Tam Coc & HaNoi

 After travelling all the streets of DaNang, we went to TamCoc & HaNoi. The bus journey from DaNang was on one of the finest buses I have ever have a seat in. This looked like a spaceship! IF one ever travels to South East Asia, do try their busses! 

TamCoc has one for finest lakes and mountains of Vietnam. The sun was shining and the breeze was perfect for the time we were there.

Our homestay gave us bikes to go around the village.

The Heritage Path ride was wonderful 

...and the sunset was beautiful!

The lake and the river goes all along the ride path.

We biked to the Bich Dong Pagoda. 

Location: Bich Dong Pagoda

There was an old temple at the top of the hill.

It was indeed picturesque. 

We took our customary picture on the bridge.

We took our customary picture on the bridge.

We then went to the Bird Park.

Location: EcoTourism Park, Thung Nham.

This place had amazing gardens, hills and flower beds.

Flower gardens...

Lake & the hills, also allow the birds to nest here. We saw lots of cranes, herons and ducks. 

We then explored the caves in the bird park.

The lights don't do justice how scary the caves were. 

The evening lanterns made a lovely ending to the day.

I have made a small video about that day.

The next morning we went to The Lying Dragon Mountain. 

Location: Nui Ngoa Long

The mountains and rivers looked scary from the top.

...and if someone is scared of heights, they should try to take it slow.

The rice fields here do turn absolutely green, however we went there during the dry season.

Here it was: The Lying Dragon Mountain!

Sunshine...

Not sure I would sit like that lady in the background.

The mountains went on and on for miles and miles...

...and the stairs went on and on for miles and miles.

TamCoc Lily Homestay was wonderful. We then went to HaNoi during the Chinese New Year. The year of Snake awaited us. 

The HaNoi town was empty. But, we did get a chance to visit lots of temples. 

They were chalk-a-block with people. We really didn't know how big the new years festival is, until we were in HaNoi. Everything got expensive and people spent time with families, rather than partying outside. 

We did manage to click some more photos.

Chuc Mung Nam Moi - 2025 everyone!

The temples and streets were very beautifully decorated. They put up a plum tree in the temple. 

....and the incense sticks makes the whole thing is very relaxing.

We went to the Temple of Literature. And, they encourage you to write on the wall: "I would like the new year to....."

We also found people a board game in real life! Anyone knows what's this called?

It was not warm, and we had to carry a sweatshirt with us all along, everyday in HaNoi.

Lovely decked up streets... 

really beautifully decorated hotel... 

We also visited the Ho Chi Minh Museum and Mausoleum. 

Two bearded men in one picture? WOW!

Temple on a pillar!

The Boss's Mausoleum!

The coffee culture in HaNoi was unbelievable. They drink the blackest & the most intense coffee ever!

Some of these coffee shops had very picturesque setting!

They drink coffee, hot & cold. Then they give you a pallet cleanser tea along with the coffee!

There are chairs on the pavements at 8:00 AM and till 12:00 midnight!

...and every pavement has these small chairs looking into the lake.

Our street had 5-6 coffee shops!

People sat on small stools and had breakfast & coffeeeeeee! Coffee all day long in ever nook and corner of the town!

HaNoi also has bus number 90, going from the City Centre to the Airport for £0.50/pp. 

We took the flight and said goodbye to VietNam. 

DaNang - Hue - Hoi An

After the south we went to the central plains of VietNam. Da Nang was our go to place. But, we were excited to visit places around Da Nang; ie Hoi An and Hue. 

When we went to Hoi An, we found it to be very popular with the Europeans who want to get dresses or suits made. 

 Just like Nha Trang, the Chinese influenced temples were very popular here. 

Flower pots...

and very well maintained Pagodas.

In one of the temples we learnt that, a monk who burnt himself in SaiGon during the Viet Nam war, was a resident of that temple. A picture of his heart was kept there as a memorial and a shrine for everyone to pay respects. 

The worldwide publication of the photograph of the June 11, 1963, self-immolation of Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc (1897–1963) brought international attention to the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government of Ngo Dinh Diem.

The monk drove from Da Nang to SaiGon, took petrol in a can and did self immolation to protest against the violence against the Vitnamese people & the Buddhists by the South Vietnamese and American forces. His car is still kept in the temple. It was heart wrenching what the innocent went through, and the also so inspiring what others did for their freedom! 

We also visited the Hue & the Imperial Palace. Hue was also the capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty. 

The entrance looks very similar to the pictures of Chinese Palaces.

Honestly, the palace was very peaceful and lovely to see, however I always compare; and I think the Mughal Palaces in India were grander! 

There were loads of places to click photos. This was the Meridian Gate. 

This was The Harmony Palace. 

The Throne Hall. 

The corridors were beautiful too. 

You do need some ice cream or fresh fruit every couple of hours in that heat!

We also visited Hoi An, and I think this was the cutest little town in our whole trip. We fell in love with its shops, the dress makers, the gullies and the cleanliness around. Even the Hoi An Starbucks looked immaculately kept. 

We had coffee on a roof top restaurant...

...clicked some photos, 

and had a lovely drink! 

The Hoi A Japanese Bridge. This is also on the ₫ 20,000 Vietnamese note. 

Location: Japanese Bridge 

The customary photo, along Bridge 1...

...and bridge 2. 

As afternoon and then evening settled in, we found The City of Lanterns making the whole experience wonderful. 

We also visited the Japanese-Vietnamese Cultural centre near the bridge.

The Rice Paper Vietnamese Pizza snack.

We then sat along the river bank and waited for the boats to showoff their lanterns. 

The whole river becomes very beautiful & picturesque around 6:30 PM.

The Japanese Bridge looked lovely. 

We clicked few more photos around the temples...

...and the market squares, before heading back to Da Nang.

Da Nang has the beach and also has a Dragon Bridge. 

In reality, it's just a bridge, but at 7:00 PM, the bridge puts up a show. The dragon blows fire and almost everyone (I mean the tourists) head to the bridge to see the show. We did the same...

We also visited The Marble Mountains of Da Nang. It's a 10 minute drive from the City Centre. 

Location: The Marble Mountains

There are lots of caves to see here. 

We did manage to scale the top of the mountain.

Now, if you are scared of heights, please be aware that it is an extremely steep mountain and always hold the harness provided. European Health and Safety isn't the standard here.

The entrance was a small one. However the cave does become big inside.

One could see the sea from top of the mountains and along the beach one could see the huge resort blocking the view. Oh well, the challenges of tourism in every part of the planet.

There is a temple on top of the mountains.

We completed our journey in Da Nang and were back in the tourist district. 

One thing: why do the Vietnamese town wake up so early? Everyone is doing business at 7:00 AM and then they go on till 12:00 mid-night! Is it the strong coffee that keeps them going?😉