VIETNAM & CAMBODIA FEB 2020
North Vietnam
We started in Hanoi at the lovely Sofitel with its colonial architecture. Here we met Jack, our guide for the next several days. Despite it being the dry season, Hanoi was cool and on-and-off drizzly. We toured the city, visiting various sights, including a temple, Ba Dinh Square--location of The Ho Chi MInh Mausoleum--and Vietnam Women's Museum. We took an exciting trishaw (bicycle powered) ride through the Old Quarter, dodging motorbike traffic, to arrive at an entertaining water puppet show. The following day, we headed for Ha Long Bay and the well-appointed boat that would house us overnight. Those of us who'd been here in 2011 were stunned by the number of larger boats in the bay, something that can happen when a World Heritage Site gets discovered. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the beautiful rocks jutting up from the water and our foray into one of the stunning limestone caves. We also visited a pearl farm where we learned the process of creating and grading pearls. On the way back to Hanoi, Jack graced us with stories of his childhood, as well as descriptions of current and former conditions in Vietnam. He invited us to visit his family home the next time we come to Hanoi.
Siem Reap, Cambodia
We headed next to Siem Reap via a short flight from Hanoi. Now we were in tropical weather, with temps in the 90's and moderate humidity. Our resort had lovely grounds and a pool, both of which our group enjoyed on our free afternoon. The focus of our stay here was Angkor Wat. We visited 12th century Angkor Thom, royal city and last capital of the Kmer empire, and the Bayon, towers adorned with smiling faces, in its center; Ta Prohm with all the trees intertwined into its temple structure; and Banteay Srei, Citadel of Women. We arrived at Angkor Wat, largest religious monument in the world, before dawn to see the sunrise and its reflection in the water. In the evening we enjoyed an Apsara dinner dance show at our hotel.
Mekong Riverboat cruise
Next we transferred to the AmaDara, our home for the next week. We embarked in Kampong Cham, Cambodia and soon after, toured Twin (man and woman, as legend has it) Mountains. The following day we visited Angkor Ban, the only village that survived the Kmer Rouge; its stilted houses are up to 100 years old and life has barely changed for centuries. We were invited in to see one of them. We also visited Oknhatey Island where we spent some time in an elementary school classroom, and later we observed traditional silk weaving.
We sailed on to Phnom Penh and visited nearby Oudong where we were treated to a Buddhist blessing in the gorgeous temple. Some of us also made the 95-step climb to the nearby hilltop, Wat Phnom. We traveled by ox cart through a neighboring village. A tuk tuk (motorbike powered) excursion through busy Phnom Penh took us to Independence Monument, in the shape of a lotus flower. The next day, most of our group traveled to the Killing Fields and the Kmer Rouge's grim S21 detention center We also had a panoramic tour of the city and visited the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda (so named for its contents) and National Museum. Some of us even found time to walk through the bustling (and hustling) Central Market. In the evening, we were treated to a dance performance by Kmer children. Our group ventured off the ship--via a long tuk tuk ride--for dinner at a typical Cambodian restaurant one night, an experience we were glad we had.
The following day we were "at sea" crossing the border back into Vietnam The next day Vietnamese guides came aboard and Ten led our group most of the time. We took a trishaw ride in Tan Chau and visited silk weaving and mat weaving workshops on Evergreen Island Here we saw locals' daily life in the Delta and how they work together as a community to raise and market crops and livestock . Again, we were invited to visit the house of a local couple. In the afternoon, cruise manager, Tung, treated us to a presentation on Vietnamese weddings. On our final full cruise day, we visited a large outdoor market in Sa Dec, as well as the Lovers' House; the movie chronicling the real-life story was available in our cabins. Later we took small boats in Cai Be to visit Kiet historical house and a candy and rice paper making factory. Back on board, we enjoyed a folklore performance by locals with traditional instruments.
Saigon
The next day we reached My Tho port and disembarked for the short ride to our Saigon hotel. After lunch there, our city tour took us to the Presidential Palace, War Remnants Museum and Ben Thanh Market. Cruise director Tung managed to get us tickets to the AO acrobatic music show at the opera house for that evening. On our final full day, we explored the Cu Chi Tunnels, the extensive underground network outside Saigon constructed by the military and used during the Vietnam War . It allowed the Viet Cong to move undetected through living and storage spaces, kitchens and hospitals. We learned about the Americans' role in the war and most of us went through one of the tunnels to get a sense of what the Viet Cong experienced. The next day we bid farewell to Vietnam, pondering all the wonderful experiences we'd had.
