4/6/2008
With bike parts being shipped from Canada, we decided to take the waiting time and see more Vietnam, so we trained south to Hoi An. The weather changed dramatically – we are now sweating and enjoying a pool and beach environment. Hoi An is a lovely little, very touristy city with everything for the westerner: food, accommodations, souvenirs and hundred of persistent hawkers.! The main tourist purchase here is clothes made to order – in hours.
Scenes from Hoi An |
 |
|
 |
Bicycles and motorcycles are the best mode of transport, so we rented a moto and took a day to explore Da Nang, China Beach and a few seaside bays further north. The Vietnam war demilitarized zone (DMZ) was only 200 kilometers north. I am reading Robert McNamara’s account of the war and after seeing and experiencing Vietnam and Laos, their people and culture, it is so apparent we did not belong here.
Scenes from the Marble Mountain area |
|
 |
 |
Marble Mountain is a tiny bump along the flat shoreline landscape located just kilometers from the American base in DaNang. The caves hid a Vietcong women’s unit which shot down 22 planes. How was it no one knew they were there? How did they exist?
Fishing boats near Da Nang |
|
  |
4/7
A day in Hue. This is the location of an Imperial palace built in the late 1800’s – early 1900’s. Several emperors reigned over Vietnam from this palace. World War II and then the Vietnam War with the US destroyed all but 20 of the 148 buildings. Salvage and restoration has been in progress since 1990, so several of the lovely structures are complete and open to the public. Vietnam reflects strong Chinese influence that is minimal or thoroughly assimilated in the rest of Southeast Asia. Confucianism along with Chinese characters are seen everywhere. Hoi An and Hue are part of South Vietnam and display different attributes and local specialty foods than North Vietnam. One day we must see Saigon to experience its differences.
Tomorrow we fly back to Hanoi. DHL tracking says our bike parts were delivered, but our hotel can’t confirm that! Right now, Art is napping off a chest cold and I am writing in air conditioned comfort. The cool of Hanoi will be appreciated.
Hanoi
1. New Cyclo driver
2. Tired, cold and homeless |
 |
 |
4/9
Hanoi is like a sauna! When we left only days ago it was cold. Race Face sent the bottom brackets (angels from Bicycle Heaven) and the local mechanic, Nguyen of Star Bikes, put them in. We are good to go. Now, Art just needs to get rid of his terrible cold and we will be off to Ha Long Bay tomorrow.
.
. |
