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Best Photos of Vietnam Travels (December 2008)

The first thing that people think of when they think of Vietnam is the Vietnam War. You can forget the war. Vietnam is the latest Asian dragon to awake from its slumber. From the natural beauty of Ha Long Bay, considered to be one of the “Wonders of the World,” to the quaint cafes and coffee shops of Hanoi, to the French colonial architecture of Ho Chi Minh City, to the historic treasures of the Imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty in Hue, to the fabulous beaches in Nha Trang, Vietnam has something for everybody! Let’s hope that the dragon never goes back to sleep again!
Best of Vietnam cover page.
Best of Vietnam cover page.		 Map of Vietnam.
Map of Vietnam.		 The cyclo driver rode me through motorbike traffic in Hanoi. The ride was exhilarating, but the exhaust fumes were terrible!
The cyclo driver rode me through motorbike traffic in Hanoi. The ride was exhilarating, but the exhaust fumes were terrible!		 The puppets are made out of wood and then are lacquered. The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool.
The puppets are made out of wood and then are lacquered. The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool.
Hoan Kiem Lake, which is the center of Hanoi both literally and figuratively. The name means Lake of the Returned Sword.
Hoan Kiem Lake, which is the center of Hanoi both literally and figuratively. The name means "Lake of the Returned Sword."		 Strollers crossing over the Huc Bridge and the green water of Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi.
Strollers crossing over the Huc Bridge and the green water of Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi.		 Pathway leading to the Ngoc Son Temple in Hanoi.
Pathway leading to the Ngoc Son Temple in Hanoi.		 This Vietnamese woman seemed to be preoccupied in her thoughts.
This Vietnamese woman seemed to be preoccupied in her thoughts.
View of the Tran Quoc Pagoda, which is the oldest of all pagodas in Hanoi. It is located beside the dazzling West Lake in Hanoi.
View of the Tran Quoc Pagoda, which is the oldest of all pagodas in Hanoi. It is located beside the dazzling West Lake in Hanoi.		 Exterior view of people lining up to go into Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum (I'm 4th from the back in that line).
Exterior view of people lining up to go into Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum (I'm 4th from the back in that line).		 Close-up of the golden multi-armed Buddha inside of the pagoda.
Close-up of the golden multi-armed Buddha inside of the pagoda.		 Dramatic image of Ho Chi Minh's imposing statue at the top of the stairs in his museum.
Dramatic image of Ho Chi Minh's imposing statue at the top of the stairs in his museum.
Wreckage in Huu Tiep Lake where a U.S. B-52 bomber was shot down during the 1972 Christmas bombing of Hanoi.
Wreckage in Huu Tiep Lake where a U.S. B-52 bomber was shot down during the 1972 Christmas bombing of Hanoi.		 This photo shows a Vietnamese woman dragging a piece of the wreckage.
This photo shows a Vietnamese woman dragging a piece of the wreckage.		 A mother unicorn and her baby.
A mother unicorn and her baby.		 Conditions were horrible in the Hanoi Hilton. This is a depiction of soldiers shackled together in one big room.
Conditions were horrible in the Hanoi Hilton. This is a depiction of soldiers shackled together in one big room.
The face of misery of prisoner in solitary confinement.
The face of misery of prisoner in solitary confinement.		 The most prominent feature of a traditional Giarai’s tomb is the wooden sculptures of sexually explicit men and pregnant women.
The most prominent feature of a traditional Giarai’s tomb is the wooden sculptures of sexually explicit men and pregnant women.		 This is the junk that I hired to tour Halong Bay.
This is the junk that I hired to tour Halong Bay.		 The boat captain and my tour guide as seen through the boat's windshield.
The boat captain and my tour guide as seen through the boat's windshield.
View of other tourist junks through the mast of my boat.
View of other tourist junks through the mast of my boat.		 Some incredible stalactite formations in the Dong Thien Cung cave with people standing below.
Some incredible stalactite formations in the Dong Thien Cung cave with people standing below.		 View of a motorized junk with a sailing junk in the background.
View of a motorized junk with a sailing junk in the background.		 View of the floating market with rocky islets of Halong Bay in the background.
View of the floating market with rocky islets of Halong Bay in the background.
I tipped this fisherman to get this photo of him smoking his pipe.
I tipped this fisherman to get this photo of him smoking his pipe.		 A great view of the jutting islands of Halong Bay through a ladder on my boat.
A great view of the jutting islands of Halong Bay through a ladder on my boat.		 Another beautiful Halong Bay view from the deck.
Another beautiful Halong Bay view from the deck.		 A pottery shop at the Bat Trang ceramic village with the items for sale out in front.
A pottery shop at the Bat Trang ceramic village with the items for sale out in front.
This Dong Ho print is entitled, Mouse Wedding. The mice are bribing the big cat with fish and fowl so he won't disrupt it!
This Dong Ho print is entitled, "Mouse Wedding." The mice are bribing the big cat with fish and fowl so he won't disrupt it!		 A Buddhist lantern decoration hanging from the But Thap pagoda ceiling.
A Buddhist lantern decoration hanging from the But Thap pagoda ceiling.		 An impressive wooden statue in the main temple complex.
An impressive wooden statue in the main temple complex.		 Tourist boats with dragon mastheads docked on the Perfume River in Hue.
Tourist boats with dragon mastheads docked on the Perfume River in Hue.
A happy Buddha (with a big belly) in the sanctuary at the Thien Mu Pagoda.
A happy Buddha (with a big belly) in the sanctuary at the Thien Mu Pagoda.		 On the top floor of the sanctuary, is this Buddhist statue. You could see that it was raining hard that day.
