Night Lights for the New Year

Night lights from Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) to help celebrate the New Year.

Hope you have a good one.

Cycling on water

The typhoon raised the level of the Thu Bon River, Hoi An, flooding Bach Dang - the esplanade.

King Tu Duc's Pavillion, Hue

This pavilion, in the tomb complex of the King Tu Duc (1848-1883), outside Hue in Central Vietnam, was used in the 1992 movie Indochine.

This is where the king wrote poetry and relaxed, as he looked over the tranquil Luu Khiem Lake.

Saigon Wedding

My computer has a problem so I have had not posted here for a while. These photos from Vietnam I found on my laptop.

Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon was designed by Frenchman Jules Bourand, and the cornerstone laid in 1877, with stained glass and bricks imported from France. Two matching bell towers rise 56 m above Paris Square Cong Xa Paris). Visible from afar, these towers are famous landmarks of the city.

On the facade you can find bullet holes from the War.

While we were at the front of the Cathedral we came across this couple having their photos taken after their wedding. They happily posed for us too.

Hue's Ancient Citadel

The overnight train from Hanoi arrives in Hue, the ancient city of the Nguyen Kings, early in the morning. Hue, on the banks of the Song Huong (Perfume River), is situated midway between Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) in the south.The city is not only historical rich, but charming and cultured.
On the river's north bank is the ancient Citadel, inside which are found the stunning and resplendent Forbidden Purple City, Yellow Enclosure and the fabled Imperial City, which follows the same layout as Beijing’s Forbidden City. The Citadel is a 4 sq km fortification of 6.5 m walls, ramparts and bastions.

One of the ten gates through the wall is the 57 m wide Ngo Mon (Noon Gate) which was once reserved for the private use of the Emperor.

The second typhoon in as many weeks descended upon Hue the afternoon we arrived and the visit to this amazing place was eventually abandoned due poor light and wet everything. The next morning it was no better so this is all we managed to see.

Goodbye Hanoi

Last views of Hanoi before heading south.

Crossing the Red River with views of the 1 682 metre long Long Bien Bridge. This bridge, we were told, was designed by Eiffel (as in the Eiffel Tower fame) and was heavily bombed during the war. It was the northbound access for all vehicles out of the city until 1983 but these days it is only used for trains, cyclists and pedestrians.

View of the same bridge from the roof-top of our Hotel.

Last minute shopping in Hanoi and the only way to beat the heat is to go by rickshaw.

Furniture and funny trucks

On the way back to Hanoi from Halong Bay we stopped at an industrial area which specializes in furniture

............and funny trucks.

Boats on the water

There are many different types of craft that ply the waters of Halong Bay.

Hang Dau Go

In Halong Bay is the very famous Hang Dau Go Grotto.

Halong Bay Vistas

More photos from Halong Bay, where you can take one to four day tours.

Halong Bay Fishermen

In Halong Bay we came across fishermen living and working from house boats.

We went on board and took these photos.

The fisherman was shy and didn't want his photo taken.

Halong Bay I

The sun breaks through the early morning haze over Halong Bay.

Heading out...

Halong Bay in northern Vietnam is a series of 2 000 islands that rise hundreds of feet over the warm tropical waters. A UNESCO World Heritage designated site, it covers 1 553 square kilometres and is one of Vietnam's most popular tourist haunts and hundreds of boats travel the waters, taking people on day and overnight trips.

According to the legend the bay formed when a dragon plunged into the sea whipping its tail from side to side in a frenzy, carving up the region.

More over the next few days.

Japanese Bridge II

More photos of the Japanese Bridge in Hoi An.

China Beach

This photo of my daughters was taken on China Beach, Da Nang, Central Vietnam is one of my favourite Vietnam photos.

Tomorrow I fly out for the big smoke Port Moresby, the capital of PNG and I won’t be able to post, so will see you on Sunday with my Vietnam bridge photos.

Van Mieu 3

Still in Van Mieu, The Temple of Literature in Hanoi - it covers an area of 14 acres, so there is a lot to see.

The Gate of Great Success leads to the Courtyard of Sages in which is found.....

The Great House of Ceremonies......

where a statue of Confucius is kept flanked by his four closest disciples.

More from inside the Great House next post.

Van Mieu - 2

More photos from Van Mieu, the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, see previous post for deatils.

The 82 stelae (on which the names of the scholars who passed their exams are listed) are resting on the backs of stone tortoises. The stelae were entombed in sand and concrete to protect them during the American War (as they call it in Vietnam). After the war they were exposed to the elements in the garden and were cracking and sinking, but American Express funded their preservation in eight elevated pavillions.

This is The Great Middle Gate which leads into the Garden of the Stelae.

In this garden is the Well of Heavenly Clarity.

Bonsais outside The Great House of Ceremonies