Vietnam

At the crossroads of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Vietnam is a culturally rich country proud of its diverse peoples, culture, art, history and traditions. Vietnam boasts a unique and rich civilization, spectacular scenery and dynamic peoples and is in the midst of an economic revolution.

In April 2004 I presented workshop at the Linking Latitudes Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam. It was my second trip to Vietnam and I fell in love all again. Vietnam is a dynamic fusion of traditional culture, a colonial past, a communist legacy and a current transition to a modern Asian power. It was wonderful to be again in a country I had visited about six years ago.

Just north of Hanoi lies a lies the area known called Kenh Ga, with breathtaking scenery. Huge jagged limestone cliffs create a backdrop to green fields of rice. This is also the best place to see river life and I spent a day floating through the Kenh Ga region on a flat bottom boat, through green rice paddies with the amazing Limestone's monoliths soaring around me.

Hanoi captures it all-an ancient Old Quarter dating back 1000 years, 600 Pagodas and baroque mansions in a city centre retaining the air of a provincial town in 1930’s France with leafy boulevards and verdant parks. Early morning sees the old conurbation come alive with walkers, joggers, fan dancers, and myriads of net sports. Within an hour the small streets are buzzing with kerbside breakfasters and in an even shorter space of time the city is alive with the hum of a million motorbikes as the working day begins.

A field trip to Cambodia; via the Mekong River. This river is one of the worlds greatest, and the Delta is one of the worlds largest. It is the main means of transport as well as the scene of early morning markets.

Cambodia is an incredible country. The range of emotions was many, from the sadness at the destructiveness of the Pol Pot Regime to the spectacular Mekong Delta and the absolute wonder of the edifices at Angkor Wat.

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