Indochina Adventure

For many years Indochina was high on our To-Visit List though we were unsure which countries to include. We decided on Vietnam and Cambodia and glad we did! (Thanks to two very special friends who agreed to house and dog sit (Karen and Gary) we had no worries about being away from home for nearly three weeks.) Our Vietnam itinerary included a few days in Hanoi, a few nights sleeping on a private junket boat while cruising Halong Bay, two days in Saigon where we had the opportunity to explore the Cu Chi tunnels with a Viet Cong veteran, and our initial seven-day journey on the Mekong River. Our Cambodia itinerary began on the Mekong River with visits to fishing villages, small communities and numerous temples, and included visits to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Not really sure what to expect in Vietnam and Cambodia, what we found was both charming and disturbing: charming in its glimpses of city and village life as well as the natural beauty of Halong Bay and the Mekong River; disturbing in the numerous remembrances of the Vietnam war (referred to as the American War by many Vietnamese) and the three year, eight month and twenty day brutality of the Khmer Rouge government in Cambodia (1975-1979). Highlights of the trip included wonderful accommodations (thanks to our tour agent Kate at Jacada Travel), old Hanoi, the tranquility of Halong Bay, staff of the boat, Aqua Mekong, numerous friends we made, and the majesty, beauty and mystery surrounding Angkor Temples. Below are a few photos.

Lotus blossoms in moat – Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Sunrise Tonle Sap River – Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia

Sunbeam Bridge, Hoan Kiem Lake – Hanoi Vietnam

Park, Hoan Kiem Lake – Hanoi Vietnam

Street scene, Old Quarter – Hanoi Vietnam

Street scene, Old Quarter – Hanoi Vietnam

Rice field – Road to Halong Bay, Vietnam

Fishing boat – Halong Bay, Vietnam

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Cu Chi Tunnel – Near Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam

Aqua Mekong river ship – Mekong River, Cambodia

Floating market – Mekong River, Cambodia

Cutting rice stalks – Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia

Children playing – Koh Chen, Cambodia

Lily pond reflection, Angkor Wat Temple – Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Ta Prohm Temple – Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Carving, Ta Prohm Temple – Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Carving, Ta Prohm Temple – Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Bridge entrance, Bayon Temple – Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Bayon Temple – Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Processional causeway, Angkor Wat Temple – Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Susan and Michael, Byon Temple – Angkor Thom, Cambodia