We just finished another delicious dinner in Compass Rose and I finally have time to report in before the show starts. Today was another hot and humid one in Vietnam. The Italian officers prepared lunch on the pool deck. The Captain, General Manager and other officers sweltered as they sang Italian songs while preparing their “Mamas†favorite pasta recipes. They suffered while we benefited from a tasty pasta lunch. Right now, rows of finishing boats are visible, their lights blazing as they look for another night’s catch.
Our time in Vietnam has been enlightening. Our 3-hour bus ride into Hanoi for the “Hanoi with shopping†tour, gave us the opportunity to view the countryside. Farmers burned the remnants from the rice crop as they prepared for a new planting season. Unfortunately, it left the air with a smoky haze, making it hard for some of us with allergies.
Unlike our “pit†restroom stops in China, the ones on the way to and from Hanoi were first class. Of course they were funded by stores, which obligated us to stop and browse, a small price to pay for clean, westernized restroom facilities.
The road to Hanoi wasn’t that great, especially with motorbikes and local buses roaring around us. I could understand why our guide was concerned that we leave Hanoi before rush hour. Plus, the ride back in the dark wasn’t all that safe either.
The tour company planned an overly ambitious itinerary for us in Hanoi. We were scheduled to see the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and the literature temple, Hanoi’s main cultural sites, before lunch. Due to traffic plus some slow walkers in our group, we only made the Ho Chi Minh visit before lunch, leaving the tour guide in a quandary as to how to fit it all in after lunch and still leave before the massive Hanoi rush hour. In the end, we squeezed it all in with not enough time for anything. I felt sorry for our guide as he tried to please his employer while trying to make 30 guests happy.
On the return ride to the ship, we passed several villages where TV’s blazed in the farmer’s homes, the only light to be seen. Groups gathered on street corners, sitting on their haunches or chairs, socializing and eating dinner.
Our day in Halong Bay proved to be more pleasant as a breeze kept us cool while we sailed through the limestone formations. I wasn’t aware that it is such a tourist destination, especially for the Chinese. Our guide informed us that the casinos in town have been built by the Taiwanese for the Chinese. Vietnamese are not allowed inside but he didn’t explain the reason. In any event, the junk ride was a pleasant way to spend the morning even if the hazy weather kept us from taking good photos.
Yesterday, we skipped tours for a day on the ship. It’s great to be here when all the guests are off touring. Tomorrow we’ll be visiting Saigon. Tour time again. Of course all the tours have been free which makes it even better despite the heat and humidity.
