Vacation Vietnam

Savoring Traditions, Culture, Cuisine & the Beautiful People of Viet Nam

The word VIET has several translations from the Chinese. Here are three that I found for VIET: beyond, ie., a land of people who reside outside of China, pre-eminent descendants of a dragon soaring to the sun, and hatchet, the farm implement used for farming. NAM means south. This dichotomy describes the relationship with their powerful neighbor to the north, but Viet Nam has lived under the control and influence of other imperial powers as well. From this relationship a rich fusion of Chinese and French culture has been incorporated into the fabric of society from architecture, food, language and dress which is still part of 21st century Viet Nam. If my November 2022 two-week trip had a theme, it was savoring Viet Nam’s incorporation of foreign intrusion into their daily lives and transforming it into something uniquely Vietnamese. Contact me. I’m excited to transform your dream trip into a reality.

Feature image: Naeem Mayet

An offering of fruit at the One Pillar Pagoda

Offering of fruit, Buddha’s hand, near the One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi. Incense and food offerings are essential parts of most temples and shrines and the One Pillar Pagoda is no exception. The One Pillar Pagoda is perched a top one concrete pillar sunken in a man made water basin.

In the 11th century, King Ly Thai Tong commissioned the pagoda’s design in the shape of a lotus, a symbol of purity, was an “offering” to Quan Am, the goddess of mercy, in gratitude for the birth of his son.

This Buddhist temple survived until 1950’s, when the French destroyed the pagoda in their withdrawal from Viet Nam. Several years later, the present pagoda was restored to its current splendor.

How many cafe bathrooms have modern cleaning products, alongside a traditional Vietnamese 2-string guitar, the dan Nguyet?

Guan Chi Eo Van Café Near St Joseph’s Cathedral, Hanoi. Poetry and coffee house á la City Lights, San Francisco.

I had my introduction to delicious Bac Ha coffee with sweetened condensed milk, which became a daily ritual.

Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue. Located on a hill by the Perfume River’s banks, the iconic 7 story Thien Mu Pagado is also known as the Old Mistress of the Heavens.

The pagoda is part of a Buddhist complex that houses several temples, gardens and a monastery.

In the Buddhist religion the number seven represents the 7 factors of awakening: mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration, and equanimity.

Street of Sapa, former 19th century French hill station, and now a tourist center of H’mong people.

Colorful cloth lanterns are a modern riff on the H’mong designs. An enterprising young woman, a member of the Black H’mong, created these lanterns and has a wonderful shop selling them as well as traditional H’mong clothing and other wares.