Vietnam - Land of Smiles

[oceantravel]

I've been twice to Vietnam now, My first trip took me from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta to Chau Doc on the Cambodian Border. I liked it so much I vowed to make a second trip to see the rest of the country which is exactly what I did a year later.

Even though my first trip was only 5 days I saw a varied number of sights from the scooter madness of Ho Chi Minh City, the recent history of the American (as they call it) war and the laid back lifestyle of the Mekong Delta.

The second trip covered Hanoi. Halong Bay, Hue, Da Nang, NhaTrang and Ho Chi Minh city once more.

Ho Chi Minh City was scooter madness. The 21st Century has meant a swap from bicycles to scooters. Crossing the road is an interesting pastime too. You just have to walk into the road and go for it and hope the traffic weaves around you until you get to the other side.

Life on the river
Part of our trip was a river trip on the Mekong to the Cai Be Market.
The Mekong is big, wide and the color of coffee. Houses line the river on stilts and garbage is just thorwn out the back into the river.

The laid back lifestyle
Life on the Mekong is very relaxed. There is the hassle and bustle of traders on the river and you get the impression that everyone has their own job to do.

Life starts early, before sunrise. As it gets so hot most people take a break at lunchtime for a few hours so can be seen swaying in hammocks underneath their houses.