good report and pics.....thanks

  7. #7
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Yesterday we visited Hoi An and on the way; suggested by a friend (who was stationed there), we stopped by Marble Mountain.

    Hoi An. Nice tourist destination for a day and into the evening. There are even some; what looks like, pretty nice small hotels in the area. A lot of tourists in the area.










    Marble Mountain. I am not much into confined spaces so you will not see any pictures deep inside any caves. And a little note of caution,...if you plan to visit, take the elevator (up and down) if it's a wet day when you visit.












    We've moved to the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula in Da Nang for the next few days. Our room,...

    Master bedroom and bath/view:










    Downstairs bedroom and bath/view:






    Resort common areas:














    When leaving Hanoi I took a few pictures of the Mosaic Wall. It runs and sits on top of a levee that protects some low-lying areas of the city from the Red River's floods.


  8. #8
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    You certainly had a better time than I did - perhaps a return visit sans work might do the trick.

    Thank you, the pics are excellent and the contribution as well - - - as usual.

  9. #9
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    We spent the past couple days around Da Nang. Some places we visited,.......

    Dragon Bridge: Every Saturday and Sunday evening at 9:00pm they close the bridge to traffic and a show begins. Lots of people enjoying themselves. If you do plan to visit, don’t worry about getting there early, there will be plenty of room.










    Their Beach








    Carp Dragon


    Love Lock Bridge: They’ll sell you the lock and after you attached it to the bridge, they’ll remove it and resell it.




    Asia Park: Looked barren


    Ba Na Hills. About an hours drive from Da Nang and as I understand it's a resort (also) but we went for the cable car ride. We were told there were some nice things to see/do when on top but I didn't find it interesting. If you want to go for a nice long cable ride, go. Otherwise you might want to skip this adventure.






    We are off to Saigon for the last part of this holiday. If anyone of you are thinking about visiting Vietnam with your family you might consider the place we just left,...The InterContinental. I’ll miss this place.

    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    You certainly had a better time than I did - perhaps a return visit sans work might do the trick.

  10. #10
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    We arrived in Saigon in the late afternoon and went to see (some parts of) the Saigon River & Floating Temple










    Later we went for a walk looking for something to eat and afterwards we ran across Walking Street and The People’s Committee Building in the background






    Tallest building in Saigon


    Yesterday we visited Cai Be (for the floating market) and the Vinh Long Province in the Mekong Delta region.




    At the Floating Market, one bamboo pole with item (retail sales) and two bamboo poles with item (wholesale sales)




    Making rice paper


    Coconut candy


    Strange wine




    Making Nam Pla


    We are staying at the Majestic while in Saigon. Our room is OK and I am not one to complain, but I would like to say there are many other hotels in the area. The view from our corner room.






  11. #11
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    When driving to the hotel from the airport someone pointed out a building top that thought we might be interested in. We had a chance to visit that building when walking around the city during our last day in Saigon/Vietnam. I am sure others might remember the photo. The guard that works at the building (which rents office space to different companies) will understand why you want to go to the top floor (9th). Be kind to him if you do visit.


    We also went to visit a gate. The building behind the gate is the Independence Palace.




    Ben Thanh Market








    We also stopped by the Central Post Office, the Opera House and the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica.

    I want to thank everyone who stopped by to view the thread, left a positive comment and showed me some appreciation for starting the thread. It was a nice trip and we’re looking forward to spending more time in Vietnam (Hanoi, Da Nang and maybe Ha Long Bay) during a cooler time of the year.

  12. #12
    I'm in Jail

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    What a great shade of yellow ! It really makes that building glow.

    A belated thanks for all the great pics, S.L.

  13. #13
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    Thanks for the thread, brings back memories.

  14. #14
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    Great pics! I was there in July/Aug this year and I'm already suffering withdrawal - especially from the coffee!

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