2013 takes us to resurgent Vietnam including visits to Hanoi and Saigon and to the world heritage sites of Halong Bay, the ancient imperial city of Hue and the historic city of Hoi An. Then to Cambodia to see the worlds largest temple complexes of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.
February 14, 2013...highlights from the first 3 days in Hanoi...Hoen Kiem lake bridge, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Temple of Literature and Brenda, fitting in with the locals, flogging pineapple on the street corner :)
3 days, 2 nights on a luxury junk in Halong Bay, one of the new 7 Wonders of the Natural World. Cruising, kayaking, cave exploration, pearl farm, floating fishing village and an impressive 400+ steps up to the lookout on Ti Top Island.
Day 6 and we're out of Hanoi, with an upgrade to business class on Vietnam Airlines :) Off to the former imperial city of Hue. A dragon boat cruise up the Perfume River to see temples, tombs, palaces and pagodas...
Off to Ho Chi Minh City :) We had our original Jetstar flight out of Hoi An cancelled and had to adjust our itinerary on the fly (pun intended) but we'll end up there earlier than previously planned...some things just work out for the better!
Next update in a coupla days from Saigon!
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) Feb. 25 - 28...Peoples Republic building, Post office (designed by Eiffel, the tower guy) our hotel next door to the Opera house, dinner on the 50th floor at the Bitexco Tower and various pics from a day in the Mekong delta...
We're outta Vietnam...into Siem Reap, Cambodia. An absolute pleasure arriving, world record time through the airport (arrival, visa applied for and received, thru passport control, bags picked up and into an awaiting tuk-tuk in 20 minutes...amazing!) We like the hotel and area so much we've decided to stay a few extra days & shorten our stay in Bangkok. Pics from the first coupla days...visit to Angkor Thom temple complex. +35 and HUMID, we're ready for some downtime...11:00am massage followed by the day poolside (Angkor Wat tommorrow!)
The money shot, Angkor Wat...absolutely IMPRESSIVE...poolside downtime (our hotel has FAR exceeded our wildest expectations!), traditional Khmer dance show, in through the backdoor at the Ministry of Culture and Antiquities (a FANTASTIC look behind the scenes at a priceless museum warehouse collection), and then...more Angkor!!
Last days in Cambodia...fish/foot feeding frenzy and a final few fotos then off to Bangkok (overnight stay at the airport but a quick look see at the reclining budhha at Wat Pho)
