Day 3 @ Lao Cai & Sapa, Vietnam

Finally arrived at Lao Cai railway station at 5.30am and it took another 1hour on the van to go up to Sapa mountain. Sapa is actually the home of the minority people called H'Mong and Zao. Aside from selling handmade products, they also cultivate rice and corns.

Being on the mountain, Sapa weather is very cooling and nice. This could be an ideal relaxation place.

We arrived at North Star Hotel and went to the restaurant directly for breakfast. Vietnam is also popular for their "pho" (pronounced as "fur") which is beef noodles. The noodles looks like "kuey teow" but it tasted very soft just like Penang hor fun. I will definitely miss this noodles!




We walked the whole Sapa town and observed that there are alot of tribes people selling their products there. The Zao and H'mong sell mostly handicraft. And either they carry a big basket containing their products and material, or carrying their baby.




We then climbed up the Ham Rong mountain. The hike was a very difficult and tiring one for me. It kind of contradict with the relaxing holiday which I am anticipating and imagining. We walked for around one hour and when we reached the peak, I was like "WHAT'S SO NICE HERE THAT WE HAVE TO CLIMB TO THE TOP?!!!!". Sorry if I wouldn't know how to enjoy the beauty of the view of a town from up above.




Oh ya, we watched some cultural dances at the mountain too. :)

All of us was starving after climbing down from the mountain and had a simple lunch. First time I ate "ku lou har". Usually we would eat "ku lou yok" (sweet and sour pork), and this time they cook the same way for prawns. Not really impressive - do not try this at home. I believe the prawns would taste better with the sauce if they deep fry the prawn for abit first. And ya, it was like the third time we had spring rolls! Guess it is an essential dish for Vietnamese!





More walking and I am really glad I went to Sapa for one thing. I feel more grateful for my life and had realized that my life is way much better than some unfortunate ones. These tribe people have a very difficult life. Mothers would have to do their products at home, and sell it early in the morning.. with baby on their back. One thing that touches me the most is that a toddler would also help their mother to carry their little siblings!

No memorable childhood for these children as a toddler as young as 2 years old are sent outside to sell their products!


And some children are left on the roadside to play without shoes. They are so dirty and their face and clothes are full of dirt and all sort of stains! The last photo showed a child sitting on the road with a overturn cap infront of him for begging purpose. I don't understand why they would want to have more kids if they are unable to provide them with a comfortable living.





More photos below (do click to enlarge) on their daily lives. I was also amused by how the local people fully utilize the function of a motorcycle. They could transport ducks, chickens, dogs, cow and more than 2 people in a motorcycle! This need skill. We, don't have this skill.

Aside from learning alot about other culture, I also learnt that fruits in Vietnam is smaller in size, but sweeter inside! Misses the mango there... :(





Dinner time! Went to Romano's Pizza (Italian Restaurant) and I really hope to taste something different cause have been feeling sick of having the same food everyday. Didn't know that I was fooled. Went to an Italian Restaurant but had the same food of rice, soup, vegetable, chicken, and luckily there is an egg! I can't get enough of eggs. :) Nothing tasted like Italian for our dinner. Had local wine and I couldn't even swallow my first sip. It contained 40% of alcohol!





On our way back to hotel, we couldn't see what's infront. Look at this!




That's all folks!

Day 4 onwards would have to wait...

And thank you Joyce for blogging about this. Joyce Yap in the next few years would be so thankful for remembering this trip because of the blog post.

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Day 2 @ Halong Bay & Hanoi, Vietnam

One Day 2 we spent one of the most enjoyable day in Vietnam - Halong Bay. We took a 4 hours boat trip and were on a private cruise on a huge boat!!!

One of the most amazing view is when all the boats are heading to the same direction - on a small strait in between mountains on both sides. At that point of time it reminded me of some Chinese war scene whereby all the battle ships are heading to the same direction preparing for war! Hilarious at the same time..




We stopped at a floating fishing village and there I realized that the seafood size is alot bigger than those in Malaysia! ...or Maybe I haven't seen live seafood in Malaysia. SWT~~




One of the itinerary in Halong Bay is to visist the multi-shaped rocks along Halong Bay, and caves and grottoes (I have no idea what that means).




