More beauty in Vietnam

Vietnam has problems, of course, but great beauty also. Tourism is up and they are awaiting even greater growth in the near future. More visitors are expected especially from China, which borders this country, but also from Europe and the U.S.

A mountain road

We went to the top of the mountain in a National Park here in Vietnam.If you look closely at the picture you will see a faint line weaving and turning. That is the road as it twists its way up the hill. Interestingly, to say the least, it is a one lane road with shear cliff drop offs, and traffic goes both ways. Fortunately, we didn’t meet more than a small number of other cars going down as we were going up, and we made it to the top to take this picture, Perhaps even more fortunately, we made it back down. Thus you can see the picture and some of the beauty of Vietnam.

Harvesting rice in Vietnam.

Among other interesting features of Vietnam is that they are the third largest exporter of rice in th world. We wonder what will happen when technology and their rice get together.

Prominence in HoiAn.

We flew north to DaNang and were transported to the charming seaside resort of HoiAn. Among its features is a female god. Feminism is obviously alive and well.

A street in Saigon

Saigon is likable with many charms. They told us that there are 8 million people in the city and 4 million bikes. We don't understand how they came up with that small figures for the bikes.

Sidelights of Cambodia

These are pictures that only hint at the interesting diversity of parts of Cambodia. People from both pictures have to leave for several months during the monsoon season. The ones who live on the houseboats are apparently among those who are well-to-do financially because they can sell the fish, which they harvest in abundance. There are sharp contrast in the country between rich and poor. In Siem Reap, expensive condos are being built (and sold.) We didn't get to the national capital, which those in the outskirts dismiss as just another big city.

Cambodia!

Cambodia is intriguing, fascinating, and different, different, and different - perhaps the most different place we have ever been. More photos of differences to follow tomorrow.