Indochina 2023

We sorted out our problems with the travel agency and got a free late checkout at the hotel and the taxi fare reimbursed. Walked around Hanoi Old Town to kill time and found the place where the railway runs very close to houses and cafes .  Not many trains run on this line now as it is getting dangerous.  We got lost trying to get back to the hotel and a gentle stroll turned into 15 km hike. Overloaded cyclist - although we did see worse. Some sort of meat but couldn't work out what Locals cafe.  Seats are more like  children's chairs - everywhere in Hanoi Railway line Railway line Statue commemorating the Battle of Hanoi in 1946 Schools out! After 4 weeks our adventure to the 3 Indochina countries comes to an end and we were taken to the airport for our flight back to London via Paris.

We were picked up at 9.30 for our tour of Vientiaine so had time for a swim before breakfast.  Our first visit was to the Patuxay monument.  The lower part is based on the Arc de Triomphe and the upper part is based on the Taj Mahal.  Patuxay Monument Friendship Gong given by Indonesia. We moved on to the That Luang Stupa but first visited the Central Buddhist Headquarters Building, a very grand building with beautiful ceilings.                                                                                Central Buddhist HQ                                                       ...

We went out at 5.30 am to take part in the daily giving of alms where food is given by the local people to the monks.   As tourists we could buy pots of rice for £1.  We had to sit on small chairs and were given a scarf and plastic glove.   We were told to put a small amount of rice into the bowls that the monks carried as they passed by.  Some others were giving fruit, biscuits or money.  This is how they get their daily food. Anything left over is given to the poorest families.     Us giving alms to the Monks We then visited the nearby temple of Wat Sene before going back to the hotel for breakfast and checkout.   Wat Sene   Vintage Citroen owned by a hotel.  1 of 2 remaining Citroens in Laos  from the French Colonisation After breakfast we were taken back to the town centre to climb the 300 steps to the top of Mount Phusi where there is a stupa created in 1804. Legend says that the mountain was moved from Sri Lank...

 After breakfast we were picked up by our guide and driver and taken to the Mekong River for an early morning cruise.  We couldnt see much of the surrounding countryside due to the air being full of smoke from fires.  These are due to farmers burning the remains of the rice crops and from natural fires because Laos is suffering from one of the worst droughts in history and everywhere is so dry.    Smokey view along the river   House growing vegetables on the side of the river. In the rainy season the river will be up to the house We went along the Mekong towards Thailand and it was very peaceful and tranquil with just a few other tourist boats about.  We first stopped at a small village called Ban Xanghai, where local handicrafts are made including Rice Wine, or Whiskey as they call it.  We walked around the village and saw some typical Lao houses made from bamboo.       Typical Lao house   Monks getting alms from villager...