Vietnam-Cambodia 1996
In Dec of 1996, Rena and I traveled to Asia and visited Vietnam and Cambodia. We spent 2 months traveling on our own. High on the list was trekking among the hill tribes in Northern Vietnam and visiting Halong Bay. After spending time in Hanoi, we took a train south stopping in Hue and Hoi An. We finished in the Mekong Delta and Saigon in the South. Before returning home, we spent 10 days in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia to see the amazing temples of Angkor Wat.
Below are “My Impressions” which I recorded in my journal.
VIETNAM
-All work in the fields in the North was done by hand.
-Amazing everyday costumes worn by the Hill Tribes.
-Northern Vietnam is a very safe place to travel.
-Good dinners cost $2. Beer was 50 cents. Lodging for two was between $5 and $15.
-Bicycles, scooters, and cars fill the road and they somehow keep from crashing into each other.
-Kids sometimes had aggressive sense of humor.
-Most houses had TV.
-Honking horns.
-The people seem very friendly but they are really looking to do business.
-Girls ride to school on bikes dressed in white.
-Garbage collectors came every night into the streets to collect trash.
CAMBODIA
-Many beggars are missing hands and feet
-Motorcycle drivers are careful and courteous.
-Familiar phrase is “Madame, buy from me.”
-Siem Reap is very safe. There are many tourists. Motorbikes are the way to get around.
-Cars drive on the right but the steering wheel is on the wrong side. Cars come form Singapore and Thailand.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Dec 16 - Fly - LA - Bangkok
Day 2 - Dec 17 - Night in Bangkok
Day 3 - Dec 18 - Fly to Hanoi
Day 4 - Dec 19 - Hanoi
Day 5 - Dec 20 - Hanoi
Day 6 - Dec 21 - Hanoi
Day 7 - Dec 22 - Train to Lao Cai, van to Sapa (5,500 ft)
Day 8 - Dec 23 - Sapa
Day 9 - Dec 24 - Motorbike/hike with guide Hung
Day 10 - Dec 25 - Start of 3 day trek with guide Hong (Hung’s sister)- night in Ta Van village
Day 11 - Dec 26 - Day 2 of trek - night in Ban Ho village
Day 12 - Dec 27 - Day 3 of trek, night in Sapa
Day 13 - Dec 28 - Sapa Market, night in Sapa
Day 14 - Dec 29 - Van to Lai Cai and then Bak Ha, Bak Ha Market
Day 15 - Dec 30 - Van to Hanoi
Day 16 - Dec 31 - Hanoi
Day 17 - Jan 1 - Hanoi to Haiphong to Cat Ba Island
Day 18 - Jan 2 - Hike across Cat Ba, boat return
Day 19 - Jan 3 - Halong Bay boat ride
Day 20 - Jan 4 - Cat Ba
Day 21 - Jan 5 - Motorbikes around Island, Cat Ba
Day 22 - Jan 6 - Boat to Halong City (via Halong Bay) + bus to Hanoi
Day 23 - Jan 7 - Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi
Day 24 - Jan 8 - Bus to Ben Yen (Perfume Pagoda)
Day 25- Jan 9 - See Pagoda, bus back to Hanoi
Day 26 - Jan 10 - Hanoi Hilton, overnight train to Hue
Day 27 - Jan 11 - Hue
Day 28- Jan 12 - bike ride, Hue
Cay 29 - Jan 13 - Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue
Day 30 - Jan 14 - Van to Hoi An (scenic drive)
Day 31 - Jan 15 - Hoi An
Day 32 - Jan 16 - Bike ride, Hoi An
Day 33 - Jan 17 - Hoi An morning fish market, taxi to My Son
Day 34 - Jan 18 - Hoi morning fish marker, Taxi to Danang, night train to Saigon
Day 35 - Jan 19 - Saigon
Day 36 - Jan 20 - Saigon
Day 37 - Jan 21 - Mekong tour 1, night in Chau Doc
Day 38 - Jan 22 - Mekong tour 2, Sam Mountain, night in Can tho
Day 39 - Jan 23 - Mekong tour 3, Phung Hiep market, Cai Rang market, Left tour, Can Tho.
Day 40 - Jan 24 - Cai Rang floating market, Can Tho
Day 41 - Jan 25 - Bus to Tra Vinh
Day 42- Jan 26 - Motorbike to Chua Hang Pagoda (storks), Tra Vinh
Day 43 - Jan 27 - Ferry to Ben Tre
Day 44 - Jan 28 - Ferry from Ben Tre to My Tho.
Day 45- Jan 29 - Bus from My Tho to Saigon (part of earlier tour)
Day 46 - Jan 30 - Saigon
Day 47 - Jan 31 - Cao Dai Temple + Cu Cu tunnels tour, Saigon
Day 48 - Feb 1 - War Remnants museum, Saigon
Day 49- Feb 2 - Fly Saigon to Phnom Penh
Day 50 - Feb 3 - Fly Phnom Penh to Siem Reap - Mom’s GH
Day 51 - Feb 4 - Tonle Sap Lake - Siem Reap
Day 52 - Feb 5 - Siem Reap - Angkar Wat
Day 53 - Feb 6 - Siem Reap
Day 54 - Feb 7 - Siem Reap
Day 55 - Feb 8 - Cambodian Dance - Siem Reap
Day 56 - Feb 9 - Siem Reap
Day 57 - Feb 10 - Fly Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Day 58 - Feb 11 - Killing Fields, Phnom Penh
Day 59 - Feb 12 - Fly Phnom Penh to LA
Read MoreBelow are “My Impressions” which I recorded in my journal.
