2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002
2001

BY MARY BRUZZESE

In late November, almost twenty-four hours after leaving the States, I, along with three other women, arrived utterly exhausted at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi to begin our ten-day visit to Vietnam. Our hotel, the Hanoi Moment, arranged for a shuttle to pick us up and drive us forty-five minutes into the heart of the city’s Old Quarter. Upon arrival we were greeted by a young, smiling staff and taken into the immaculate, chic lobby, where we were given fresh mango juice before being shown to our rooms.

VIETNAM’S PULSATING HEART

We began our first morning in our hotel café with breakfast and several cups of Vietnamese coffee. Strong without bitterness, it is exceptional. After chatting with the hotel staff and getting ideas about what to see, we went out into the city. Perhaps it was the excitement of being on the other side of the world—or maybe the endless cups of coffee—but none of us experienced any serious jet lag that first morning. Even if we had, walking into the frenetic streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter for the first time would have shocked the jet lag right out of us.

We were immediately thrust into the chaos: a labyrinth of narrow streets teeming with cars, bicycles, pedestrians, and thousands upon thousands of motorcycles; a cacophony of honking horns and revving engines, along with voices raised to be heard over them; the smell of exhaust and frying food wafting through the air.

Motorcycles and bicycles are loaded with anything and everything: rice, live chickens, packing peanuts, hair accessories, flip-flops, toilets, and more. Women with quang gánh (two baskets hung from either end of a bamboo pole slung over the shoulder) loaded with fruit, vegetables, and flowers weave in and out of traffic. Rows of parked motorcycles crowd the sidewalks, with food vendors and their patrons crammed into any free space. And if you think the disarray on the streets makes your head spin, just look up: Crisscrossing at every angle from the Old Quarter’s narrow tube houses are tangled masses of telephone and electrical wires.

Although hectic, the traffic moves slowly. That’s a good thing, considering there are hardly any traffic lights aside from those at major intersections. All you can do is take a deep breath, walk into the street, and hope that the drivers won’t run you over. We received good advice from a local: Cross at an angle, don’t stop, and try to make eye contact with the drivers coming toward you.

There must be some method to the madness, because in all our time in Hanoi we never saw a pedestrian get hit, and only once did we witness an accident: A motorcycle backed out of an alley and into another riding down the street. The drivers gave their bikes a quick once-over, nodded to each other, and went on their way.

Some of the many street vendors approach tourists, and taxi and tuk-tuk drivers constantly offer rides. But a polite “no, thank you” usually does the trick. Some are a bit more aggressive, though. One sly woman came up behind my cousin and put her pineapple-laden quang gánh across her shoulders and her nón lá (conical hat) on her head, and told her to have someone take her picture. Of course, then she asked my cousin to buy some pineapples.

The Old Quarter is truly a sensory wonderland and a shopper’s paradise. Shops selling similar products often are clustered together on a street or corner—one street is lined with shops selling silks and clothing; another, sunglasses; one, religious offerings; another, jewelry; and another, candy. The shops at one corner only sold mannequins. Every other shopkeeper seems to have caged songbirds hanging from the doorway or a friendly dog or cat lounging in it. The shopkeepers are welcoming and chatty, often interested in hearing about where you’re from and how you’re enjoying Vietnam.

We were in Hanoi during Christmastime, and shops were selling shiny, gaudy decorations throughout the Old Quarter. On some streets, nearly every shop was selling Christmas decorations. We watched a woman buy a large artificial tree, tie it to her motorcycle, and ride away.

A QUIET RESPITE

There is respite from the Old Quarter commotion. Central Hanoi is very walkable, so it doesn’t take long to wander into a quiet spot. The Temple of Literature is one such peaceful place. A fine example of traditional Vietnamese architecture, the temple is a walled complex of pavilions set among lily ponds, courtyards, and gardens filled with gnarled and twisted trees, flowers, and topiary animals. We happened to visit just as a graduation ceremony ended. Young men and women in caps and gowns, accompanied by their families, wandered among the gardens chatting and posing for photos.

Hoan Kiem Lake, its shores lined with gardens and trees, is quiet, lovely, and intimate. Parents doted on chubby toddlers, couples posed for photos, and teenagers whizzed by on skateboards, while giggling students and locals relaxed on park benches. A group of young women from a local university approached us and asked if they could practice their English. Before we went our separate ways, we took a picture together. After we posed arm in arm, the girls gave us hugs as they said goodbye.

