Sick of Vietnam Posts? Too Bad!

 We read some Trip Advisor reviews about a bicycle tour of Hoi An that was kid friendly so this was on our list for our stay here. While we were in town T stopped at a tour shop and booked the 4 of us in for a bicycle tour of the area for Thursday morning. We were all excited to see the country- beyond the touristy stuff- and get some exercise as a family. 

 Things started our a little rough. One look at the bikes told us that their safety was questionable but the friendly guide was ready to go, so we placed a child on the back of each bike and started down the road. Moments later C and I found ourselves laying on the road when, while pushing off to gain some momentum, my ankle rolled off the uneven road and the bike went down. Several motorbikes stopped to help, and a shopkeeper ran to our aid. They picked us up, dusted us off, and we tried again. This time, with success.
First thing was to navigate through Hoi An's busy streets to the river where a small boat awaited us. He took us (bikes and all) to a nearby village known for their wood carving and boat building.

The big net below is used to catch fish. The net is lowered into the water, the fish swim over top, and then the net is pulled up. There were many in the river, along with fishing boats.

There were men hard at work building and repairing fishing boats. The kids really enjoyed the explanation of how these men do their work, using some of the same methods they have used for centuries.

Then, back through Hoi An and out into the country.

A stop at the rice fields. I think these farmers are used to people stopping for a rice farming lesson. They showed us the plants, picked flowers for D, and gave me several striking poses for the camera. And then asked for a tip!

Organic vegetable farm. This was a highlight as D has been learning a lot about plants in school and they've planted their own vegetable garden.

On route from a fishing village (where I took no photos, apparently) to a pottery village I was so impressed with D on the back of that bike. Never complained- and that little platform could not have been comfortable.

Next stop was a pottery village. D is getting to be an expert at this pot throwing thing. She and the little girl at this shop made fast friends.

4+ hours later, we were back at the tour shop, exhausted, hungry, but wildly proud of ourselves for accomplishing and loving our morning's adventures. Time for lunch and ice cream.

After having such a positive experience having clothes made for T and myself, we decided to take D in for something special. We've heard about a father/daughter dance coming up next month so I took D in to have a gown made. She knew just what she wanted (she had even drawn a picture of it) so we took her to the tailor after lunch and watched as she and the ladies there worked their magic.

Fabric choices- satin and silk. And taking measurements.

We returned the next day for a fitting. Happy girl with her pink color, short sleeves, and poofy skirt.

D requested a satin headband and satin roses for the headband and the sash. At first the girl said they do not do hair accessories, but then gave in and was able to have them made.

Will be sure to blog about that event when it rolls around.

Hoi An- Fun for Grown-Ups Too!

The kids were aching to visit the kids' club at the resort so T and took advantage of some time sans children. We had read online and heard from friends that Hoi An is teeming with tailors who can practically make you an entire wardrobe over night. T wanted a few new dress shirts, I had a few garments in mind too. So we set off for town. Our guide recommended Yaly Tailors and we really liked what they made for us. I had dresses and shorts made. I also stopped at a swim suit shop across the street and and had 2 suits made. So nice to have clothes made just for me and my shape!

We also enjoyed lunch and some art shopping before going back to the resort for...you guessed it, more swimming!
Does any of you bring sand toys with you on beach vacations? It seems like they would be widely available in beachy areas. If any resort manager/owners are reading this, may I politely request that you have toys available to rent, buy, or borrow. This little set took us ages to find!

Beware the crazy goggle man!

Lucky us, we also booked a babysitter so that we could enjoy a date night. 

We visited Mango Mango Restaurant for dinner. Yum! My chicken and T's beef

Then to Cargo Restaurant and Patisserie for dessert. I can't believe I didn't take a photo of my enormous slice of chocolate cake. Grrr.

 And White Marble Wine Bar for wine!

A really lovely night in Hoi An. Below, see the river through town, and the (somewhat) famous Japanese Bridge. The town was bustling and had such a fun atmosphere.

