Reset search
Julia WarmingtonJulia Warmington
SatelliteEdit route
traveled in 15 countries Read more
  • BangCamNamKong
    Day 36

    Overnight sleeper

    March 12, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌫 21 °C

    Packed our bags (leaving them at the hotel), checked out and went in search of sleeping sheet bags for our train journey. Walked back to the main market but no luck as wanted far too much for them but did find some later in a shop for £3 each - 100% silk they say! After a late lunch near the hotel we collected our bags and got a taxi to the train station. The train was an hour late arriving 'due to obstacles' but we were kept well informed at the station. Pleasantly surprised by our cabin - both given bottom bunks and shared with 2 Vietnamese guys (one after the other) who gave the guard backhanders for cheap journeys. The train shakes, rattles and rolls a lot but without the music! It did not live up to the romantic image I had of being gently rocked to sleep listening to the clickety clack of the train gliding across the rails.Read more

  • BangCamNamKong
    Day 34

    Hue - a blustery afternoon

    March 10, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    After breakfast we walked to Dong Ba market. Some stalls selling tourist souvenirs but most of it was a market for locals selling vegetables, fish, food, meat and household items. Found the market too hot and airless to stay long so we then walked into the outer part of the citadel, along the river and back to our hotel. The day started very hot and humid but in the afternoon it became blustery and much cooler - much more comfortable.Read more

  • BangCamNamKong
    Day 33

    The Imperial Citadel in Hue

    March 9, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Walked to the Citadel after breakfast and started at the Purple Forbidden City - the old Royal residences until 1945. Lots of buildings, temples and gardens to look at. As it was a very hot day we tried to keep in the shade between buildings. Much of the original site was destroyed in the war so 76% has been reconstructed but this has been done well in keeping with the age and design of the original buildings. We were surprised to find it was so peaceful at times despite the large tour groups and school trips - the site is so large. Leaving the citadel at 4.30 pm we walked back along the river, stopping to listen to school students playing musical instruments at the band stand.Read more

  • BangCamNamKong
    Day 32

    A spectacular train ride

    March 8, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Up early so that we could go to our favourite deli for breakfast. Then collected by taxi from our hotel and taken to the train station in Da Nang. The train arrived and left on time. Seats were very comfortable and the train clean. After leaving Da Nang at a reasonable pace the train slowed as it wound it's way around the coast with fabulous scenery, clinging to the hillside, with some quite sharp corners for a train, creaking and groaning all the time. Quite eerie as the mist came down. Certainly an experience we are glad we have done. As we travelled north the track straightened, the speed picked up and mist turned to a little rain but by the time we reached Hue the rain had stopped but was much cooler than Hoi An. We checked into the hotel and went for a walk passed the dragon boats to the other side of the river. The night food market was setting up - so colourful & lots of interesting dishes! In the evening we found a bar with live music - a lovely way to end the day!Read more

  • BangCamNamKong
    Day 31

    Day at the beach

    March 7, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Spent the day at An Bang beach. The waves roll in quite strongly but the sea was warm and shallow and all very clean. Sat watching the paragliders, swimmers and a fisherman mending his net on his coracle. In the evening we returned to Hoi An town to see all the lanterns again - it is a very beautiful town.Read more

  • BangCamNamKong
    Day 30

    Hoi An day 2

    March 6, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Walked into the old town and having bought a Ancient Hoi An tourist ticket, visited the Quan Cong Temple, Quan Am Pagoda, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Old house of Phung Hung, Museum of Folk Culture and a live performance at the Hoi An Traditional Art Performance House. All very different and interesting. Wandered around the markets and sat in street cafes watching the world go by. On the walk back to our accommodation we came across a micro brewery so had to stop for a beer or two!Read more

  • BangCamNamKong
    Day 29

    Hoi An - City of Lanterns

    March 5, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    Went to a local bakery's/deli for breakfast- Paul had full English and I had eggs Benedict - good home comfort food! Walked into the old town. So hot we needed to stop for a drink when we got there. Spent the afternoon wandering the streets enjoying looking at the shops and stopping for drinks and people watching. Seems funny that when you are sitting in a cafe other street traders come in to sell you fruit & snacks. As the sun sets all the lanterns light up - really pretty. Walked around the markets and watched the boats on the river.Read more

  • BangCamNamKong
    Day 28

    To Hoi An

    March 4, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    11am flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang. Collected at Da Nang airport and taken to Hoi An. The taxi driver didn't speak English but he used an app on his phone to translate for him - at least he made the effort to talk to us! Not impressed with our first room at the hotel - toilet didn't flush, no water pressure and a musty smell so complained & room changed - at -£12.50 a night I am not sure what we were expecting! Had a nice walk into the old town - looks lovely with a large market.Read more

  • BangCamNamKong
    Day 27

    Cu Cui Tunnels

    March 3, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Lazy morning and afternoon trip to the Cu Cui tunnels. Met at the travel agents and after a other few pick ups we set off. The guide that did not speak to us in English up to this point then brings out his karaoke microphone and starts to sing Vietnamese folk songs. He had the microphone connected to his phone so we had music too and all quite loud. The first song got a polite round of applause but his second song got no applause - too loud and just too long! Not to be put off he went for a 3rd song. Finally he understood that none of us wanted any more! Just out of the city we stopped at a handicraft place where handicapped people produce lovely pictures and items using eggshell, mother of pearl inlay, paint and lacquer. At the tunnels our guide took us around the points of interest. The Vietcong were ingenious in misleading the Americans - putting the tread on sandals the wrong way around so the footprint looked like they were walking in the opposite direction. They disguised ventilation for the tunnels as natural mounds found in the forest and when the USA troops used sniffer dogs to sniff out the smell of the Vietnamese to gas the tunnels the Vietcong used the uniforms of the US troops cut up small to use around the ventilation holes so that the sniffer dogs couldn't smell the Vietcong - only Americans. I had to admire their determination, ingenuity and tenacity but I found it difficult that they seem still to celebrate the death of American GIs. The Vietcong are their heroes. We were taken along a short section of tunnel - having to crouch right down all the way and Paul 'hid' in a tunnel as they would have done. Brought back to Ho Chi Minh City and went to a food market for dinner. Back to the apartment to pack.Read more

  • BangCamNamKong
    11
    Day 26

    Floating Market

    March 2, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Up early ready for boat at 7am to take us the 40 minute ride to the Cai Rang floating market which sells wholesale fruit and vegetables - lots of water melons, tomatoes, pumpkins, onions, sweet potatoes etc. The traders tie an example of the fruit they are selling to long poles on their boats to advertise what they have. Smaller sampans weave in and out either buying goods or selling food to the other traders and shoppers. We were then taken to a rice noodle factory workshop. Nothing is wasted in the process - the rice husks are burnt to fuel the stove and then used as fertiliser. Walked through some nice gardens and then taken to a local market selling fish, meat and vegetables. The fish, crabs and frogs were all still alive - couldn't get any fresher! From here we were driven back to Ho Chi Minh City in the minibus, stopping for lunch on the way at a nice restaurant. Arrived back in time for a nice swim in the rooftop pool before going out to the night street food market for food, beer, live band and good company.Read more

Join us:

FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android

  • 2024© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Blog
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Support
  • Legal notice
  • English