Vietnam’s land and people through Indian journalists’ eyes

“Vietnam offers a refreshingexperience for anyone who cares to come its way,” Sapna Nai Purohit andJugal R. Purohit said on their feature storey “Vietnam: Along UncleHo’s trail” in the India Today newspaper.

Through a vivid storywith illustrated photos, the two journalists brought readers through theSoutheast Asian nation from the north to the south beginning in Hanoi,the capital city of Vietnam, calling it “the gateway to the splendid HaLong Bay and the hills of Sa Pa”.

“It’s a bustling city – shops,hotels, small eateries on either side of the roads, and cycles,motorbikes and cars jostling for space at the centre. Even if peopleappear busy, they make time to sit on little stools on the pavement andsip on beer or hot Pho (a Vietnamese rice noodle-beef soup), chattingaway with friends and relatives.”

According to them, of thenumerous museums in the city, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum came across as astorehouse of information, documents and rare photographs of the lifeand times of Vietnam’s most revered leader Ho Chi Minh, fondly calledUncle Ho.

The water puppet show is a must-see, they said,describing the beautiful puppets and props controlled under water byskilled puppeteers as leaving them awestruck. “Watch dragons breathingfire, dancers in sync, a farmer chasing a tiger, as Vietnamese folksingers and musicians build the tempo with their background score”.

Ifthe thought of drifting on emerald waters surrounded by mysteriouslimestone cliffs appeals, head to Ha Long Bay, they said, suggestingbooking a one-day or two-day (stay on the boat) tour with a hotel or atour operator and heading to this paradise, four hours away from Hanoi.

“Asyou sip on ‘Bia’ (beer) on the top deck of your boat, let the wind andthe magical scenery blow you away. Hire a kayak and explore the bay onyour own, gorge on fresh sea food on the boat and feel like IndianaJones exploring the inside of a cave as your guide regales you withfables.”

“Having spent three nights in the capital, we boardedthe Reunification Express for our next stop, Da Nang, the city on thecoast which the first United States Marines landed in March 1965,” theysaid. Da Nang today is swanky with top hotel labels occupying itsbeachfront.

“We meanwhile proceeded on a 45-minute drive along astraight road that took us to Hoi An, a quiet town that lets itsevenings do all the talking. Devoid of cars and traffic, Hoi An villageis a cyclist’s delight and also a walker’s. This French-influencedsettlement, a once-thriving port from a bygone era, is a busy marketduring the day with the fresh catch and produce of the day adorningstalls and by evening it turns into a fairytale. Elegant lanterns ontrees, shops, restaurants, by the river, all over the famous Japanesebridge and the ambient piano music make for a lovely setting. Get ariver side table and enjoy Com Ga (chicken rice) as you savour thesparkling beauty that is Hoi An.”

Not too far is the My Sonsanctuary, a temple complex built between the 6th and 15th centuries. Itfeatures Shiva lings and idols of Lord Ganesha which have miraculouslysurvived not only centuries but also years of war. Hoi An also has alovely beach called An Bang – another must-see, they shared.

“FromHoi An, we landed in the village of Mui Ne in southern Vietnam. A beachlover’s paradise, it is best explored cruising on a motorbike along itsocean-hugging and remarkably empty highways. Swim in vast, clearwaters, enjoy delectable sea food, sip on some local beer brews, devourthe country’s diverse fruit fare and tire yourself trying to capture thebeauty of the sea”.

A five-hour long bus ride took them to HoChi Minh City, a city that “represents the modernity and progressivenessthat Vietnam is striving for.” Tall buildings, huge parks installedwith workout equipment, eateries serving international cuisine and itsheavy Western outlook make it a city to reckon with.

Dodgemotorbikes and cross lush green parks to reach the most happening partof HCM City – the Ben Thanh market. Choose from numerous stalls loadedwith apparel, accessories, shoes, food products and souvenirs, theysaid.

The top of any traveller’s list in HCM City are the War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels.

Forthose would rather travel on ground than take flights, theReunification Express is the ideal option. The title refers to themultiple daily trains connecting Hanoi to HCM City. Tad slow (runs onmetre/narrow-gauge) and highly priced, but it is a comfortable ride withplenty of breathtaking sights.

No matter where you go inVietnam, you will always be surrounded by contrasts. Try looking aroundwith just a hint of a smile and, you will never be disappointed, theyconcluded.

Vietnam’s land and people through Indian journalists’ eyes

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