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Exploring Vietnam and CambodiaExploring Vietnam and Cambodia
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Exploring Vietnam and Cambodia

februari – mars 2025
  • Janette and John
The Mekong Explorer tour explores the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine. It is thoroughly researched to provide a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Läs mer
  • Janette and John

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  • 41fotavtryck
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  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnExploring Vietnam and Cambodia
    French bakery across from the Q Hotel, Hanoi.Outside Q Hotel, Hanoi.No comment.Moving.Looking down to Flower Garden Hotel where we had to wheel our cases to.

    Arrived in Hanoi

    23 februari, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Landed right on time, 9.00 pm (1.00 am Oz time).

    Got through customs quickly and were met by our Wendy Wu person . She had a driver with a mini bus who drove us for the 45 minute trip to our hotel, the Q Hotel.

    This was our introduction to Hanoi traffic with its seeming lack of road rules. To add to the 'excitement' it was dark and raining.

     Fell into bed about 11.30 (3.30 am Oz). Didn't get down to breakfast till 8.30ish. Because we arrived a day early and hadn't been able to book into the same hotel as the tour will use, we stayed at the nearby Q Hotel. It was very nice and very comfortable. Directly across the street was a french bakery. It worked though the night and a constant stream of motor cyclists took bags of bread away to be delivered.

     After breakfast we decided to pack our cases and take them to our next hotel, the Flower Garden. The reception staff were quite happy to store our bags until our rooms were ready in the afternoon. Loc, our tour guide, happened to be there so we met him and confirmed arrangements for later that day.

     This done, they ordered us a taxi to take us to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

     The taxi was a small Hyundi. Somehow we were shoehorned into it and off we went. We then experienced about thirty minutes of what thrill seekers might call extreme sport - Hanoi traffic. Janette calls it dodgem cars on steroids.    Läs mer

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  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnExploring Vietnam and Cambodia
    Detailing some of the features of Vietnam's different ethnic groups.Loom and material examples.Ceramics.Long boat takes 52 rowers.Big fig in museum gardens.1Long house.Tomb house.Tomb.Lunch.Welcome dinner at Mother's Kitchen.

    Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

    23 februari, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is a unit under Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is both a research centre and a public museum exhibiting the ethnic groups of Vietnam. The mission of the Museum is scientific research, collection, documentation, conservation, exhibition and preserving the cultural and historic patrimony of the nation's different ethnic groups. The museum also serves to guide research, conservation, and technology that are specific to the work of an ethnographic museum.

     This museum has exhibits, artifacts, and informative resources, all of which shed light on the traditions, customs, and daily routines of the nation's 54 recognized ethnic groups. There are both inside and outside exhibits.

     The museum's collection comprises more than 15,000 artifacts, 2,190 slides, 42,000 photographs, 237 audiotapes, and 373 videotapes.

     We lunched at the Truc Lam Restaurant in the museum grounds and then took another thrill filled taxi ride back to our hotel in an even smaller taxi.

     We met at six for our first briefing. The welcome dinner was about a ten minute walk away in a restaurant called Mother's Kitchen.    Läs mer

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  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnExploring Vietnam and Cambodia
    Guard at Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum changes every 20 minutes.
    Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.Guard changes every twenty minutes.First group photo.Presidential Palace.Humble House.One Pillar Pagoda.Temple at One Pillar Pagoda.Temple at One Pillar Pagoda.

    Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh.

    24 februari, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Today was about discovering some of the sights of Hanoi, with a coach picking us up at 8am.

     First was a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Quarter and a visit to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. Unfortunately (?) the Mausoleum isn't open on Mondays so it was a case of stand outside and listen to Loc tell its history and all of us pose for a group photo.

     Then it was a walk to see the Presidential Palace area including Ho Chi Minh's Humble House on stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda.    Läs mer

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  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnExploring Vietnam and Cambodia
    Local flowers.Wanna buy a chook?Egg coffee.Lunch stop.Gate to Old Quarter, Hanoi.

    Hanoi - Cyclo ride and egg coffee.

    24 februari, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    A cyclo ride is a good way to get up close and personal with Hanoi traffic. We had a 40 minute cyclo ride, one person per cyclo, around the Old Quarter and the French Quarter.

     Then, after a short walk, we arrived at a little coffee shop for an egg coffee - most of us really enjoyed it - so much so that some of us bought a second one - just as well as it was quite a walk from there to our lunch restaurant.

     This walk took us through streets filled with market stalls, many selling flowers, all grown in Vietnam.    Läs mer

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  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnExploring Vietnam and Cambodia

    Hanoi - Temple of Literature.

    24 februari, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    The Temple of Literature was Hanoi's first university.

     Students began enrolling at the Imperial Academy in 1076. Once accepted, students would study there between three to seven years. The curriculum was largely Chinese-influenced and involved reading extensively about Chinese history, as well as classical Chinese literature and poetry.

     The Academy held four major tests per year with minor tests each month. Scholars had the opportunity to sit the National Exam after completion, and if their scores were high enough, they sat the Royal Exam, administered by the Emperor himself.

     It was a high honour to attend such a prestigious academy and it graduated some of the most brilliant minds in Vietnamese history.