VIETNAM
-All work in the fields in the North was done by hand.
-Amazing everyday costumes worn by the Hill Tribes.
-Northern Vietnam is a very safe place to travel.
-Good dinners cost $2. Beer was 50 cents. Lodging for two was between $5 and $15.
-Bicycles, scooters, and cars fill the road and they somehow keep from crashing into each other.
-Kids sometimes had aggressive sense of humor.
-Most houses had TV.
-Honking horns.
-The people seem very friendly but they are really looking to do business.
-Girls ride to school on bikes dressed in white.
-Garbage collectors came every night into the streets to collect trash.
CAMBODIA
-Many beggars are missing hands and feet
-Motorcycle drivers are careful and courteous.
-Familiar phrase is “Madame, buy from me.”
-Siem Reap is very safe. There are many tourists. Motorbikes are the way to get around.
-Cars drive on the right but the steering wheel is on the wrong side. Cars come form Singapore and Thailand.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Dec 16 - Fly - LA - Bangkok
Day 2 - Dec 17 - Night in Bangkok
Day 3 - Dec 18 - Fly to Hanoi
Day 4 - Dec 19 - Hanoi
Day 5 - Dec 20 - Hanoi
Day 6 - Dec 21 - Hanoi
Day 7 - Dec 22 - Train to Lao Cai, van to Sapa (5,500 ft)
Day 8 - Dec 23 - Sapa
Day 9 - Dec 24 - Motorbike/hike with guide Hung
Day 10 - Dec 25 - Start of 3 day trek with guide Hong (Hung’s sister)- night in Ta Van village
Day 11 - Dec 26 - Day 2 of trek - night in Ban Ho village
Day 12 - Dec 27 - Day 3 of trek, night in Sapa
Day 13 - Dec 28 - Sapa Market, night in Sapa
Day 14 - Dec 29 - Van to Lai Cai and then Bak Ha, Bak Ha Market
Day 15 - Dec 30 - Van to Hanoi
Day 16 - Dec 31 - Hanoi
Day 17 - Jan 1 - Hanoi to Haiphong to Cat Ba Island
Day 18 - Jan 2 - Hike across Cat Ba, boat return
Day 19 - Jan 3 - Halong Bay boat ride
Day 20 - Jan 4 - Cat Ba
Day 21 - Jan 5 - Motorbikes around Island, Cat Ba
Day 22 - Jan 6 - Boat to Halong City (via Halong Bay) + bus to Hanoi
Day 23 - Jan 7 - Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi
Day 24 - Jan 8 - Bus to Ben Yen (Perfume Pagoda)
Day 25- Jan 9 - See Pagoda, bus back to Hanoi
Day 26 - Jan 10 - Hanoi Hilton, overnight train to Hue
Day 27 - Jan 11 - Hue
Day 28- Jan 12 - bike ride, Hue
Cay 29 - Jan 13 - Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue
Day 30 - Jan 14 - Van to Hoi An (scenic drive)
Day 31 - Jan 15 - Hoi An
Day 32 - Jan 16 - Bike ride, Hoi An
Day 33 - Jan 17 - Hoi An morning fish market, taxi to My Son
Day 34 - Jan 18 - Hoi morning fish marker, Taxi to Danang, night train to Saigon
Day 35 - Jan 19 - Saigon
Day 36 - Jan 20 - Saigon
Day 37 - Jan 21 - Mekong tour 1, night in Chau Doc
Day 38 - Jan 22 - Mekong tour 2, Sam Mountain, night in Can tho
Day 39 - Jan 23 - Mekong tour 3, Phung Hiep market, Cai Rang market, Left tour, Can Tho.
Day 40 - Jan 24 - Cai Rang floating market, Can Tho
Day 41 - Jan 25 - Bus to Tra Vinh
Day 42- Jan 26 - Motorbike to Chua Hang Pagoda (storks), Tra Vinh
Day 43 - Jan 27 - Ferry to Ben Tre
Day 44 - Jan 28 - Ferry from Ben Tre to My Tho.
Day 45- Jan 29 - Bus from My Tho to Saigon (part of earlier tour)
Day 46 - Jan 30 - Saigon
Day 47 - Jan 31 - Cao Dai Temple + Cu Cu tunnels tour, Saigon
Day 48 - Feb 1 - War Remnants museum, Saigon
Day 49- Feb 2 - Fly Saigon to Phnom Penh
Day 50 - Feb 3 - Fly Phnom Penh to Siem Reap - Mom’s GH
Day 51 - Feb 4 - Tonle Sap Lake - Siem Reap
Day 52 - Feb 5 - Siem Reap - Angkar Wat
Day 53 - Feb 6 - Siem Reap
Day 54 - Feb 7 - Siem Reap
Day 55 - Feb 8 - Cambodian Dance - Siem Reap
Day 56 - Feb 9 - Siem Reap
Day 57 - Feb 10 - Fly Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Day 58 - Feb 11 - Killing Fields, Phnom Penh
Day 59 - Feb 12 - Fly Phnom Penh to LA
