Korea: my life, my story: Vietnam

( Trấn Quốc Pagoda )

Vietnam - SE Asia Trip Day 2

05/13/2012 @ Hanoi, Vietnam

Upon arrival in Hanoi, I was exhausted. I really didn't get to sleep at all the previous night. I caught about an hour of sleep on the bus, and another on the plane. I changed all of my plans when I got to the Backpacker's Hostel in Hanoi. I sadly decided to skip Siagon (HCMC) and Phnom Phen. This decision was for the best though. I was able enjoy Hanoi without having to rush around. I had some wonderful pho & bun cha. I saw most of the sights, and I was able to goto Halong Bay with rushing around like crazy.

( Saint Joseph Cathedral )

( Guanyin )

( some of the housing )

( I like that women wore sun hats! )

( I was told that this was a floating market, but there weren't any people... Hmm? )

( This was a poorer area of town. )

( motorbikes )

( some folks selling pinwheels )

( another shot of the pagoda on West Lake )

( fisherman )

( Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum )

( VI Lenin Park )

( Hoan Kiem Lake )

( Night Market )

Vietnam - SE Asia Trip Day 3 & 4

05/14-15/2012 @ Halong Bay, Vietnam

I woke up the next day, refreshed and ready to go on a trip. After some personal confusion with the checkout process, we were on our way to Halong Bay. It was a four hour bus ride in close quarters. All three of the small buses were jam packed. Once we arrived at the bay, we were informed that a monsoon was coming and that they were going to take us back to Hanoi immediately. This put everybody in a strange mood. Eventually, the allowed us to go out on the boat, but we were unable to sleep on the boat as planned; this was quite a disappointment. It was still really amazing to go out on Halong Bay. We ate great food, drank good beer, jumped of the boat in the bay, and even did some kayaking before heading to a hotel in Halong City.