Our travel journal of Vietnam
Singapore 27th June 1998
Our circular tour of Vietnam.
Our flight on the 13th June from Hong Kong to Hanoi (the capital of Vietnam 1,09 million inhabitants) was made in a modern aircraft of the Vietnam airlines. Here also we experience a tropical climate – 35 degrees heat with a humidity of 80%. The booked transfer from the airport to the hotel did not function we found out very quickly that the tourist management in this country, where scars of war are still to be seen, is not very good. The next activity is the changing of currency. One can not change currency in advance but must change it in the country itself – as in most communists countries. The smallest banknotes in the countries – currency were 500 duan - in comparison – 0,05 Swiss francs. We felt like millionaires and had to learn to handle and bargain with these large numbers. Our first city spree ended after 2 hours and then we returned to our hotel because of the high temperature. We wanted to visit the sights of Hanoi. The one pillared temple was first on our list. This was built completely in wood by King Ly Thai Tong for a concubine – a farmer girl. We then visited the Ho Ci Ming Mausoleum – the Literature Temple – the French Opera House (from the French occupation) and the Historical Museum – which present the whole History of Vietnam.
During the next days we plan a journey to the north of the country – Halon Bay with its 3'000 mountains. It was a very adventurous trip by car then one met everything one could imagine on the road. The traffic chaos is caused by bicycles, motorbikes, cars and animals. The hooting and honking was not very pleasant for our ears. Sometimes we were not sure if one should drive on the left or right side.
Nevertheless we reached our destination and took a boat through bizarre rock formations to the stalagmite caves from Halon. During the war arms were hidden here but now one can enjoy the wonder of the stalagmites and stalactites. The next day the adventurous return trip of 180 kilometres back to Hanoi, that we should achieve in 5 hours as we fly further to Hue (209'000 inhabitants). The check-in at the airport of Hanoi was very difficult, then we had 5 kilograms excess baggage that turned out to be very expensive. We had the feeling of Beijing (Peking) cheated as the scales did not function, and we felt quite helpless. In Hue we were greeted by a German – speaking Guide which made things look a little brighter. We now visit the grave of the fourth king Tu Dues and the citadel in the Forbidden City. We learn that not only the teaching of Confucius (the founder the philosophic state religion grounded in China 200 bc) but also the teaching of Tahoismus a harmony between the famine earth and the strength of the heavens is achieved – named Ying – Yang. Buildings are nearly always built in 3 floors, then this religion teaches the belief that the ground floor the earth, the middle floor the human – beings and the top floor the heaven are. One should try to bring harmony to everything in this life – a philosophy that even we as Europeans can understand.
A boat trip on the Parfume River – the name comes from the many flowers on its banks – was the prelude to a visit to the Thien Mu Pagode. We then drove with a car south over the Cluod Pass 490 meters above sea – level, it is the weather – border – line between north and south Vietnam.
We reach
Hoe – An earlier a very significant harbour for the trade with Japan. Due to
the war dispatches on the river are very important, so that the missing takings from the
harbour is compensated with the tourist trade to achieve a certain standard of living.
Our next destination was Ho Chi Ming City (before the war –
Saigon) has 3,2 million inhabitants. We arrived after an hour flight and our expert Guide
showed us several historic jade houses, and spoke very openly about the conditions in his
country. Our walk through the market was only possible with pushing and shoving, and
opened our eyes to the poverty of the native inhabitants.
In this City the traces of the French Colonial time was to be seen everywhere. (was capital the French Colony. Indochina 1859 – 1945)This was documented in the Post Office and the Cathedral Notre Dame and the Parliament Buildings. A further excursion leads us to Cu Ci. The last war zone with the Americans. in this area a 3 storeyed tunnel system was built that leads to the border of Kambodscha, 200 kilometres away. Through the tunnel system the Vietcong were provided with the necessary supplies and therefore made it impossible for the Americans to conquer.
In the War Criminal Museum one
became a lesson about the Dirty War that was conducted between the Americans and south
Vietnamese against the north Vietnamese. There were amony other things pictures of torture
and the inset of chemical weapons – for example Agent Orange with these means the
Americans defoliated forest so that they we able to observe from their aircraft’s
exactly where and what the Vietcong were up to.
Our last excursion in this country leads us to the delta of the powerful Mekong
River. With small boats we visit the farmers who live here. They offer us
fruit and tea and play for us folklore music.
We spend one more night in Ho Chi Ming City and then we fly further on to Singapore on the 24th June.