Vietnamese Beer of Choice June 25, 2008
Posted by drewandlou in Vietnam.Tags: beer, Vietnam
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Now this one was a tough one with so many different beers to select from. So instead of one I have picked my top 3!
Coming in at number three is the cheap fresh draught beer sold on street corners and small food stalls across the country. Served with ice and very very cheap it is a worthy entrant.
The prize for the beer of choice was a close one and it was a difficult decision but the beer that took the number 2 spot was Saigon, either the Green or Red.
And the beer that takes the prize is Larue. Drunk this mainly in Hoi An and it was very nice both from the bottle and draught.
Oh we are sailing on the Mekong June 24, 2008
Posted by drewandlou in Vietnam.Tags: boat, mekong, Vietnam
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We arranged to spend three days exploring the Mekong Delta before heading to Cambodia by slow boat. The days were spent being transported between local producers of snake wine, coconut candy and rice paper.
The first night we spent in a homestay and were welcomed into a lovely family’s house on the river. We helped them cook dinner and I ended up giving English lessons to the family’s children. While Louise taught the younger one how to “high five”.
The next night we spent overnight on a boat sailing to the Cambodian border. With millions of bugs swarming to the lights we opted to grab our mattresses and head for the top of the boat. Here we got a wonderful nights sleep and we greeted to a fantastic sunrise over the floating market.
Next stop was the Cambodian border to sort out our visas and then on the slow boat for the 5 hour trip to Phnom Penh.
Ho down in Ho Chi Minh City June 24, 2008
Posted by drewandlou in Vietnam.Tags: ho chi ming city, Vietnam
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So we finally decided to leave Mui Ne and head for the big smoke of Ho Chi Minh City. We arrived and it was soon evident that the city had changed a fair bit. Some of my favourite bars had been replaced by coffee shops and the local food stalls had made way for western fast food shops.
But we made the most of it and enjoyed the sights and sounds of this bustling city. Unfortunately an ex Prime Minister had recently died so things like the Presidential Palace were closed for days of mourning. But luckily we were still able to visit the war museum and the markets.
As Holland continued there Euro 2008 success so did the late nights as all of their matches did not start until 1:45 in the morning. With Michelle dragging us along to each match we got one back when we dragged her along to watch Australia play Ireland in the rugby.
Our time in Ho Chi Minh City quickly passed and we were soon packing our bags and heading on a tour to the Mekong Delta.
Something fishy is happening in Mui Ne June 12, 2008
Posted by drewandlou in Vietnam.Tags: beach, mui ne, Vietnam
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Home of Vietnam’s fish sauce, you can smell Mui Ne before you arrive. 11km of white sand and waves it was the perfect place to spend 4 nights.
What did we do there – not much actually. Most of the time we spent playing pool or cards, watching Euro 2008 late into the night and swimming in the rain.
We did manage to get out and arrange a jeep tour, which explored the surrounding sand dunes and also try a bit of sand sledding. But the sled the little kid sold to me didn’t work to well and I think I ended up with half the sand from the dunes down my pants.
We have been travelling with a Dutch girl Michelle for the last week so we have also become Dutch football supporters. We are in the process of picking some orange clothing for tomorrows match.
With more rain forecast and our visas fast expiring we decided it was time to leave so we jumped on another bus and headed for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
Sick as dogs June 12, 2008
Posted by drewandlou in Vietnam.Tags: beach, boat tour. sick, nha trang
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We get off of the bus in Nha Trang and check into a hotel and that is when it happens. The dreaded traveller’s sickness kicks in and we are hotel bound for the whole day. But hey a couple of hours earlier and it could have been a whole lot worse.
So feeling marginally better the next day we head out on another motorbike tour taking in more pagodas and cham towers but also take some time to enjoy the mud baths and hot springs.
We finish off enjoying draught beer with our hosts at a little place down by river. I reckon it was this beer that made us better.
The next day it off on Mama Linh’s famous boat trip. A fun filled day of beer, wine, seafood, fruit, a floating bar and karaoke. We had a great bunch of people on board and the drinks flowed well into the night.
With sore heads it was up early and onto to the bus for Mui Ne another beach side town.
Too many clothes not enough time June 12, 2008
Posted by drewandlou in Vietnam.Tags: beach, clothes, Hoi An, Vietnam
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We arrive in Hoi An and were greeted by the familar catchline of “Will you buy something from me?” That is what happens when there are hundreds of tailors crammed into such a small place. A nightmare for me but heaven for Louise.
