 |
 |
 |
Pre-trip planning session in Maple Grove |
Joan & Captain Bob Carlson |
Poldi Gerard & Neal St. Anthony |
 |
 |
 |
| Paul & Annie Smallwood |
Location scout & cultural attaché Tyler McKinley and Marianne Smallwood |
And now presenting, "Journey to Vietnam" |
 |
 |
 |
| Actually, we traveled by plane with a layover at Incheon International Airport in Seoul, Korea |
Overlooking a park on Pham Ngu Lao street from our hotel located in District 1 in Saigon |
Checking internet kiosk for messages from home after getting by with little sleep the night before |
 |
 |
 |
| Morning breakfast at a local street vendor in Saigon (Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh) |
During rush-hour, crossing any street in HCMC is not for the faint of heart |
Elementary school field trip outside the Central Post Office in District 3 |
 |
|
 |
| Inside the Central Post Office under a large portrait of Ho Chi Minh (Bảc Hồ) |
A beautiful day outside Notre Dame Cathedral accross from the Central Post Office |
War Remnants Museum (Bảo tàng chứng tích chiến tranh) |
 |
 |
 |
| Military insignias of American forces that fought in Vietnam |
Kicking the tires of an 155mm Howitzer M1 artillery on display |
Onward to the Reunification Palace (Dinh Thống Nhất) |
 |
 |
 |
| Hanging out with Uncle Ho (Bảc Hồ) inside the Reunification Palace |
Overlooking the front gate of the Reunification Palace |
Good luck in finding a nearby pedestrian crossing sign |
 |
 |
 |
| Do you know the way to Ben Thanh Market? |
Ben Thanh Market, where Sun Tzu and the Art of Bargaining begins |
Just about everything under the Vietnam's sun, sea, and land can be found here |
 |
 |
 |
| Including over-friendly vendors pitching their wares |
Ho Chi Minh City Hall in a French colonial style from afar |
High school students wearing traditional long dress "áo dài" in Saigon |
 |
 |
 |
| Street vendors are still an integral part of Vietnam's informal economy |
Saigon River can use a facelift and extensive water aeration |
In front of the Saigon Opera House (Nhà hát lớn) |
 |
 |
 |
| Group dinner among friends in Ho Chi Minh City |
Making our way to Cu Chi, a suburban district of HCMC |
At the front gate of Vietstar's future garbage-to-compost plant in Cu Chi |
 |
 |
 |
| Working on concrete pilings to support the plant foundation |
Lunch in Cu Chi with new acquaintances from Sacombank |
Bob, how do you work the chopsticks again? |
 |
 |
 |
| Cu Chi Tunnels, location of several military campaigns conducted by the National Front for the Liberation (NFL) |
where did Bob and Joan disappeared to? they were here just a minute ago |
Getting in the tunnel is the easy part, finding your way out is another story |
 |
 |
 |
| A glimpse within the darkness of Cu chi tunnel |
Depiction of life inside the tunnel during the war |
In the jungle trail with a local tour guide |
 |
 |
|
| Leaving Cu Chi returning to HCMC |
A ferry boat vendor in the Mekong Delta |
Outside Cao Dai Temple (Cao Đài) |
|
 |
 |
| Scouting a location for a future Minnesota theme bar & grill |
Hanoi is our next destination courtesy of Vietnam Airlines |
Friendly staff in front of our hotel. Great rate and a hidden jewel located within walking distance from Hoan Kiem (Hoàn Kiếm) Lake |
 |
 |
 |
| Bird's-eye view from the sixth floor of the Golden Sun Hotel |
Cruising the traffic-jammed streets of Hanoi to the heart pounding disco beat of my passenger |
Some preferred a safer route and turned down the generous offer of four-on-a-motorbike ride |
 |
 |
 |
| A serene evening at lake Hoan Kiem |
Taking a break from our leisurely stroll |
Friendly people, friendly places |
 |
 |
 |
| Reflection of the new generation of Vietnam |
Everyone is welcome with wide open arms |
Mother and daughter strolling through the park |
 |
 |
 |
| This smile can brighten up anyone's day no matter how gloomy |
Informal bicycle race between the old and young at night around the fountain square |
A delicious eatery (literal translation) if you crave authentic Vietnamese cuisine |
 |
 |
 |
| Highly recommended by our location scout & cultural attaché and friends |
Snails upon snails - memories are made of this. (Cultural no-no - never stick chopsticks upright) |
The food was cooked just around the corner from our table |
 |
 |
 |
| Passing a rice field on our way to Ha Long Bay (Hạ Long) |
Homes like this one can be built to suite a slow-pace lifestyle out in the country |
Coal mining in Quang Ninh and problems of air and water pollution permeate a town |
 |
 |
 |
| A visit to a pottery shop while enroute to Ha Long Bay |
An embroidery shop where young handicapped artists stitched beautiful artwork |
Waiting for our boat destined for Ha Long Bay |
 |
 |
 |
| Last minute boat vendor selling fresh fruits before our bon voyage |
Ha Long means "descending dragon" and the bay lies in the Northeastern part of Vietnam |
Our lovely tour guide reciting the legend of Ha Long Bay |
 |
 |
 |
| Docking near an island, one of many discovered caves in Ha Long Bay |
On the bridge leading to Wooden Stakes Cave (Hang Đầu Gổ) |
Inside the first of three chambers of the cave after hiking over 90 steps to get there |
 |
 |
 |
| More local legends about Wooden Stakes Cave |
Inside the second chamber of the cave |
There is a light at the end of every tunnel |
 |
 |
 |
| Overlooking the island and Ha Long Bay |
Leaving Ha Long Bay after an exhilarating day of exploration |
Oh no! the competition is coming to town |
 |
 |
 |
| Street negotiation is one way to make memorable friends |
Let's see, one million dong, two million dong... |
Thanh Long water puppet (Múa rối nước) show |
 |
 |
 |
| Musicians and singers making up background music and accompaniment |
The puppeteers received a well-deserved accolade at the end of the show |
Hold on officers, we absolutely did not double park |
 |
 |
 |
| On the way to our business meetings and hope to get there in one piece |
Somehow we ended up getting lost in the maze of motorbikes and offshoot alleys |
Our hosts from Center for Environmental Science and Sustainable Development were more than generous with their time |
 |
 |
 |
| Later we met with the staff of ChildFund to learn more about their great work in Hanoi |
While we were hard at work, Bob was sightseeing at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum |
Hey Bob, sell me some mangos. Wait, that's not Bob |
 |
 |
 |
| Last stop at the Temple of Literature before heading back to Minnesota the next morning |
Time to say "Until we meet again" to our friendly staff at the Golden Sun Hotel |
Hanoi, thanks for the memories and I hope to see you again soon |
