( By. F. Sheikh) In Hanoi we attended a Water Puppet Show. it was beautiful show with mix of local and Indian Music.Few Pictures from show;
Water Poppet Show in Hanoi
The Puppet Handlers
The Puppets and Puppeteers
Musicians at Water Puppet Show
About three hour drive to the east of Hanoi is a beautiful bay, Ha Lang Bay. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We took overnight cruise of Bay.
Halong Bay
Halong Bay
Beautiful view
Barbecue and Grill Night at the Ship
Beach along Halong Bay
In the Halong Bay is a Boat village. It has its own school on boats and volunteers come from mainland to teach. They were relocated to mainland but could not survive and came back.
Boat Village in Halong Bay
Boat Village
Boat Village
Grocery Shop on a boat
Temple for Boat Village Residents
Supporting Foams, Children playing
Small Cruise Ship in Halong Bay
Centuries Old water made Cave in Ha Long Bay
After this we flew to Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue , in South Vietnam. These are beautiful towns.
Theater inside the Palace in Hue
Palace In Hue-in decay. Some parts destroyed by bombing during the war
Temple in Da Nang
Deserted American Military Watch post on Hills of Da Nang
View of Da Nang valley from Watch Post
Traditional Dance Show in Hue Hotel
Taditional Dance in Hue Hotel
Transporting Gravel on Boat in Da Nang
From Hue, we flew to Saigon. Everywhere in Vietnam and Cambodia the hotels and service was great. The tourist areas has clean bathrooms and Guides always keep bottled water with them to offer you whenever you need it.Food is great.
Hotel in Hue at night
Delicious Soup served in Coconut Shell
Dish with beautiful display
General Post Office in Saigon
Bride and Groom-Western Style wedding in Saigon
The North Vietnam Hanoi usually has traditional weddings as below;
A wedding ceremony in Hanoi in traditional dresses
The major transportation in Vietnam is scooters;
Young Adults enjoying afternoon drinks outside cafe in Saigon, using tiny stools. Main mode of transportation in city is scooters
The visit to Vietnam War Museum is in separate article. From Saigon we flew to Phnom Penh, Cambodia and then to Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Angkor temple in Siem Riep, Cambodia
Monkeys near the Angkor Temple in Cambodia
Tap water flowing through hill in Cambodia- They all know it is tap water, but still people consider it Holy Water
Tourists relaxing in the Temple in Cambodia in 100* degree heat
Palace in Cambodia. The Emperor is mostly out of country to China
Palace in Cambodia
Fish Pond In The Palace
Traditional Dance with Indian culture touch in Siem Reap Cambodia
Traditional Dance in Siem Reap Cambodia
Backyard of Hotel in Cambodia (Siem-Reap)
Pond in Hotel Backyard in Siem Reap, Cambodia
All Lexus Trucks and Cars parked in front of a restaurant in Phnom Penh,Cambodia
From Siem Reap, Cambodia, we flew to Kuala lumpur, Malaysia. Tokyo, Singapore and Kualalumpur in separate article.
Politics Of Vietnam & Cambodia
Vietnam
Vietnam is ruled by a single Communist Party but only 5% of the people are its members. The people openly complain about corruption and are longing for Democracy, but generally they seem happy and feel the country is progressing in right direction. They complain about Chinese, who are a tiny minority, but control most of the businesses. There is a conflict with China on South China Sea Rights. In recent years they are warming up to the Americans.
Cambodia
Cambodia has Constitutional Monarchy with Parliamentary System. The general public also seem happy with the new investments from the West. But they are still bitter about the Americans because they believe America supported Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge to oust the Emperor Sihanouk who was supporting the Vietcong during the Vietnam War. Khmer Rouge killed about one million people out of about eight million population. People still narrate the horror stories of Pol Pot. Cambodians speak warmly of China.
Posted by F. Sheikh