The French influence can be seen in the architecture surrounding the lake, where narrow buildings and streets open onto sweeping, tree-lined boulevards and massive colonial structures. The streets surrounding the lake are lined with high-end stores, cafés, and coffee shops. Coffee shops are a favorite hangout of Hanoi hipsters lounging with laptops and cellphones, chatting with friends, or smoking cigarettes and people watching from balconies.

Many sites surround the lake, including the Opera House and St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Also near the lake is the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, a famous colonial French hotel that we visited for high tea. This giant five-star hotel, built in 1901, is lavish inside and out. The staff was impeccably dressed, some of the women even donning pearls and lace gloves. Likewise—unlike us—most of the patrons were dressed to the nines.

Many of the city’s museums are clustered around the lake, including the Vietnamese Women’s Museum. One floor documented the role of women in Vietnam’s history, with an emphasis on war, including the American War. The exhibit included several propaganda posters, along with displays highlighting women’s importance as fighters and even military leaders. One small exhibit, called “Heroic Mothers of Vietnam,” featured photographic portraits of the Vietnamese equivalent of America’s Gold Star Mothers.

The Fine Arts Museum houses Vietnamese art ranging from ancient to contemporary. Much of the art, by both men and women, deals with war. It was very apparent that, unlike much of the American public during the Vietnam War, virtually the entire population of Vietnam was involved in the war effort.

DIVE BARS TO DANCE CLUBS

Hanoi’s traffic spikes to a maddening high in the evening. But after the rush, the volume diminishes. That doesn’t mean Hanoi goes quiet after the sun sets. There are still plenty of locals out and about, and there is a lot to do.  

Although some shops close at night, many stay open. The bustling Dong Xuan Market remains open and seems to extend endlessly with hundreds of stalls selling everything from cell phone covers, pet accessories, and jeans to stickers and coloring books to food.  

At night the lights of the city reflect off the surface of Hoan Kiem Lake. We visited the neighboring Thang Long Water Puppet Theater, which performs the ancient art form that originated in Vietnam’s Red River Delta. The set and lighting were beautiful, and the puppets gorgeously carved and painted. A live orchestra and vocalists performed traditional Vietnamese music. In addition to pastoral scenes depicting harvesting rice and fishing, ancient legends with fire-breathing dragons and phoenixes splashed across the set.

There are plenty of night spots, ranging from dive bars to bass-thumping dance clubs. In theory, they close by midnight, but not all follow this rule. We were in a bar one night when the bartender pulled down the front metal shutter at curfew. Meanwhile, patrons continued to arrive through a back entrance. When we left, a woman with a flashlight led us out the back entrance to an alley behind the bar.

WHERE THE DRAGONS DESCEND INTO THE SEA

Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is roughly a 3-1/2 hour drive east of Hanoi in the Gulf of Tonkin. Once we reached Halong City, the gateway to the bay, we went to Indochina Junk’s headquarters, where we met our guide and the thirteen other tourists who would be sharing our boat, the Dragon’s Pearl, with us for two nights. Once we boarded the boat, we sailed off through Halong Bay and into less-visited Bai Tu Long Bay.

Nothing compares to the sublime scenery of Halong and Bai Tu Long Bays. Hundreds of towering jungle-cloaked pinnacles jut vertically out of the emerald water. As the sun sets, the limestone formations seem like mirages floating in a sea of glittering gold.

We shared the bay only with local fisherman and the very infrequent tour boat. I sat mesmerized on the sunny upper deck as we drifted in the fairy-tale landscape, each passing panorama more glorious than the last. The bay was wonderfully peaceful; the only sounds were the chirps of birds, screeches of hawks echoing off the cliffs, and the occasional chug-chug of fishing boats.

Legend has it that when the Vietnamese were facing invaders from the sea, a mother dragon and her children were sent to protect them. The dragons spat out jewels and pearls, which became hundreds of islands that blocked the invaders. After the invaders left, the dragons remained—the mother settling in Halong Bay and her children in Bai Tu Long Bay. In fact, Halong translates as “descending dragon.”

We had one full day on the bay, during which we went to Vung Vieng, a fishing village where every home and structure, including a tiny school, is built on a floating dock. The villagers make a living by fishing or pearl farming. The homes were brightly colored, as were the fishing boats moored alongside. Villagers also get around in paddle boats, which some paddled with their feet.