We started in Hanoi at the lovely Sofitel with its colonial architecture. Here we met Jack, our guide for the next several days. Despite it being the dry season, Hanoi was cool and on-and-off drizzly. We toured the city, visiting various sights, including a temple, Ba Dinh Square--location of The Ho Chi MInh Mausoleum--and Vietnam Women's Museum. We took an exciting trishaw (bicycle powered) ride through the Old Quarter, dodging motorbike traffic, to arrive at an entertaining water puppet show. The following day, we headed for Ha Long Bay and the well-appointed boat that would house us overnight. Those of us who'd been here in 2011 were stunned by the number of larger boats in the bay, something that can happen when a World Heritage Site gets discovered. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the beautiful rocks jutting up from the water and our foray into one of the stunning limestone caves. We also visited a pearl farm where we learned the process of creating and grading pearls. On the way back to Hanoi, Jack graced us with stories of his childhood, as well as descriptions of current and former conditions in Vietnam. He invited us to visit his family home the next time we come to Hanoi.
Siem Reap, Cambodia
We headed next to Siem Reap via a short flight from Hanoi. Now we were in tropical weather, with temps in the 90's and moderate humidity. Our resort had lovely grounds and a pool, both of which our group enjoyed on our free afternoon. The focus of our stay here was Angkor Wat. We visited 12th century Angkor Thom, royal city and last capital of the Kmer empire, and the Bayon, towers adorned with smiling faces, in its center; Ta Prohm with all the trees intertwined into its temple structure; and Banteay Srei, Citadel of Women. We arrived at Angkor Wat, largest religious monument in the world, before dawn to see the sunrise and its reflection in the water. In the evening we enjoyed an Apsara dinner dance show at our hotel.
Mekong Riverboat cruise
Next we transferred to the AmaDara, our home for the next week. We embarked in Kampong Cham, Cambodia and soon after, toured Twin (man and woman, as legend has it) Mountains. The following day we visited Angkor Ban, the only village that survived the Kmer Rouge; its stilted houses are up to 100 years old and life has barely changed for centuries. We were invited in to see one of them. We also visited Oknhatey Island where we spent some time in an elementary school classroom, and later we observed traditional silk weaving.
We sailed on to Phnom Penh and visited nearby Oudong where we were treated to a Buddhist blessing in the gorgeous temple. Some of us also made the 95-step climb to the nearby hilltop, Wat Phnom. We traveled by ox cart through a neighboring village. A tuk tuk (motorbike powered) excursion through busy Phnom Penh took us to Independence Monument, in the shape of a lotus flower. The next day, most of our group traveled to the Killing Fields and the Kmer Rouge's grim S21 detention center We also had a panoramic tour of the city and visited the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda (so named for its contents) and National Museum. Some of us even found time to walk through the bustling (and hustling) Central Market. In the evening, we were treated to a dance performance by Kmer children. Our group ventured off the ship--via a long tuk tuk ride--for dinner at a typical Cambodian restaurant one night, an experience we were glad we had.
The following day we were "at sea" crossing the border back into Vietnam The next day Vietnamese guides came aboard and Ten led our group most of the time. We took a trishaw ride in Tan Chau and visited silk weaving and mat weaving workshops on Evergreen Island Here we saw locals' daily life in the Delta and how they work together as a community to raise and market crops and livestock . Again, we were invited to visit the house of a local couple. In the afternoon, cruise manager, Tung, treated us to a presentation on Vietnamese weddings. On our final full cruise day, we visited a large outdoor market in Sa Dec, as well as the Lovers' House; the movie chronicling the real-life story was available in our cabins. Later we took small boats in Cai Be to visit Kiet historical house and a candy and rice paper making factory. Back on board, we enjoyed a folklore performance by locals with traditional instruments.
Saigon
The next day we reached My Tho port and disembarked for the short ride to our Saigon hotel. After lunch there, our city tour took us to the Presidential Palace, War Remnants Museum and Ben Thanh Market. Cruise director Tung managed to get us tickets to the AO acrobatic music show at the opera house for that evening. On our final full day, we explored the Cu Chi Tunnels, the extensive underground network outside Saigon constructed by the military and used during the Vietnam War . It allowed the Viet Cong to move undetected through living and storage spaces, kitchens and hospitals. We learned about the Americans' role in the war and most of us went through one of the tunnels to get a sense of what the Viet Cong experienced. The next day we bid farewell to Vietnam, pondering all the wonderful experiences we'd had.