Had another delicious meal on the boat. We had 3 seafood meals continuously and I was already "jelak" of seafood that time. But nevertheless all four of us enjoyed the meal accompanied with the sea breeze. My holiday partners have all agreed that this is the best meal in the entire trip! :)








I kinda wish the cruise would last a little longer. Love to be relaxed in such a way... in the middle of the sea, enjoy the breeze and smell of pure fresh air. Aaahhh... I miss Halong Bay!




Immediately when we were dropped off at Halong boat jetty, we once again boarded the van for another 4 hours journey back to Hanoi! This trip is okay but we spent too much time on the road which is exhausting for our poor flat arses and simply waste of time.

We made a pit-stop at another factory where we get to see people doing statues, painting, etc and I realized we Malaysians (local people) wouldn't have the skill to do all that!



Look at the photo above. Can you figure out how they keep back all their goods when closing shops?

Arrived at Hanoi, took a fast shower at a small hotel then proceed to dinner. Seemed like all we did in the trip is on the road-eat-on the road-eat.




We then are sent to the train station for a 8-hours journey to Lao Cai - Sapa. Told ya about the time we spent on road - waste of time! Ish!!!



All four of us cramp in a small soft-sleeper cabin in TSC Vietnam Train. It has 2 double deckers and a small table. Not spacious but cozy enough for us who know each other to cramp in such space. Would feel awkward though to be sharing with strangers. Hehe..

End of day 2! --> Bravo Joyce! U made it to Day 2!!! 3 more blogs to go!!! ;)

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Day 1 @ Hanoi & Halong Bay, Vietnam

Finally found the mood to blog about my Vietnam trip **at last** Thanks to the holiday that I feel more relaxed to do some typing :)

After 3hours and 30mins flight from LCCT, KL to Hanoi Airport, we were being picked up by the local tour agent. Our tour guide is kinda 'leng chai', but from the way he walk, speak and react, I think he's a gay! :P

Self-explanatory photos below..




The Ba Ding Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Residence, and One Pillar Pagoda has alot of historical bits to offer. But for a flunk History student like me, I would say the visit is pretty boring! Hmmmm... One thing I get to know is that President Ho Chi Minh is one very humble person as he gave up living in a luxury residence and requested for a wooden hut to be built for him instead. Well either he's a humble person or the history portray him so.. :)

Went for buffet lunch then. Varieties aspect it was superb. But as a foreign person to their food, we don't really know which to pick. Saw alot of greenish stuff called vegetables, and are mostly raw.


I love noodle soup where I get to pick mushrooms, vegetables and bean curd. And not forgetting the steam prawns which are the hottest pick in the buffet line!



Vietnam is also popular for their spring rolls. These spring rolls comes with choice of chicken or beef. The meat slices are wrapped with mint leaves and then rolled with a thin spring roll skin. You may eat it with or without the sauce. It is one of the most delicious spring roll I have tasted! I just love mint leaves (pudina). And as for me, the WINNING dish in the entire lunch was the GRILLED PRAWNS!!! I think I had 4 or 5 of it although my stomach was at the extend of breaking.



Overall ambiance are nice, and look at the varieties of desserts and cakes! I didn't have any of it coz I was too full then.

Took a 4 hours ride on the most scary road in the world! It is actually their way of driving. I don't really know how to describe it, but just to say that I WAS SHOUTING IN THE VAN!!!

Journey from Hanoi to Halong Bay took us 4 damn hours and we had a break at one of the limestone factory. Look at me posing around with the lovely statues.





Finally arrived at Halong Bay and we had a 9-course meal in one of the seafood restaurant. The meal compromises of a seafood soup, fried spring rolls, two different vegetables, pork, fish, squids, prawns, flower crab... all for a group of FOUR! Surprisingly we get to finish all of it!





And what makes us misses Halong Bay till today is the Vietnam drip coffee served! It cost 20,000 Dong per cup (once finish dripping there is only 1/4 cup). Everyone would need to be a millionaire there to drink a cup of coffee! It was indeed the most unforgettable taste of caffeine I ever had!!! Thick and oh so satisfying....



We then spent the rest of the night at Halong Bay night market and drink drank drunk in the hotel room! We skipped the drunk part as we are all good drinkers!!! (obviously lying but we really did not get drunk.... )

That's all for Day 1!!! :)

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