That evening we docked at Hon Co Island, where we could kayak, swim, or explore. As soon as we stepped onto the island, we were greeted by two playful dogs who romped up and down the beach together. Later that night our boat’s crew set up an elegant candlelit dinner for us inside the island’s Thien Canh Son Cave. To get to the cave, we climbed stairs straight up the island’s central mountain, where only a small hole in its side revealed the cave’s presence. As soon as we ducked through the entrance, however, the cave opened up into chambers full of sparkling stalactites and stalagmites.

Two nights were hardly enough time on the bays. One could easily spend a week drifting along and exploring the hundreds of islands.  

CRAGGY MOUNTAINS AND DENSE JUNGLES

Although the Red River Delta industrial town of Ninh Binh, about two hours outside of Hanoi, isn’t much to see, its proximity to Cuc Phuong National Park, Van Long Nature Reserve, and other attractions makes it a useful base for exploring the surrounding scenery: craggy mountains looming above farms and rice paddies. Unfortunately for us, the rice had just been harvested, so where there normally would have been bright green paddies, we saw only brown water. But there was much green farmland among the paddies, full of water buffalo, cattle, goats, chickens, and thousands and thousands of white ducks.

We stayed at the Emeralda Resort for three nights. As at the Hanoi Moment, we were warmly received by the staff and given hot tea before being shown to our bungalow. The huge resort sits a bit removed from central Ninh Binh amid rice paddies and mountains.

To tour the surrounding area, we made arrangements through the incredibly helpful resort staff. We booked a day tour of Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam’s first national park, a forty-five minute drive away. Our private tour included a strenuous hike up and over mountains and through the jungle. Although misty air restricted vistas, it added a mysterious ambiance to the dense jungle, crowded with giant, ancient trees—including the famous 1,000-year-old “Old Tree”—fighting for space among enormous ferns and twisted, tangled roots and vines. We had the park largely to ourselves, aside from a small group of university students with whom we crossed paths at the Old Tree.

We took a tour of the park’s Endangered Primate Rescue Center. The center has a huge, enclosed semi-wild area to test rehabilitated primates’ readiness to return to the wild. Many of the animals cannot safely return, however, and are permanent residents at the center, which also runs a successful breeding program.

There were many species at the center, including gibbons and several varieties of langur. Most ignored us as we walked past them, and they continued to eat, groom one another, and cuddle their infants. But the gibbons swung around acrobatically. They like to show off for visitors, we were told.

Before returning to the Emeralda, we took a boat ride through Kenh Ga, a fishing village tucked between lofty cliffs. As our boat drifted down the river, many children ran along the shore waving at us.   

Because our tour ran late and everyone was hungry, our guide arranged an impromptu visit to a restaurant in a tiny neighboring village. We were greeted by a chunky, jolly woman who spoke no English but was all smiles. We were treated to a feast, as she brought out several delicious dishes, heaping food onto our plates. She also brought us rice whiskey and glasses, and joined us for shots. She continued to pile food onto our plates and pour whiskey into our glasses until I had to turn my glass upside down. After the meal she brought coffee and plates of fresh fruit. As we stumbled from the restaurant, she gave us hugs and bananas.

The following day we took a tour of Van Long Nature Reserve, just a five-minute walk from the resort. We went to the reserve’s boat dock where two small paddle boats took the four of us through the reserve. The area was beautiful: jagged mountains soaring straight up out of wetlands. Mists again provided a mystical aura. We saw many birds and had a few fleeting glimpses of the critically endangered Delacour’s langurs that inhabit the cliffs. The area was riddled with caves, one of which tunneled straight through the base of a mountain. We were able to paddle through, although at points the ceiling was so low we had to duck our heads.

Bringing our visit full circle, we stayed at the Hanoi Moment the night before we flew home. The staff had gotten to know us; a young receptionist told us she would miss us very much. As we got into the airport van, the entire staff walked outside with us, and a few gave us hugs. As we pulled away, they stood on the sidewalk and waved goodbye.

SOME CONSIDERATIONS

Many visit Vietnam with a tour group. We, however, chose to go it alone. Many travelers to Vietnam also opt to move up or down the length of the country to visit as many places as possible. But this means constantly moving from place to place and spending only a night or two at each location. We opted to spend more time at fewer places. Going to Vietnam requires advance planning with visas, vaccinations, transportation, and avoiding rainy seasons. We found guidebooks and websites that were indispensable—not just in explaining what preparations needed to be made, but in helping us decide upon our itinerary.

