Vietnam – Sam and Martha's travel blog

Goodbye Vietnam (again!)

Today we left Hanoi and Vietnam, flew back to Hong Kong, then flew to Perth.

I liked the Cu Chi tunnels because they were dark and exciting. I also liked the kayaking in Ha Long Bay because it was in a beautiful lagoon and it was fun.
Sam

It was very busy and there were motor bikes everywhere. But there were some nice beaches!
Martha

We managed to travel a fair amount in Vietnam, with coming back again after Cambodia – it was like coming home the second time, familiar money, sights and language! What will I remember in years to come? Meeting up with my mum and my niece in Ho Chi Minh City was brilliant, so that’s my number one memory.
Everywhere we went the people were really friendly and welcoming. I feel that I know so much more now of the history of the last 100 years in South East Asia – we really do not get the full story in western schooling. I’ve realised how Western-centric (if that’s a word) my knowledge of history and politics in this region was – I certainly don’t know everything now, and I’ll look forward to learning more on future visits but I learnt so much, it’s been great!
Angela

I found Vietnam to be very friendly, beautiful and full of interesting history. There is so much more that we didn’t see so I would love to come back and explore some more.
Mike

Military museum

Today we walked to the Vietnam Military History Museum. We saw grenades, tanks, guns, aeroplanes, bombs and canons. We read about the Vietnam wars and older wars. We also went up a tower.

Old Quarter

Today we went for a walk around the Old Quarter of Hanoi. It was very busy and we saw lots of shops and stalls and markets. We also went in to an old heritage house.

To Hanoi

Today we left our hotel and went to Hanoi. We took a long bus journey to get there. When we got there, it was very busy and noisy.

We went out for tea at a curry place and had a massive naan bread!

Then we went to a night market and while we were going home we saw a stage with really loud music. There was dancing and singing.

Ha Long Bay

(Note: We left Da Nang yesterday and flew to Hanoi and then drove to Tuam Chau which is where you catch boats to Ha Long Bay.)

Today we went on a boat. It was call Huy Loc. It was big and there was an upstairs where you could see the view. We also saw rocks shaped like a dog, cat and a parrot.

We stopped and went in a large cave full of stalactites and stalagmites. They were amazing.

Then we went to a lagoon and daddy and I went kayaking. I wore a life jacket and got an oar. We travelled under a cave and I learned how to steer, but my arms ached. I enjoyed it.

Then we went to Ti Top Island. I swam in the sea. I swam to the buoy which was the furthest people were allowed to swim. The water was cold but I got used to it.

Then we got the boat back to the marina.

Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture and Cathedral

Today I went into Da Nang city and visited the Museum of Cham Sculpture. It houses over 300 pieces from Vietnam’s indigenous Cham people from the Champa Kingdom. The sculptures date back from the 5th century to the 15th and I saw pieces depicting apsaras (heavenly nymphs) and the Gods Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu and Ganesh.

Across from the museum is the Dragon Bridge, the longest bridge in Vietnam, which gets illuminated in the evenings and even spits out fire at the weekend.

I then walked to Da Nang Cathedral which was built for the city’s French residents in 1923. It is the only church in the city and serves the local Catholic community of over 4000 parishioners.