We slept well that night, and good thing because the next morning would bring a 4-hour bicycle tour of the area that was full of surprises!

A Walk Around Hoi An

Included in our stay was a guided walking tour of Hoi An. The town has a beautiful Old Quarter that is a pedestrian only area and it was bursting with character. Vietnam has been heavily influenced by China, Japan, and France and it shows in the architecture, food, and art throughout the town. But the place is still so uniquely Vietnam.

It was really fun taking photographs here. I hope they look good here on the blog because I am really excited about the way some turned out. If you notice a few photos tucked in here and there, that lack explanation, it's because I just like them so much!

It was a beautiful day to spend walking through this charming town.

  Everyone was so friendly, especially when the kids said "hello" in Vietnamese. What a difference it makes to greet people in their native language! This little old lady scooped C right up. Love this photo.

 Then came the hat purchase. I was SO pleased that D and C were so very willing to wear them (all week long!). I just could not snap enough photos of them with the hats on. And, of course, they were a hit with the locals.

 Time for lunch! Cafe des Amis was recommended by our guide and did not disappoint. Both Vietnamese and Western food were offered and the proprietor, Mr. Kim, was quite the salesman. He even shared his guestbook with us so we could read all the testimonials.

 After lots of tasting, D was ready to add her own testimonial.

 It reads:  "It looks good. And it smells good. And it tastes good!!!!!

                              D, 5 years

                                 America"

Family photo at the end of the tour.

Back to the resort and into the pool!

"Xin Chao" Hoi An! (Hello!)

After a marathon of cultural encounters in Hanoi, we headed to central Vietnam. We flew into Da Nang and had a quick 25 minute drive to Hoi An and our resort. Our guide granted our request to stop at a marble shop along the way. Vietnam is known for its marble and they create beautiful pieces at the place we stopped. Above, D gets hands on as she polishes a marble statue. They did not let her bring it home- but it was a bit beyond our luggage allowance anyway.

The area is growing fast with all the major hotel chains buying up beachfront property and building big, beautiful resorts. We saw a difference just in our 6 days there. It will soon be a travel destination with many, many more choices for accommodation. (The downside is that local people have to no public beach in Hoi An anymore!)

However, we were very happy with where we stayed. Le Belhamy Resort was just 5 kms from Hoi An and a gorgeous place to stay. We rented a 2 bedroom pool villa with an ocean vew.

We arrived, grabbed a bite at the restaurant, and went straight for our pool. Once that had been thoroughly enjoyed, we swimmers decided to wander down and check out one of the resort pools.

Fun and relaxation have begun!

 After cleaning up for dinner, we enjoyed a nice meal at the resort restaurant, and some drinks and dancing- kids included! I think there was an opportunity for karaoke, but I don't think the family was quite ready for that yet. Let's cut a rug!

Hanoi, Vietnam

Note: My blog is not cooperating tonight so I'm not sure if the layout below is going to be at all appealing or easy to read. Forgive me if it's difficult to follow!

     We had a short 2-night stay in Hanoi, but we made the most of it. We booked our trip through a travel company called Trails of Indochina. They arrange travel throughout Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It was wonderful for us with the 2 young kids, as all our transfers were arranged and our guide and driver zipped us all over town to a bunch of great spots.
     Tip for travelling with kids: I snap the kids' photos at the start of any day out so that in the very unfortunate event that they go missing, I have a very recent photo of them. (A good idea at theme parks and zoos, all that stuff)

     So, with a photo snapped in the hotel lobby, our day began with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where Uncle Ho, the father of modern Vietnam is on display, more than 40 years after his death. I was a little anxious going in there with 2 small children. They demand complete silence as you view body, and I was unsure how the kids would react to the whole experience. But, the mausoleum was very cool and peaceful and not at all scary. Just before we walked in, I tossed an imaginary bubble into each of the kids' mouths, and they were COMPLETELY silent the whole time. Score! Here's the family... and some strangers that our guide included.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Next stop, The Museum of Ethnology. Sounds like a blast, right? Well it was! Lots of Vietnamese culture and stuff for the kids to climb on and explore.

