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BangCamNamKong

February - March 2019
  • Julia Warmington
  • Paul Hersey
A 55-day adventure by Julia & Paul Read more
  • Julia Warmington
  • Paul Hersey

List of countries

  • Hong Kong Hong Kong
  • Vietnam Vietnam
  • Cambodia Cambodia
  • Thailand Thailand
  • England England
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  • 32.6kkilometers traveled
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  • 45footprints
  • 55days
  • 179photos
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  • BangCamNamKong
    An Bang beach

    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
    View from the train
    Live band in the 'Army bar'View from the Da Nang to Hue trainDragon boats in HueFood market stall

    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
    The gardens in the Citadel
    Ceiling in a passage between buildingsSunset over the Perfume River

    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
    The River Perfume
    Insence sticks outside a temple

    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
    Getting comfy!
    Train arriving at Hue

    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
    Dancing in the park at 6.45am
    Playing badminton at 6.45amMain rail line running through the townHoan Kiem LakeSt Josephs Cathedral

    Hanoi

    March 12, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌫 19 °C

    Managed to get a little sleep on the train but arrived in Hanoi tired! On our walk to our hotel we were surprised to find so many people in the park taking part in ballroom dancing, playing badminton and doing tai chi at 6.45am. Checked in early at our hotel to catch up on a little sleep. Woke up hungry so headed out in search of food towards Hoan Kiem Lake (Turtle Lake) which is in the centre of the old quarter. Had some brunch and then visited Ngoc Son temple which sits on an island In the middle of the lake connected by a bridge and then continued to walk around the lake visiting St Joseph's cathedral on the way. In the evening we went to a local restaurant for a meal and sat listening to live music.Read more

  • BangCamNamKong
    Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh
    Dong Xuan marketDecoration in Bach Ma TempleBuddhas at Tran Quoc TempleTran Quoc pagodaSmog on the lake

    Being a tourist in Hanoi

    March 13, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Walked to Bach Ma Temple stopping to get a cache on the way. The temple had beautifully decorated roof trusses and uprights. We then walked to Dong Xuan Market selling all-sorts including fish, crabs, soft shell turtles, birds, fruit, veg, household items and souvenirs. From here we walked to catch the 'Hop on hop off bus' for a tour of the city with audio guide on the top deck which was very interesting. Having done the full circuit we hopped on the next bus and went back to see the Tran Quoc pagoda and temple. Nice pagoda and the temple had an impressive set of gold Buddhas. Looking across the lake from here we could see the smog. The pollution in Hanoi is dreadful at the moment - it can be smelt and tasted in the air. A teacher told us the sensor in the nursery school he teaches at here registered the air quality at 300 yesterday! We looked it up and 300 is hazardous! How do people live here? We caught the bus back to the old quarter, stopped for a drink and shared a piece of cake. Walked back to our hotel stopping to collect our laundry on the way. In the evening we went back to the same restaurant as last night - The Hanoi Social Club- as we wanted to try the burgers we had seen served. We were not disappointed.Read more

  • BangCamNamKong
    Boats returning from the bay in the evening.
    Halong bay boatsLanterns lit up outside our hotel.

    A trip to Paradise

    March 14, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌧 23 °C

    Collected from our hotel to be taken to Halong Bay in a very posh minibus so we had a very comfy journey. Great scenery on the way. Checked in to our hotel - in a lovely big room in the Paradise Suites Hotel. We walked around the area watching all the boats going in and out - very busy! The islands look impressive even from the shore. In the afternoon I had a 'sensory spa journey' - a mix of types of massage followed by a body scrub. It was lovely. In the evening the port was still busy with boats coming back from the bay to drop passengers but not many people staying in the hotels - all just seem to be in transit.Read more

  • BangCamNamKong
    View from top of Soisim Island
    Ga Choi Islet - the fishLimestone karsts, Halong BayEntrance to Hang Luon LakeGa Choi Islet - fighting cocks or kissing hens.Steps have been built around growing trees on Soisim Island

    A journey through the dragons teeth.

    March 15, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    According to legend a dragon came to defend Halong Bay from invaders and dropped pearls into the water which turned to stone in the shape of the dragons teeth which defeated the invaders. The dragon liked it there so much she decided to stay. The name comes from this legend Ha meaning descending and Long (dragon). We set off mid morning, still a little misty but reasonable visibility. We slowed to see various rock formations given names as they look like animals - Ga Choi Islet - fighting cock (looks more like kissing hens) from one side and looks like a fish from the other side. We were given a buffet lunch on board which was very good with plenty of choice. It was surprising that despite the number of other boats around it was incredibly peaceful cruising along and the scenery was spectacular. Our first stop was Hang Sung Sot - The Surprise Cave. 100 steps up to the entrance, then 100 down into the cave and another 100 up to get out again. Lots of stalactites and stalagmites in huge caves. Back on the boat and taken to Hang Luon where we transferred to bamboo boats to go through a tunnel into the hollow centre of the island. Back on board it was lovely to sit on the top deck appreciating the scenery. Many times it looked as though we were heading for the rocks before an opening between islands appeared. Our last stop was as Soisim Island where we climbed many more steps to the top of the island. The view at the top was worth the climb. It was nice to see that the trees have been allowed to grow through the steps and we had to clamber around them to climb the steps. Back on board for coffee and biscuits and, despite the mist turning to light rain part way, we had a very relaxing, peaceful journey back to port. Collected by coach and returned to Hanoi.Read more

  • BangCamNamKong
    Hanoi opera house
    Good beer - Happy Paul.

    A night at the opera (house)

    March 16, 2019 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    We both slept until gone 11am so missed breakfast at the hotel. It was a dull drizzly day which on the good side seemed to have improved the air quality - washing the dust to the ground - but on the down side it was a bit damp to be outside all day. Walked to a restaurant for lunch and then to the opera house to buy tickets for the evening performance of the Bamboo Circus. As part of the deal we were given vouchers for 2 free beers at a local bar so after a little window shopping at a posh shopping centre - Prada, Dior, Cartier etc - we went for our beers. Nice bar with proper beer. We were disappointed with the opera house (not as grand as expected) and the show (certainly no cirque du soliel) and the show only lasted 75 minutes. We consoled ourselves by returning to the good beer bar for a couple more beers and some food.Read more

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