Vietnam and Cambodia | FindPenguins

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Trip start
November 13, 2022
Vietnam and Cambodia Traveler
Big Buddha and the Banteay Srei Temple
November 13, 2022 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
We arrived in Siem Reap late in the evening and in the morning were picked up by our guide and went on to visit an active temple with the big reclining Buddha carved into the mountain. Our pictures were made stunning by the young monks in their bright orange robes. We then walked by the river and saw local families enjoying their Sunday, swimming in the river and by the waterfall. We then visited our first temple of the Angkor region, which was made of red sandstone, unlike all the other gray and yellowish temples. I especially loved the guarding Hanuman monkeys at the entrances!Read more
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Angkor Wat
November 14, 2022 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
We got up at 4:30 am and went to watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Unfortunately, it was really cloudy and there wasn’t a real sunrise, but it was still very nice to see the huge temple complex in morning light and explore it less crowded. It’s called a “dancer temple” because of beautiful carvings of Apsaras, or dancers. We also saw stunning carvings along the entire complex, telling the stories of various battles.Read more
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Bayon and Tomb Raider temples
November 14, 2022 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
After Angkor Wat, we went on to visit another 4 temples in the area. The Bayon temple of the smiling Buddhas has unfortunately closed it’s top level, preventing us from getting up close and personal with the above mentioned smiling Buddhas. But we very much admired the beautiful carvings along the entire temple perimeter. We then visited the mystical temples overgrown by the tree roots - made popular by “ a tomb raider” movie. In the evening, we went to see a fun local circus performance.Read more
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Another 5 temples
November 15, 2022 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
We spent the first half of the day visiting 5 more temples, which were all different and fascinating - which we really enjoyed, despite the unrelenting punishing heat and humidity. We saw more Indiana Jones like settings and visited a beautiful temple in the middle of man made lake, on an island, surrounded by water lilies and lotus flowers. Finally we visited a temple partially destroyed by bombings, but still very beautiful maze of many rooms, all leading to the center of sacred linga.Read more
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Day tour of Hanoi
November 16, 2022 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Our first day in Vietnam - Hanoi! We took a full day tour with a private guide who took us around all the major sites of Hanoi. We saw the oldest pagoda, the Ho Chi Min mausoleum, his house and the presidential palace, the famous one pillar pagoda, the ethnographic museum and the Temple of Literature. We got our first glimpse into the Vietnamese flavor of Buddhism, influenced by the Chinese Confucianism and the Hinduism. All the pagodas, as the house shrines worshipping ancestors, had the overflow of glitter and food offerings! We also visited the famous Water Puppet theater, and in the evening went to a tango practice/milonga!Read more
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Halong Bay cruise first night
November 17, 2022 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
In the morning we got picked up by a comfortable van and drove 2.5 hrs to Halong Bay. We got our first glimpse of stunning emerald green karst hills in the azure ocean, and the picture was as stunning as I imagined! We saw our gorgeous modern brand new yacht and joined our cruise. In the afternoon we went kayaking around the karst structures, met some friendly local fishermen kayaking around and checking their nets. We then refreshed in the beautiful pool. And In the evening we indulged in a 7 course dinner and participated in a spring roll making lesson.Read more
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Cat Bo Island
November 18, 2022 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
In the morning we took a speed boat ride to the Cat Bo Island - the only inhabited island in Halong Bay. We rode the electric cart (as opposed to biking) and visited the village, which was a lost world of rice fields, nestled hidden inside the rising karst mountains. We saw (but didn’t sample) local snake wine, and participated in the foot fish massage right in the river. We then rode the boat to a small hidden beach cove and swam in the warm Halong Bay.Read more
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Halong Bay Bright Cave
November 19, 2022 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
We took a morning tour by the local row boat of the Bright Cave - which was really a passage though the cave like tunnel with stalactites, into the bright blue lagoon within the karst formations. And then it was time to say goodbye to our cruise boat and return back to Hanoi. Halong Bay is truly one of the most stunning places I ever visited.Read more
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Hanoi Old Quarter
November 19, 2022 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
We walked around the Old Quarter, using Lonely Planet walking tour and saw many beautiful small temples. We also visited the Temple of the Returned Sword, where according to a legend, the emperor was given a magic sword that helped him win a war, and then was asked to return the sword to the old turtle living inside the lake. We actually saw the preserved turtle, which sadly was the last specimen of the now extinct giant turtles. We walked among the narrow buildings of the old quarter, sampled Hanoi famous egg coffee and saw the random street full of Christmas decorations sellers.Read more
