“Same-same but different” is a phrase that is ubiquitous in SE Asia, and its meanings vary depending upon the speaker. A vendor trying to convince you that the North Face jacket is not a fake, or a chef trying to explain the taste of a tropical fruit you can’t find at home – same-same. In … More More Hanoi – same-same but different
By the time we leave for Canada on April 16, we will have spent a total of 10 days in Hanoi, interrupted by two trips away – one to Halong Bay and one to Sapa. We are halfway through our final week and the best advice we received was from a Travelfish article called, “Do … More How to do nothing in Hanoi
Sapa town was founded by the French in 1922 as a hill station and colonial holiday spot. This view from the lake is serene. Possibly this is how Sapa looked almost 100 years ago. This is how Sapa looks today. Like most of Vietnam, growth in Sapa is an unstoppable force, especially with the construction … More Mountains, mist and H’Mong: the ethereal appeal of Sapa
Halong Bay was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994 for good reason. There are just a handful of places in the world that have such extensive karst formations and the ever-changing sky and temperature make it a moody and romantic destination. Our photos won’t do it justice, but you’ll get the idea. We … More The Blessing and the Curse of Halong Bay
Never heard of Dong Hoi? Neither had we – it was our pitstop to move on to bigger things – some of the world’s largest caves, to be exact. We chose to stay in Dong Hoi, which is 40 km. away from the park, for a few more amenities and access to our 5:00 … More The Resurrection of Dong Hoi
“Seven people died in that house.” “Right there on that field – many Viet Cong dead.” “This wall – look at all the bullet holes.” “This wall” is part of the Citadel in Hue, which came under vicious attack in a Viet Cong military incursion known as The Tet Offensive in 1968. The battle lasted … More Chasing ghosts in Hue
This blog posting will be less tell, more show. First a quick intro: Hoi An was a major shipping port in the 16th and 17th centuries, with Dutch, Japanese and Chinese traders passing by these very walls. It would have become a much bigger city, but in the 19th century, the river silted up and … More Ancient Town Hoi An in photos
Walking through the streets of old Hoi An is a photographer’s dream – you can feel like a creative genius just by showing up. Ancient Town is filled with museums, Chinese and Japanese shophouses, art galleries, assembly halls and pagodas, bridges, old wells and masses of flowers. Every street is intersected with dozens of alleys, … More The exquisite beauty of perfect Hoi An
For those of you too young to get the reference, The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming! is a 1966 Norman Jewison comedy that played into American fears of a Russian invasion. Nha Trang is a Vietnamese beach town that is as famous for its long white crescent beach as it is for the very … More Nha Trang: The Russians are Coming!
Dalat became a vacation favourite of French Colonialists because of its temperate climate, abundant flowers and mountain and lakeside setting, and the name “Le Petit Paris” stuck. The French influence is still evident – many older Vietnamese speak French and the architecture and food have a strong Gallic stamp. Dalat is also known as the … More Dalat: Le Petit Paris, complete with Eiffel Tower
Leaving Ourselves Behind 