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Thailand/Vietnam 2025
  • Dean Parham
  • Dean Parham

Thailand/Vietnam 2025

A 20-day adventure by Dean Read more
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  • Trip start
    March 3, 2025
    Dean ParhamThailand/Vietnam 2025Traveler

    Stopover in Melbourne

    March 3, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    OK. Nothing much happening yet. But needed to anchor the start of the trip. To avoid a 4am start in Canberra tomorrow, came to Melbourne tonight to luxuriate at the Parkroyal Melbourne Airport and to make a civilised start to catching the flight tomorrow to Bangkok.Read more

  • Dean ParhamThailand/Vietnam 2025Traveler

    Overnight in Bangkok

    March 5, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Ahhh...All is well. This morning's coffee was good. We stayed at the airport hotel which required a route march from the terminal. At least it was underground and that shielded us from the heat (35 degree) and humidity (2350%). The hotel does need a bit of a refurb but the rooms feature the widest beds in existence. Sue and I set off for the journey to our respective sides of the bed and texted each other our goodnights.
    We've hired a car and driver to take us down to the coast this morning. We'll be there a few days. Time now to have a second coffee.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamThailand/Vietnam 2025Traveler

    Hua Hin

    March 6, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    The car trip to Hau Hin took about 3.5 hours. It's a little closer than it sounds as there was lots of traffic in the urban sprawl.
    Through her connections, Sue got us booked into the 'club' section of a beach resort. It's pretty good as there is free pretty-reasonable coffee on tap, free ice cream 3-4 pm and free drinks and eats 5-7pm. It's right on the beach, where we went for a walk this morning before it got too hot.
    The main compulsion is to loll about.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamThailand/Vietnam 2025Traveler

    It's not all beer and skittles

    March 7, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Yesterday I recorded 14,555 steps. So it's not all sitting around. One has to be vigilant. SBS (sweaty bum syndrome) can be a wrench on the non-breathing cushions. And this morning a bird flying overhead shat in my cup of tea! And, above all, there is serious danger of relaxation.Read more

  • Dean ParhamThailand/Vietnam 2025Traveler

    Finishing up at Hua Hin

    March 8, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    The indulgence is drawing to a close. Going back to Bangkok a bit later to start the tour. It's been pretty good here. It's a great hotel -- the leafy grounds, apart from anything else, set it apart. A good beach, which invites long walks when the tide goes out a bit. Good food and comfort. A bit special -- like having dinner beachside, hearing the waves roll in as the offshore breeze keeps you cool.
    It's largely an older clientele here. And seemingly a lot of Europeans. In a nice touch, a few of the older gentlemen have brought their granddaughters out for a holiday. Isn't that nice of them.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamThailand/Vietnam 2025Traveler
    Bridge over the River Kwai
    Bird on the bridge over the River Kwai2Another bird on the bridge over the River KwaiLunchBoarding the boat2Rooms are a little squeezy3Upper deck more roomy. Might have to relax again1Tonight's dinner3Apparent temperature apparently 43. SBS could be an issue.There's a lot of fish farming

    Boat on the River Kwai

    March 10, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    The thing about the countryside in Thailand is that there is no countryside. At least where we went -- north-west from Bangkok. Just urban sprawl.
    We left the v. nice hotel and bussed to a museum about the Burma-Thailand railway for the expected horrifics and some unexpected context.
    Next to THE bridge over the River Kwai which, apart from rebuilt pylons and metal replacing wood, was pretty much in original condition.
    After a spot of lunch, we transferred to our boat for a trip up the Kwai.
    The group seems on the old side. Sue is the spring chicken. Hope to learn all their names (12) by the end.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamThailand/Vietnam 2025Traveler
    Hellfire Pass
    The RV River Kwai (our boat)1The tender to get us from boat to shore -- and another bridge over the River Kwai4G & T time

    Hellfire pass

    March 11, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    There was more countryside in the countryside today -- plantations of rice, mango, tapioca and banana and a mountain range shielding us from Myanmar. We were on our way to Hellfire Pass. It was both impressive and troubling. The Australian Govt has put in an 'interpretive centre' (the Thai government didn't want a memorial to just Australians). It's well done and maintained. Just incredible that those POWs and immigrants dug a culvert 17metres deep and 110 metres long under appalling conditions, working up to 18 hours getting flogged and on starvation rations and disease rife.
    A spot of lunch followed to cheer up a bit and then back to the boat for languishing in the heat.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamThailand/Vietnam 2025Traveler
    The central part of the temple
    Gardens and the outer wall1The Khmer were early adopters of sprinkler irrigationThey were surprising tallA low part of the viaductIf you look hard, you can see the high part (triple tier) of the viaduct1Soup for lunch. Mains and dessert followed

    Angkor temple

    March 12, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    Another bus trip from the boat, this time to Prasat Mueang Singh, an Angkor temple built by the Khmer, probably in the 12th century. It was the most westerly outpost of the Khmer Empire, which centred on Cambodia. In the following century, the Khmer Empire collapsed, and Thailand formed.
    Went around the corner to where the remains of early inhabitants (pre-PMS) were exposed in 1985.
    Then took the train on a remaing part of the Thai-Burma railway, including a bit over a viaduct built by POWs.
    Back to the boat for a nice lunch and vegging out.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamThailand/Vietnam 2025Traveler
    The view from the breakfast place
    1A funicular takes you to the different levels of the resortThere's a monkey theme as real live ones live around the place1Slip, slop, slap and don't care if you look stupidThe toilet gives an impression of the scale of things

