VIETNAM

So now 40 years after this war torn country, it has become a tourist destination. Do you suppose that means in another 40 years we will find Iraq or Somalia as a vacation destination?

Let’s hope there’s peace in the world.

Nha Trang was our first stop and is well known for its pristine beaches and excellent diving and is complete with five-star hotels along with family run hotels, all within easy walking distance of the beaches. We toured outside the city area where there are many rice paddies and families have their own piece of land to grow their sustenance. There is very little modern equipment used and the work involves much manual labor although it is slowly progressing.

Phy My – the gateway to Ho Chi Minh City, otherwise known as Saigon. From where the ship docks into the city is about 50 km but due to the traffic, it takes nearly 2 hours to transit. Once in Saigon, you find it a very energetic city. Most people drive motorcycles with special traffic lanes for them. Safety has a long way to go with barefoot drivers and although helmets are required, they seem to translate that to head gear by many of the drivers. There’s an area of the road where there is a helmet check so before it starts you can stop and rent a helmet, drive through the check area and turn it in on the other side of the checkpoint. With the custom of many Asian cities, tailors are abundant here too. Water puppet shows are popular tourist events.