On the top floor of the sanctuary, is this Buddhist statue. You could see that it was raining hard that day.		 She said a Lord would come to build a pagoda for prosperity; thus, Lord Nguyen Hoang built the pagoda of the Heavenly Lady.
She said a Lord would come to build a pagoda for prosperity; thus, Lord Nguyen Hoang built the pagoda of the "Heavenly Lady".		 Inside the Citadel, I came across this wonderful unicorn sculpture.
Inside the Citadel, I came across this wonderful unicorn sculpture.
I was intrigued why this golden dragon sculpture was turned on its side.
I was intrigued why this golden dragon sculpture was turned on its side.		 This is the dragon, which appears to be made out of paper or fabric.
This is the dragon, which appears to be made out of paper or fabric.		 Close-up of the dragon design.
Close-up of the dragon design.		 Standing in front of the pavilion are 9 dynastic bronze urns from the 19th century.
Standing in front of the pavilion are 9 dynastic bronze urns from the 19th century.
View looking out from the inside of Thé Mieu to the Pavilion of Everlasting Clarity.
View looking out from the inside of Thé Mieu to the Pavilion of Everlasting Clarity.		 Inside, there is an altar to each Emperor with an image, painting or photo of them.
Inside, there is an altar to each Emperor with an image, painting or photo of them.		 A side view of the Stele Pavilion through the trees.
A side view of the Stele Pavilion through the trees.		 After leaving Tu Duc's tomb, I went to an incense shop where this Vietnamese girl taught me how to make incense sticks.
After leaving Tu Duc's tomb, I went to an incense shop where this Vietnamese girl taught me how to make incense sticks.
View from the third level of the honor guard of diminutive government officials and one of the horses and elephants.
View from the third level of the honor guard of diminutive government officials and one of the horses and elephants.		 Golden statue in back of the interior of Khai Thanh Palace where Khai Dinh was said to be buried under it.
Golden statue in back of the interior of Khai Thanh Palace where Khai Dinh was said to be buried under it.		 I snapped one last dragon to capture a lasting, final and quintessential impression of Khai Dinh's tomb in my mind forever!
I snapped one last dragon to capture a lasting, final and quintessential impression of Khai Dinh's tomb in my mind forever!		 Close-up of the rice farmer plowing his field with his oxen.
Close-up of the rice farmer plowing his field with his oxen.
As we entered Danang, Vietnamese children were riding to school.
As we entered Danang, Vietnamese children were riding to school.		 Hoi An doorway with interesting masks and lanterns.
Hoi An doorway with interesting masks and lanterns.		 A craggy-faced old woman with rain gear in a rowboat.
A craggy-faced old woman with rain gear in a rowboat.		 The Japanese Covered Bridge connects Tran Phu Street and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street.
The Japanese Covered Bridge connects Tran Phu Street and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street.
I got a photo of this toothless Vietnamese woman outside of the Phung Hung Merchant House. I had to tip her to get the picture.
I got a photo of this toothless Vietnamese woman outside of the Phung Hung Merchant House. I had to tip her to get the picture.		 A mix of wooden tourist boats and fishing boats on the Thu Bon River.
A mix of wooden tourist boats and fishing boats on the Thu Bon River.		 Hoi An women selling fruit and vegetables.
Hoi An women selling fruit and vegetables.		 This cyclo driver was taking a late afternoon nap. That's how I felt after spending the day touring Hoi An!
This cyclo driver was taking a late afternoon nap. That's how I felt after spending the day touring Hoi An!
Façade of the French colonial-style Notre Dame Cathedral in downtown H.C.M.C.
Façade of the French colonial-style Notre Dame Cathedral in downtown H.C.M.C.		 Vendor selling bananas outside of the Main Post Office in the heart of H.C.M.C.
Vendor selling bananas outside of the Main Post Office in the heart of H.C.M.C.		 The elegant interior is considered to be the most interesting feature of the Central Post Office.
The elegant interior is considered to be the most interesting feature of the Central Post Office.		 View of Ho Chi Minh City Hall at night. It was built in 1902-1908 in a French colonial style for the then city of Saigon.
View of Ho Chi Minh City Hall at night. It was built in 1902-1908 in a French colonial style for the then city of Saigon.
Motorbikes at Ho Chi Minh City's main square in District 1. The famous Ben Thanh Market is close by.
Motorbikes at Ho Chi Minh City's main square in District 1. The famous Ben Thanh Market is close by.		 This guide, who was dressed up like a Vietcong soldier, was demonstrating an entrance to the tunnels.
This guide, who was dressed up like a Vietcong soldier, was demonstrating an entrance to the tunnels.		 The tunnels were often rigged with explosive booby traps or punji stake pits.
The tunnels were often rigged with explosive booby traps or punji stake pits.		 At a gift shop at the Cu Chi Tunnels, you can buy an alcoholic beverage with snakes in the bottle! I passed on this item!
At a gift shop at the Cu Chi Tunnels, you can buy an alcoholic beverage with snakes in the bottle! I passed on this item!
This craftsman was making sandals out of used tires. Ho Chi Minh used to wear them.
This craftsman was making sandals out of used tires. Ho Chi Minh used to wear them.		 Since there are canals and tributaries of the Mekong River on the Thoi Son Islet, we took a sampan ride on them.
Since there are canals and tributaries of the Mekong River on the Thoi Son Islet, we took a sampan ride on them.		 View from the boat that I was on of other boats ahead of us on the Mekong River.
View from the boat that I was on of other boats ahead of us on the Mekong River.		 As we departed from Qui Islet, we saw many more colorful boats.
As we departed from Qui Islet, we saw many more colorful boats.

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