My favorite photo of Vietnam. Was riding on my moto (motorcycle) and saw this girl walking home from school so pulled over in front of her and pointed to my camera saying in English "take photo?" She didn't know English and didn't seem to mind so snapped it really quick. Asian cultures require females to be shy making it impossible to connect with them, but this girl is being bold (a little rebel) by looking at the camera.....maybe that's what I like about it. Common weather and wear of Vietnam in the rainy season.

I flew from Bangkok, Thailand to Hanoi, Vietnam.

The reason why I had such a hard time getting a visa to get into Vietnam was because of the Sea Games. The Sea Games are like the Olympics, but just include smaller Asian countries (had never heard of them either until I tried to get a visa).  I remember hearing loud speakers at night broadcasting a game. A friend translated for me and it turns out it was all propaganda. Stuff like "Vietnam: the best country in the world"

Vietnamese happy to see foreigners out celebrating in the streets when Vietnam won against Malaysia in men's soccer in the Sea Games. The whole country went crazy, including friends and I. In order to put a stop to all the celebration the government closed all the bars and gas stations so people would go home. Of course, they never told anyone ahead of time.

One of the foreigners and a friend out late celebrating the win! Good times!!!

First thing I noticed about Hanoi (and Vietnam in general) was the traffic. Everyone here rode motos, but there really is not a traffic system complete with traffic lights. So when there are no traffic lights the drivers just slow down and weave their way through the intersection. This was the first time I had actually worried about not making it to the other side of the street (walking) and got a headache because of the honking.

ummm...yeah. If you think driving is bad where you live, think again. The driver on the left side of the photo is supposed to be on the right side of the road (left side of the photo). Not only that, but people are biking on either side of the road and I didn't have to wait long to get a good example of bad driving. The mentality seems to allow the whole road for use unless someone else is coming towards you. Works if you are a skilled driver and alert.

Service in Vietnam!! In the touristy part of Hanoi these ladies would walk around all day selling food in baskets like these carried on the shoulder. Hope they make a lot because it sure looks heavy!!! See that man of the right sitting with both legs on the right side of the photo? In most Asian countries that's how the women sit - more comfortable than each leg on either side.

Believe it or not this is the whole store in the city center of Hanoi. If you cannot find it here you don't need it! Most stores were this narrow and packed with stuff. Each street had a different name depending on what was being sold. There were streets specializing in towels, and another street specializing in Christmas decorations (the Cambodians think the Vietnamese are all Catholic - my guess, about a third are - this is because of the American war.)

The Ho-Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, where Ho-Chi Minh's (the old communist dictator from the North) body is preserved. Creepiest experience with communist officials as we were ordered  not to put our hands in our pockets, have anything on our head, talk and had to walk single file........OR ELSE (tested all of these, of course!!)  Four guards stood on each corner of his open (covered in glass) coffin.

Read it yourself you loof!!!(just teasing). We visited the old prison in Hanoi. Prisoners fighting for communist Vietnam against the French were held here.

One of the prisoners in the dungeon (for putting her hands in her pockets and talking when visiting Ho Chi Minh's body) - just teasing. This place was used by the French when they tried to conquer Vietnam. There is still the influence of the French as fresh French bread is sold in the morning and the older generation can speak French.

In the same prison, American pilots were held after being shot down. I thought it was funny because it is obvious they want to make sure everyone knows that Americans were treated nice. The Americans nicknamed it the Hanoi Hilton.

One of the now famous prisoners, John McCain. He is now a senator is the U.S. House of Representative.

Lenel (from Canada) and I.

Breakfast in Vietnam which I really miss. A rice noodle soup in the local market which cost all of twenty American cents!!! I can now use chopsticks fine due to necessity as did not want to carry my own fork around. Local markets are the place to eat (no worries about getting ripped off and they make sure the food isn't too spicy).........but they are always impressed by how much goes down the hatch.........good food. Whenever possible I ate at restaurants outside of town. Here the women would sit behind me and stare at my hair (it's better they are behind than in front - it's really hard to eat when you can see them staring at ya). Am sure they had not seen curly light brown/blond hair much in their life as didn't see many other tourists out there. We'd both have a good laugh when they'd speak to me in Vietnamese - and look confused like they don't understand why I didn't respond in Vietnamese. Eating out in the country probably wasn't as safe, but this way the government doesn't get ALL the tourists' money........my guess that's who owns the hotels and restaurants in the city centers.

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