Good Morning, Vietnam - Day 2, Nha Trang

We left the hustle and bustle of Saigon behind and found beauty, peace and friendship in Nha Trang.  Nha Trang was a large group, 3 full buses.  Joe, Gretchen, Carlos and I was in bus #1.  Our group leader was Anne, who at the last minute had to cancel the tour.  So Donna took over and she did a very nice job shepherding her 35-strong flock. 

Our guide was “Hooie”. of Smile Tours.  No connection to the Smile tours of HCMC.  What a nice young man.  He had just gotten married and his bride wanted to come along. He would not let her.  Wish we could have met her. 

Nha Trang is a tender port, so no long drive into town.  We had a very busy day planned, so off we went.  As in all Vietnam, the streets were clogged with motorcycles.  And the rule of the road is:  “there are no rules”!! 

Our first stop was an embroidery factory.  Vietnam is known for its beautiful embroidery work.  The factory was filled with mostly young women sewing.  I did see some older women there.  I was struck by the fact that there were so many young women carrying on this tradition.  Some of the work is so detailed it looks like a painting until you get up close.  Sadly, we  did not buy anything. 

Beautiful young Vietnamese girls

Next we went to the Thong Bao Temple.  It is set high on a hillside.  Due to the oppressing heat and humidity, many on the tour bus, myself included, decided not to climb.

Thong Bao Temple

Then we had another boat ride in a crazy little boat to go up river to a fishing village.  It was fun and I got several nice photos along the way.  At one point there was a group of boys frolicking in the water.  When they saw us, they decided to show off, climbing a post to do back flips into the river.  They waved and shouted to us.  

Our bus met us up river and off we went to see how they make rice paper for noodles and their yummy spring rolls.  After mixing the water and flour it is rolled into very fine sheets and dried in the sun.  They they can work it, either cutting it by machine into noodles or squares that are sold and cut down into size for the rolls.

We had two more stops before lunch – one to a conical hat village and the other to a county store in a very old house.  In the village we found 5 women sitting under a tree making hats in various stages.  The oldest lady would cut the bamboo and strip it into long strings.  This is woven around a frame.  The finished product is pretty and they contend this is the coolest hat to wear during their long hot season.  Hooie commented that very few ladies are wearing these traditional hats anymore  Of course, I had to purchase one for the exorbitant price of $3.

Carlos with chef at lunch

 

 

young girls at orphanage

We had a very nice lunch in a restaurant along the riverside.  Then we went off to the highlight of the tour – the Pagoda Orphanage.  My cabin steward was able to give me some additional chocolates to go along with all the ones I had sequestered from my pillow.  It was fun handing them out to the older children. The younger children were being entertained by some college students who had them singing and dancing.  We were told there were about 130 children ranging in age from 6 months old to 15.  It is sad, but when they are 15, they are turned out on the streets.  There is concern on the government’s part what becomes of them.  They think some might become beggars and others resort to crime.  So they are starting to follow them more closely.  The orphanage is run by a very old nun and she sure gives the impression of running a very tight ship.  We walked around a little and spent less time there than I thought we might.

As we were leaving the orphanage, we came upon a young girl selling fans.  Of course I had to buy another – minus another $3. She kept telling me she had 4 children and her baby was hungry.  Then she asked me to help her sell – to talk to everyone in the group to buy one of her fans.  Something tells me she had no children, but she was cute with just one of the biggest smiles.



Joe with fan girl



Nha Trang was more than I could ever have hoped it would be.  These are the people I thought I would meet.  They are so different than everyone in Saigon.  People smiled in Saigon, but I never felt the warmth as I did here.  If I returned, I would love to come back to this city of warm happy Vietnamese.