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Hanoi street food tour
November 20, 2022 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
We took a street food tour and what a delight it was! We tried some delicious pho, and lots of rice flour concoctions! We also sat outside on these small chairs in the midst of street chaos. Apparently, these chairs are so small, in order to make sitting really uncomfortable, so that people would leave and the owners could turn the tables quickly. Every place specializes and makes only one dish! And in a banh mi cafe we made friends with two cute puppies, Coffee and Bubbles!Read more
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Hue Citadel and food tour
November 21, 2022 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌧 24 °C
We arrived in Hue (pronounced hway) - the old capital of Vietnam and the seat of the Nguyen dynasty. We went to the old city Citadel and marveled at many palaces and temples, while learning about the 13 Nguyen emperors that ruled from 1802 to 1945. Even though it was a pouring rain, we still very much enjoyed the Citadel. Especially the intricate ceramic decorations. Interestingly, there were no ceramics produced in Vietnam, so they used broken pieces from Chinese and European ceramics! In the afternoon we went on a Hue food tour, and especially enjoyed the market visit where we bought a delicious custard apple!Read more
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Hue emperor tombs and pagodas
November 22, 2022 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌧 25 °C
In the morning we were graced with the great weather, as the promised rain failed to show up! We took a boat tour to the main pagoda of Hue, and walked in the peaceful ground of its active monastery with monks tending to their chickens. We then visited 4 tombs of various Nguyen emperors, who all differed in their style and decorations, but all followed the same structure of courtyards, a stella stone with their life story and finally the mausoleum where the body may or may not be buried for some of them. They liked to keep their exact burial place a secret. On the way back we stopped by at the incense making village.Read more
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Evening in Hoi An
November 22, 2022 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌧 26 °C
We took a 3 drive from Hue to Hoi An, which is a beautifully romantic old coastal town, which is famous for its lanterns on the riverfront and old well preserved buildings. For a change, we had a wonderful dinner in a Greek restaurant, and listened to a live music. And most importantly, we met Mimi, the magical tailor, who helped me design two dresses and made them!Read more
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Hoi An Old Town
November 23, 2022 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌧 26 °C
We spent the morning walking around the old town, visiting old well preserved buildings. Typically, there was someone giving us a quick tour of the layout, saying that they are the descendants (9th generation) of the original owners and the building is a blend of Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architectural styles. They would also show us a home shrine of where they worship their ancestors. We also saw embroidery artisans and many intricate temples, as well as the famous Japanese bridge. Hoi An has early been connected with Japan through the marriage of Japanese princess with the Vietnamese emperor.Read more
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Hoo An cooking class and evening show
November 24, 2022 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
In the morning we joined a full day cooking class with a local chef, housed in the kitchen of her house. We started in the market, buying all the ingredients, from meat to herbs. And then we cooked 6 dishes together, all of which were really delicious! In the evening we went to see a Memories show, telling the stories and legends of Hoi An, with over 100 dancers and performers.Read more
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Evening in Saigon
November 25, 2022 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
In the morning, we flew to Ho Chi Min City, or it’s more popular old name Saigon. We were met with crazy chaotic motor bike traffic, where every road crossing is a challenge. We walked around, into some temples, and captured magical sunset over the city’s largest building, it’s financial center. In the evening, we attended our first tango milonga of the special Saigon tango week.Read more
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Saigon day 2
November 26, 2022 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
We wondered around Saigon in the morning, visited some beautiful temples and went to the War Museum. We had an amazing poke (again, for a total of 4 times over three days!) and had wonderful afternoon tea in the Cafe apartments building. In the evening it was milonga again! Now with Stage tango style, and featuring Korean couple performing!Read more
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Saigon Day 3
November 27, 2022 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
We had wonderful brunch with eggs Benedict and an amazing cronut. Then we went to the Independence or Reunification Palace, where we visited all the state rooms, and fascinating presidential bunker. Then we went for an afternoon tango workshop, followed by delicious lunch of poke (yes, again!). In the afternoon we went to Cholon area to visit some beautiful pagodas and the random, but highly instagrammable pink church. And in the evening it was our last milonga with our new tango friends, now Nuevo style. It was the Argentinian guest instructor 50th birthday and very fun celebrations. And then it was goodbye Vietnam, at our amazing Air Japan business class flight with delicious Japanese morsels!Read more
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Trip end
November 27, 2022