Traveling to both Hanoi and Halong Bay, I was able to observe both polarizing ends of the spectrum regarding life and culture in Vietnam. On one hand, there was life in the city of Hanoi. Teaming with energy and life, I was able to see the Vietmese people who were living (more…)
This isTran.
Tran of Tam Coc
A resident of the village of Tam Coc, he makes a living for himself and his family by rowing tourists through the caves outside his village. He rows his boat with his feet and legs, fast and efficiently. He was one of (more…)
Now that I’ve spent almost a week in Vietnam, I’m beginning to feel like I’ve been here for much longer because I am so comfortable. Before my trip, I was told to watch out for the crazy traffic, and that it’s more chaotic than I would think. That is absolutely true. (more…)
After four hours in and out of sleep on our bus, we arrived in Halong Bay and to our surprise boarded a gorgeous one night cruise ship. When we got on board we had a few hours of free time and we all immediately headed to the sun deck to (more…)
After spending 5 nights in the city of Hanoi we packed up our weekend bags and piled into the bus for our excursion to Halong Bay. Unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, Halong Bay took my breath away. We scurried onto the ship and were instantly flushed by the welcoming (more…)
I surely won’t be the only one to blog about this, but I feel that it is necessary. We just returned from a two day visit to Halong Bay, which was by far the most incredible place I have ever been. When we first boarded the ship, the entire group was (more…)
Since arriving in Vietnam, I have felt more at ease than I ever anticipated. Besides the constant wave of anxiety that floods over me as I walk the streets, trying to avoid the traffic and seeing my life flash before my eyes, the city of Hanoi has proven itself to be (more…)
Since arriving in Vietnam I have observed an Asian culture that has been developed by several exterior nations. The French and colonial influence from my observations have arisen in the forms of Christianity, writing, politics, and business structure. On the other hand, the ancient Chinese influence is seen from their original (more…)
This has been an amazing trip so far. The sights, the people, and especially the traffic are mind blowing! I am seeing a number of fascinating connections as well as contradictions in this country. The greatest connection that I’ve noticed is the close ties between the dominance of the government and (more…)
Ever since arriving in Hanoi four days ago, it has been a whirlwind of emotions. Excitement, anxiety, confusion, and amazement have engulfed my life these past few days. Just waking up and walking outside of our hotel the first day was shocking. The buildings were old and dingy, power lines were (more…)
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