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

Streets of Bat Thrang Pottery Village

These photos were taken in the streets of Bat Thrang Pottery Village.

Chua But Thap

Goddess of Mercy Quan Yin with her thousand eyes and arms to see all and help those in need.


Wooden statues of Buddha dating from 17th century, recognized as some of best in Vietnam.

This wooden prayer tower from the 17th century, is built in the form of lotus petals.

Chua But Thap

Located outside Hanoi, near Dinh To village, is the ancient Chua But Thap, built in the 13th century. Seven houses align on a 100 metre axis flanked by 32 long corridors of 26 column bays.

This pagoda has the finest examples of Buddhist statuary in the country, so will show you some of them in the next post.

Last look at Sapa

The French instigated a building boom in the 1930's as an escape from the coastal heat. The weather was wet the entire time so photos were very difficult.

Looking over the wall into someone's vegetable garden.

This restaurant, built on the side of a hill has an interesting walkway up to it.

A break in the weather - so lets have a parade.

The rain cleared enough one afternoon in Sapa for these men to practise their marching for a parade.

We never did find out what they were celebrating, but it was very colourful and brightened up what had been a very wet, muddy day.

Sapa's hill tribe people

The people from the hill tribes surrounding Sapa, are well known for their heavily embroidered fabric and costumes.

Not only are their costumes colourful, but so are some of their names – White Dao, Flower H’mong and Black H’mong.

School Days

While walking in the country-side near Sapa, we happened upon this village school. The children in one classroom were quite excited to see us; they don't have much but they seemed a happy lot.

Great weather for ducks and buffaloes

Ducks like the wet and so do water buffaloes. In the rice paddies around Sapa water buffaloes are invaluable to the farmers, and unlike the farmers don't mind being out in the rain..

Views around Sapa

The countryside around Sapa is stunning and rain adds another dimension to the landscape.

Beasts of Burden

Horses are still used extensively throughout Vietnam to haul loads.

Victoria Hotel - Sapa

Sapa is reached by an overnight train trip from Hanoi and then a bus trip through stunningly steep mist-covered mountains with rice terraces clinging to their sides.

Staying at the Victoria Hotel eases any discomfort you may have had getting there.