Visions of Vietnam
Jo and I were immediately impressed by the warm welcome we received from everyone as soon as we arrived for our visit to Vietnam.
Our guide Sunny showed us some beautiful Buddhist and Confucian temples. We find the atmosphere of those places both peaceful and extraordinarily exotic. Passing through the gateway into the temple precinct, the visitor leaves modernity behind and enters a world of trees, rocks, water, steps and portals leading on between incense burners and lanterns into the inner sanctum of statues and sacred artefacts. One of the temples included a picturesque pagoda, replete with Buddhas and dragons...
The mythical dragon also featured in a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show, which was fun to see.
We also saw places relating to Vietnamese history, including Ho Chi Minh's large mausoleum and his house which by contrast possessed simplicity. Visiting the Women's Museum was both fascinating and sobering. Vietnamese women have always played a strong role in religious ceremonies as many of them have traditionally related to the ancient Goddess as much as Buddhist beliefs. Their colourful costumes are exquisite. In another floor we saw an exhibition on the suffering of many women, particularly throughout the Vietnam war.
That evening we were shown around the bunker of our hotel where people hid during the bombings. Our guide there told us of how so many people in Vietnam including himself lost family members. The scars from that time live on with the older generation and are still felt by younger people whose parents and grandparents were killed or injured. Today many Americans visit Vietnam, which is a joy to see as there is now a good relationship between the two countries.
From stories of a dark time gone by to images of eternal sublime beauty, we visited spectacular Halong Bay. This must be one of the most stunning places on earth. The numerous limestone mountainous islands rising out of the bay fade into the mists and their rocky facades sparkle in the sunshine. As the boat weaved through these natural looming giants, we felt as if we were sailing through Eden itself, with many glimpses of the distinctly wild and primal virgin forests between and around the craggy peaks.
Visiting Vietnam has been fascinating and memorable in every way. Many thanks to Thames Travel and Eden, and particularly to Sunny who was so helpful and informative. I recommend this wonderful country...