Guidebooks we consulted include Vietnam (Lonely Planet, Eleventh Edition, 568 pp., $24.99)—information can also be found at Lonely Planet’s website, Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos Handbook (Footprint Handbooks, Fourth Edition, 512 pp., $25.95)—information also on their website and Vietnam & Angkor Wat (DK Eyewitness Travel, 312 pp., $25). Helpful websites include Fodor’s Travel, and TripAdvisor, for travel tips and information; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for health information; and the U.S. Vietnam Embassy, for information about obtaining visas.

VVRP: The End Of People-To-People Diplomacy BY RICHARD CURREY It started twenty-five years ago when a group of Vietnam vets launched the Veterans Viet Nam Restoration Project (VVRP). Since then VVRP has sent twenty-nine teams of veterans to Vietnam, where they have built schools, clinics, and vocational training centers. Aside from these direct contributions, VVRP has sought reconciliation with Vietnamese communities devastated by the war. April 2014 marked the final trip to Vietnam for an organization that has carved out a legacy as a pioneer veteran-driven effort to “build the future, heal the past.” VVRP originated in 1987 with a veteran named Fredy Champagne. “I had been studying everything I could find on the war, trying to understand it all,” Champagne wrote in a essay on the VVRP website. In the course of his reading Champagne learned of the State Department’s plan to relax the U.S. embargo on Vietnam, allowing American non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to work there. Around the same time Champagne heard about Veterans Peace Action Teams, one of which had rebuilt a medical clinic destroyed by the Contras in Nicaragua. And then he saw Platoon. At the end of this iconic film the young infantryman played by Charlie Sheen reflects that “those of us who made it have an obligation to build again … to try with what’s left of our lives to find goodness and meaning in this life.” These moments fueled Champagne’s vision of “people-to-people diplomacy.” He wanted to “wage peace,” to make a difference in the lives of people once regarded as foes, and, perhaps, to heal the old wounds of PTSD—his own and that of others. The fledgling group reached out to the U.S. and Vietnamese governments and veterans organizations, built a mailing list, and talked to the media. Ultimately, VVRP became the first American NGO permitted to undertake a humanitarian service project in Vietnam following the war. Mike Peterson served with the 1st Marine Division and was a member of the first VVRP team. He returned to Vietnam in April with Team XXIX. “It’s fitting that a member of the first team should also be a member of the last one,” Peterson said. Sam Bunge served with the 101st Airborne. He saw a VVRP ad in The VVA Veteran in 2007. “It struck a chord. I wanted to see how life had changed in Vietnam. I wanted to replace my violent memories with peaceful images. And I wanted to make a positive contribution to the Vietnamese people.” Bunge traveled with VVRP teams in 2008, 2010, and 2012, working on school buildings in Thua Thien Province. “The VVRP trips let me get past my old hostilities,” he said. “In fact, it let me finally come home from the war.” Wayne Purinton, the current VVRP president and a former infantryman with the 1st Cavalry Division, made two previous trips to Vietnam before noticing a VVRP ad in The VVA Veteran. “I was thinking about returning to Vietnam,” Purinton said, “but not as a tourist. I wanted to help others. I had seen so much destruction that helping reconstruct seemed like a fine idea.” This year marked Purinton’s third VVRP trip. “Like some team members, I have PTSD. Since my return home with Team XXIV in 2009, I have come full-circle with my wartime experience—from witnessing death and destruction to being part of a rebuilding effort. VVRP has been very healing.” And what about VVRP’s final year? Sam Bunge says that while it would be “excellent if VVRP could continue,” it’s getting harder to recruit aging Vietnam vets for physical labor in a tropical climate. Mike Peterson agreed, but said the fact remains that VVRP’s hands-on, person-to-person style succeeded where “even the most sophisticated humanitarian organizations failed.” Wayne Purinton feels the organization’s end is “very sad. But just being witness to happy children who now have a school to attend is very rewarding. At this point that’s what it’s all about, the children and their future, along with the healing that has happened in my own life and other lives through VVRP participation. Taking action can be a very powerful thing, and being part of something bigger than yourself is very rewarding.”