VIET NAM
2002I returned with friends over Christmas and New Year 2002 and enjoyed the country just as much. This trip took me to quite a few new places and back to some familiar ones. For much of the trip we rode in rented van so we could stop at will eat where we wanted.
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August 1999
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Lori and I met Kirk and Hong in Danang and drove north through the rain to Hue. Hue dates back to 1687 but is best known as the Nguyen emperors' capitol from 1802 to 1945. This is Thien Mu Pagoda built in 1601 and site of the self-immolation of monk Thic Quang Duc in 1963. |
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Viet Nam still sports numerous French villas from colonial days gone by but this one in Hue had a particularly macabre vibe. |
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We then meandered south back through Danang and headed for Hoi An. Still my favorite little town. This is the Japanese Covered bridge I noted on my previous trip - just a better picture! |
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In one of Hoi An's many Chinese association halls I shot this dragon's tail. |
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From Hoi An we went south again to Nha Trang (White House). The Po Nagar Cham towers pictured here were first constructed in the 7th century. This same spot was used as a holy place for Hindus from as early as the second century but over time the towers have become Buddhist spaces. |
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Christmas dinner at the beach in Nha Trang - soon to be followed by tequila. |
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Inland now to the central highlands. This is Dalat - a cool retreat from the South's hot summers. |
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And how could the French retreat without a dose of Catholicism? They built this cathedral between 1931-42. |
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This is The Crazy House - a bed and breakfast of the treehouse variety. Wonderful to see something totally bizarre and artsy and built by no less than a prime minister's daughter - she was there dancing in the ballroom when we came home from a day out. |
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Lori and I headed out to the coast again to Mui Ne for some beach relaxation. These Cham towers were somewhere along the way but I'd be hard pressed to say where exactly. |
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Mui Ne is a newish beach resort area and there are some nice places to stay here - this is the Sailing Club. |
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After a few days lazing around we headed down to Saigon to meet up with Kirk and Hong again. This is Saigon's Post Office - built in 1886 and still Viet Nam's largest. |
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Another place to shade the French - Saigon's Notre Dame cathedral built in 1877. |