     The Temple of Literature is divided into five courtyards. The first two courtyards are where scholars would relax amidst the large trees and manicured lawns. The second courtyard is easily recognisable by the Khue Van Cac – a wooden, red pavilion built on four white stone columns and has an elaborate roof with two circular windows and a brass bell. The bell is only rung on auspicious occasions.

     The remaining three courtyards are also of great significance. The third courtyard hosts the Thien Quang well, with two large halls on either side that house the treasured Stelae of Doctors. The Stelae are turtle statues – carved out of bluestone – with the names and birthplaces of all 1307 graduates from 82 separate Royal examinations. It used to be good luck for students to rub the heads of the turtles before their exams, but in order to preserve the turtles, students – and everyone else – are now forbidden to touch them.

     The fourth courtyard is where you find altars to Confucius and his disciples.

     The fifth courtyard, where the actual academy was, was not added until 1076 when Emperor Ly Nhan Tong ordered the construction of the Imperial Academy. Today, there are several exhibits here with a statue of Chu Van An, one of the Academy’s rectors and a beloved figure in Vietnamese history for his dedication to teaching. There are also numerous cultural events held at the hall in this courtyard, as well as displays of old uniforms that the scholars wore while studying there.

     The bells at the Temple of Literature, similar to others across Vietnam, were only permitted to be touched by monks.    Läs mer

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  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnExploring Vietnam and Cambodia
    Miles and miles of rice fields on the way to Halong.
    Our picture and the lady who made it.Going out on the tender to our cruise ship.Our cabin for the cruise.The tender ferrying people back to the ship.

    Hanoi to Halong Bay.

    25 februari, Gulf of Tonkin ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    Had a three hour drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay today.

     On the way we had a pit stop to use the happy room at Star Gems Vietnam. This is a combination workshop and retail outlet. The people working there are all handicapped. Star Gems gives them employment and all the benefits and self esteem that go with that.

     The merchandise is absolutely stunning. There are pictures embroidered in a variety of materials. Visitors can watch the artists at work. At the gem cutting area we watched star gems being cut, polished and set.

     We bought a picture which to us 'says Vietnam' and were able to meet the lady who made it. It is made with silk embroidery and probably took a month to make. She will receive 65% of the sale price.

     Next, on to Halong for our overnight on Halong Bay.    Läs mer

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  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnExploring Vietnam and Cambodia
    Scallop and Mussel Beds

    Halong Bay fishing village.

    25 februari, Gulf of Tonkin ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    This afternoon the boys elected to rest up in the warm comfort of our cruise ship whilst Trish and Janette took the option to take a bamboo boat ride to a small fishing village in Ha Long Bay - despite the fairly heavy rain.

     Ha Long Bay’s outstanding landscape comes from the formation of geological limestone formations which rise from the ocean. It stretches over 1,550km square in area and includes 1,969 islets. It is an area of high biodiversity and holds important cultural and historical value to the people. It was recognised as a New Natural Wonder of the World in 2011.

     It was with some trepidation we boarded the small boat which held six passengers and was captained by a local Vietnamese woman who manoeuvred and rowed us to our destination - a journey of around 25 minutes. We passed amazing little homesteads on basic barge type foundations (great recycling for blue plastic olive barrels!). The locals must have such a peaceful existence in this beautiful environment. Their supplies are all shipped in and many work at the community centre.

    Once at the Community Centre the boats moored at the end of a pier along which were separate pools containing some quite large fish. They grow the fish here for food and for sale. Once the fish are heavily pregnant they are released to breed in the bay before the process starts again. They also farm oysters, scallops and mussels.

    We were guided through what was once a home and which housed relics of years gone by - mainly implements for fishing, building etc plus quite a lot of ceramics. From there we were given a talk/demonstration of pearl harvesting. This was most interesting - particularly the differences in pearl colour, quality and value. We then took a quick glance at the showroom of lovely, expensive jewellery (the sales assistants here are so persistent). They had a gallery of pictures of Ha Long Bay over the years which we viewed and then it was back on our little bamboo boat for the journey back to the cruise ship.

    The pictures show how amazing the formations are. The ladies who handled the boats were amazing. It was raining, we were all cold and wet despite our colourful plastic ponchos. However, Loc serenaded us all the way back with happy songs about either boats or rain. Glad we braved the elements - and our fears of negotiating boarding and alighting the small bamboo boats.    Läs mer

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  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnExploring Vietnam and Cambodia
    At the dock after getting off the tender.
    Woke up to this view this morning.1The start of the climb.Cruise director, Peter.1

    A funny 'not much' day.

    26 februari, Gulf of Tonkin ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Today was really about getting from Halong Bay to Hue (pronounced hway) via Hanoi to pick up our main suitcases that we left at the Flower Garden Hotel.

    We had to catch a plane from Hanoi to Hue at 7.25, so everything today revolved around being at the airport in plenty of time. Breakfast was 6.30-7.30, Brunch was 9.30 and we had an early 'dinner' on the way to the airport.

    After breakfast there was one activity today for those who wanted to and felt they could climb the ninety steps to a cave halfway up one of the islands. We went over and I climbed up and went in the cave with a lot of our group. At sea level is a little sandy beach.    Läs mer

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