Louise managed to pick up some nice shirts and even had a couple of tops made 2 hours before we were due on the bus for Nha Trang.
But Hoi An wasn’t all clothes and shopping. Each day we hired bikes and headed out to the beach and enjoyed the sun and sand mixed with visits from numerous old ladies trying to sell stuff. One vendor even threatned to put a “cap in our ass” if we didn’t buy a pineapple from her.
So after a couple of days of relaxation we headed off on the night sleeper bus to Nha Trang for even more beaches and beer.
Hue June 12, 2008
Posted by drewandlou in Vietnam.Tags: hue, motorbikes, pool, Vietnam
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With temperatures soaring Hue passed in a blur of sweat, swimming pools and motorbikes.
Off the train and straight into a taxi that took 20 minutes to take us to our destination rather than 5. But after a few short words from Louise he was back on track.
We found a lovely guesthouse to stay in that had just opened a couple of days earlier and had the smart idea to install a beautiful blue swimming pool. So for the rest of the day we just lazed around the pool and explored a little bit of the city.
The next day we organised a motorbike tour of the surrounding sights which included pagodas, royal tombs and dare devil acts of riding through smoke filled rice fields not knowing what was on the other side. Evil Knievel eat your heart out!
With the Hue Festival fast approaching and accomodation prices rising just as fast we decided to make tracks and head to Hoi An.
Will this be one of the new natural 7 wonders of the world? May 31, 2008
Posted by drewandlou in Vietnam.Tags: boat, halong bay, junk, Vietnam
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Back to Kangaroo Cafe and straight on the bus for Halong Bay. We arrive at the harbour and are herded on to our junk boat called Bai Tu Long.
The boat was stunning and we felt privliged when we saw other boats in the harbour and then heard horror stories of rats and bad food.
After lunch and a few beers we were supplied with kayaks and sent on our way to explore little coves, caves and lagoons.
Once back on the boat it was time for a swim and bit of boat jumping. With the boat being two stories we were able to get a bit of height which allowed for some serious flips and twists.
We couldn’t leave Halong Bay without a bit of karaoke so our guide cranked it up and a bit of Guns n Roses, Tom Jones and Elvis came blaring out of the Bai Tu Long. Our guide was a little bit strict and restricted us to only 30 minutes as he thought we may disturb the rest of the harbour.
The next day was spent seeing the biggest cave in the bay before heading back to Halong City for some lunch and then finally back to Hanoi. We met some lovely people in Halong Bay and we could have spent more time there but it was great to swim and enjoy the sun.
The hills are alive with the sound of minority villagers May 31, 2008
Posted by drewandlou in Vietnam.Tags: hills, mong, rice paddies, sapa
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After two days in Hanoi we decided to head back towards the Chinese border to a place called Sapa. Popular for its beautiful countryside filled with rice paddies and numerous ethnic tribes all adourned in their traditional costumes.
After the overnight train we arrived and headed staright out on a short hike to one of the villages. Our guide rocked up wearing a Brisbane Broncos hat and with a distinct Aussie tang. We were sure she was from Queensland but soon found out that she had learnt all of her English from speaking to tourists.
The next day we went on a longer hike and this time we were joined by the sister of our guide and also a couple of elderly village members. They were great as they helped us along the way and tried to make us not look silly when we slipped and slided down the mountain. We were lucky not to pull them down with us. But their true intentions came to light when they tried to flog us every type of homemade handicrafts under the sun.
After two wonderful days in Sapa we jumped back on the overnight train and headed back to Hanoi. But not for long as we arrived at 5am and were soon on our way to Halong Bay at 9am.
Hanoi May 31, 2008
Posted by drewandlou in Vietnam.Tags: food, hanoi, Vietnam
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After crossing the border at the Friendship Pass we made our way to Hanoi in a very exepensive bus but that is what happens when you are dropped at a makeshift bus station in the middle of nowhere. But hey they were nice people and they even shared their beer with us.
We spent a couple of days wandering around Hanoi visiting the markets, Temple of Literature and of course Uncle Ho.
We broke up our time in Hanoi by visiting Sapa in the hills and Halong Bay which deserve their own postings.
The food in Vietnam has been a welcome change from China and we have been over ordering at most places.
We left Hanoi on the overnight train to Hue and ended up playing cards with some Vietnamese holiday makers while drinking beer and eating dried chilli beef.