    Now in 'nam

    March 14, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Travel day yesterday. The boat returned to its home embarkation point. We took a 3.5 hour bus trip to Bangkok airport and waited a few hours before taking a Thai Vietjet flight to Da Nang in Vietnam 🇻🇳. Another 45 minutes or so to the hotel out on a peninsula on the outskirts of town.
    It's a damn flash resort on the beach. Our cabin on the boat would fit into the bathroom in our room.
    We went straight to an excellent dinner.
    It's all very luxurious, which gives me a little pause as to whether this is the way to interact with our Asian neighbours. But here now, I guess (he says from his sunlounger under the umbrella on the beach).
    A bit cooler here, but still humid.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamThailand/Vietnam 2025Traveler
    The giants at the Danang resort let Sue sit in their bath for a size perspective
    From our balcony at DanangDinner at Danang1On the train113From the bed at Quy Nhon. Our own plunge pool in the foreground

    Quy Nhon

    March 16, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    A day lolling about at the resort, taking in the beach and the scenery. A reasonably early start to the day yesterday as we took the train from Danang to Quy Nhon about 6 hours away. It was 7:35 am at the train station and decision time. Should I accept the offered Australian sparkling wine? Oh, phuc it. Why not? We were ushered into a luxury carriage, where they served a 3 course meal and all the drinks you wanted, including a gin tasting.
    At Quy Nhon, we bussed out of town to another luxury resort on the beach. How much can a bloke take?    Read more

  • Dean ParhamThailand/Vietnam 2025Traveler
    The Cham temples
    2Sue again provides size perspectiveThe Cham left clues as to how they built the temples1Some of the ingredients in a banh zeo1The finished product with a prawn and squid pancake within3The pool at our villa

    Cham temple

    March 16, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    I'm having trouble writing this as Sue broke my fingers after I posted the photo of her in the bathtub.
    Today we took a bus ride out to a Cham temple. The Cham rocked up in the 1st century probably from India, Sri Lanka or Indonesia. They were darker skinned and occupied the middle part (Champi) of what is now Vietnam. They were Hindus and these temples were built in 12-13 century to their 3 gods.
    The Dai Viet, in the north, turned their weapons on the Cham once they had done with the Chinese and decimated the Cham over 400 years. There is still an enclave of Cham somewhere in Vietnam today.
    We then took in a king fu display, a museum and other attractions (we were stars for the many school children on excursions).
    Stopped off for a spot of lunch in town. We enjoyed the local speciality -- banh xeo, which is a cross between a pancake and a spring roll.
    Now just coping with a daiquiri and nibbles poolside.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamThailand/Vietnam 2025Traveler
    Our tent
    A spot of lunch along the way. Note: no cappuccino machineThe tractor transportSome had to get off and walk1Raw seedsDrying1Contactless foot massage3

    We're not in cuppucino country any more

    Mar 18–21, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Do know when you buy a mixed dozen wine and a couple are good, but one is pretty rough? I think we are now at the budget-saving accommodation.
    It was a long day travel in the bus yesterday south-west and into the highlands. We are staying at a tented camp on a lake. The tents are large and have facilities but are what some of our group describe as 'rustic'.
    Anyway, next day was pretty good. We were transported by tractor/trailer through rice fields to the local village (bumpy but unique). Mountains in the background completed the image.
    A local gave us a demonstration in pot making and then we went to a cacao plantation. We had a spot of lunch there as the wind spoilt plans for a picnic.
    The advertised afternoon foot massage turned out to be contactless. It was a foot soak.
    In the evening, we had a performance of song and dance from the local Hmong people, an ethnic group that came ages ago from China. Very engaging.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamThailand/Vietnam 2025Traveler
    A coffee plantation
    Coffee beansGetting on the trainSome excited passengersThe old railway stationPho for lunchThere are greenhouses everywhere for flowers and vegetables

    Coffee country

    March 20, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We travelled southward and further upward to Da Lat yesterday. It wasn't the best road -- windy and potholed. But it was pretty country with coffee and durian plantations everywhere. A major challenge was to find (a) toilets 🚻 and (b) toilets with a bowl -- suitable for the older Australian traveller.
    Dalat has some nice French colonial architecture, including at the place where we are staying. It has a series of villas spread around some leafy grounds. People used to come to Dalat to escape the heat of Saigon. The tourist development button has been pushed.
    This morning we went to a coffee plantation, took a ride in a train on the remaining 8km of track and had a bowl of pho for lunch.
    There are plenty of coffee houses around. But they mainly seem to serve diluted tar, rather than your latte or skinny cap.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamThailand/Vietnam 2025Traveler

    On the way home

    Mar 21–23, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    We left this morning for Dalat airport for the 1 hr flight to Ho Chi Min City. A couple of hours layover before the flight to Melbourne.
    A good proportion of that time was spent in queues for customs and security. You'd think for such a big airport they would work out a better system.
    Here we encountered the press of humanity that we had been mostly spared during the trip. We were 'away from it all' really.
    Good group. Good tour overall.    Read more

  • Trip end
    March 22, 2025
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