French reputation
Local people, when chit-chatting, ask where I’m from. France, I tell them. Oh, your English is so good, they tell me!
Cat Ba Island
Day 26-27-28-29 – Cat Ba Island, Vietnam I arrived on the island after around 21 hours spent in a train or waiting for a train or on a ferry or… you guess how rested I was. The ferry dropped us at the North of the island, which wasn’t very convenient for me, since I wanted…
I smell something fishy…
Day 25, Hue to Ha Noi, Vietnam When I write that I smell something fishy, I mean that literally, as the lady sitting beside was eating crabs when I had a look. Small crabs, out of a bag, sucking out the meat from the legs and everything. That’s what travelling on a soft seat in…
Imperial city
Day 23 – Hue, Vietnam During the 19th century, Vietnamese Emperors made of Hue their capital. The Imperial City is the enclave containing the palace and the administration of the government. I was very happy to have my conical hat when visiting the Imperial City, as the sun was bright and the shade was very…
Lanterns
Day 21 – Hoi An, Vietnam After the final fittings (Hoi An is reputed for its cheap, custom-made clothes, and I took advantage of it), I made my way after nightfall to the riverbank. The lanterns are lit everywhere, and it’s magical. On the river, small rowing boats take tourists on a short tour to…
My Son
Day 20 – My Son, Vietnam Following the appeal of a boat journey, I booked a tour to see My Son, the ruins of the Cham Empire capital, the rivals of the Khmers and their capital, Angkor. It was the kind of tour where you follow your guide from one explanation to another, which wasn’t…
Hoi An
Day 19 – Hoi An, Vietnam Hoi An is a charming town that has kept its historical old center and is now a World Heritage site. Meandering through the market (live poultry included), one can get to the streets bordered with old wooden houses, relics of a past where traders came from China and Japan…
Capsule Hotel
Day 18 – Da Nang, Vietnam So after spending a few hours killing time in my favorite park in Ho Chi Minh City, with more young people asking to speak English with me, I headed to the airport to get my plane. (I was dropped off by the taxi at the international departures when the…
Ho Chi Minh City
Day 17 – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam First, nothing says dehydration more than drinking 1.5 litre in less than an hour. Go me. I started my quiet day by waking to a park with the intention of finding a congenial bench and reading a bit in the shade. (Today was almost sunny.) That’s the…