Toys on a stick, made right before our eyes with clay made from rice powder. Amazing!   

Embroidery art, cooking, traditional homes, etc. A really worthwhile stop for us that we all enjoyed.
Lunchtime- a favorite dish here in Hanoi is noodle soup with beef or chicken called pho (pronounced "feuh").
Across the street was a temple on the grounds of what used to be a university. Photo op.
 
Next on the agenda was a Cycloride tour of the Old Quarter. T and I enjoyed the character of our surroundings.

The kids enjoyed a nap.

Next stop was The Hanoi Children's Palace. When booking our tour I requested activities that would be real and relevant to our kids. This was a good stop and I hope they take more western tourists here. It's a program for city kids to take after-school and weekend classes in foreign language and the arts. They offer 60 different subjects for school age kids. We had so much fun!

And not just on the games and rides.Our little family was invited into the English language classes to help out.

D jumped right in with other 5 and 6 year olds, answered their questions, and participated in the activities.

Last activity was a 60 minute show at The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Water puppets shows are a unique Vietnamese experience. Really entertaining, especially for the kids. Would love to have a behind the scenes look. The puppeteers are behind that curtain a system beneath the water controls the puppets that move and dance on the water's surface. It was a fun and interesting show.

Beautiful, traditional music too.

 The day ended with a delicious dinner and bottle of wine at Wild Rice.  My delightful salad.

C loves his sauteed morning glory.

Both kids enjoyed their ice cream.

The next morning we were off to Da Nang/Hoi An for more fun and some relaxation!

Another travel tip- keep your feet in your own space!

Home Again

We have returned from our Vietnamese holiday and are back into our weekly routine. The whole family had a marvelous time and we have around 500 photos to prove it! I think I'd have to blog three times a day for a month or so to tell all the fun stories and share the moments.

We spent 2 nights in Hanoi, taking in the cultural sights of the city. We had a marvelous guide who the kids really enjoyed and he planned a really nice experience for us.

We then flew to the central part of the country for a 5 night stay in a beautiful resort in Hoi An. We toured the town on foot and on bicycle. (That's a story!) and took some great photos.

We also had clothing made by fantastic tailors, purchased some art, and did A LOT of swimming.

Vietnam is an amazing place with beautiful beaches, gentle people, and tasty food. I will sort out all these photos and post more fun stuff soon!

Spring Break Next Week!

 In the coming week, Thailand will celebrate Songkran.

"Songkran is a Sanskrit word in Thai form which means the entry of the sun into any sign of the Zodiac. But the Songkran in this particular instance is when the sun enters the sign of Aries or the Ram. Its full name is Maha Songkran or Major Songkran to distinguish it from the other ones. But the people call it simply the Songkran for it is the only one they know and in which they take interest. It is their traditional New Year when they can enjoy their holidays to the full with no economic hindrance. Songkran is a fixable feast on the solar calender. It begins on the 13th April and ends on the 15th April, but occasionally in certain years on the 16th April."

(http://www.thailandlife.com/songkran-festival/index.php)

 We have been told that the highlight is people running around squirting and pouring water on each other. There are water guns for sale everywhere!! It's supposed to be taken as a blessing when someone douses you with water, and good, wet fun on these hot and humid days. I've even heard that you must keep your car windows up and your car doors locked or people may "bless" you while you are on the road. Sounds like a dripping good time, right!?

 Well, we won't be here for the blessings this year. The family is off to Vietnam tomorrow for a week's vacation! 2 nights in Hanoi and 5 in the Da Nang/Hoi An area. Lots of fun stuff planned, a beautiful country to see, and yummy food to try. Maybe we'll stick around for the blessings next year!

 Will be sure to blog and share stories and photos!