Vietnam

The famed Ho Chi Minh City! Used to be called Saigon.

We spent 3 days in crowded HCMC. This gives you a picture of the moto traffic one experiences there. I do prefer moto traffic to car traffic however.

While in HCMC, we searched fruitlessly for extra tubes for our bikes, and visited the War Remnants Museum. I found it interesting that the government of Vietnam showcases the Vietnam war (known there as the "American War") very patriotically. It is depicted as their war of Independance. There are monuments depicting Vietnamese heroism during that war everywhere. The museum has many sobering pictures of war atrocities, reminding you how horrible war is.

Vietnamese girls in their uniforms on their way to school.

Hoi An Shopping.

After the crowded roads in the South, we speeded up our Vietnam cycling experience by taking a bus from HCMC to Hoi An, and then another bus to Laos. We wanted to spend extra time in Laos because the roads are a lot less crowded for bicycles.

We did get to stay in Hoi An for 3 days. Hoi An is a World Heritage City because of its architecture and setting.

It also has built itself an industry of 200+ tailors who make cheap (by Western standards) custom made clothing for the many tourists that visit. Christian and I partook and then sent our new duds home.

With so many shops to choose from, many tried to stand out by showcasing their tailoring skills on their dogs.

While in Hoi An also took a trip to My Son, another World Heritage Site. It is an example, like Angor Wat, of ancient SE Asian architecture and carvings.