50 Plus Travel

Open your mind and heart to Vietnam and Cambodia…

Dear GrownUps friends,  

Asia at its best: heat, overcrowding and deafening noise with thousands of scooters tooting all at the same time and managing to carry up to six people each, or fridges, furniture or even five (!) live pigs.

In spite of the chaotic traffic we really enjoyed our stay in Hanoi. In the morning we watched people of all ages doing Tai Chi, playing badminton, walking or jogging.

We visited Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where Uncle Ho (lovingly called by the Vietnamese) is laid out in state, surrounded by immaculately uniformed soldiers. The change of the guards was a moving experience.

Next was the Presidential Palace a splendid example of French colonial architecture, painted warm yellow in a beautiful green surrounding. But Uncle Ho had chosen to live in a small stilt house in a tranquil environment beside a lake.

Then came our fantastic cruise in the Ha Long Bay on the Junk, our overnight boat. The scenery is truly breathtaking and continuously changing. We visited many caves and islands, kayaking and swimming at Titov beach, then enjoyed dinner on board while watching the sunset and drinking Vietnamese rice wine.

We boarded the Reunification Express to continue our journey to Hue, visiting the Imperial City and Bang Do Market, a real insight into Vietnamese life.

A short boat trip along the Perfume River gave us a chance to see how people live and work along its banks.

Then we were on our way to Dalat, the Central Highlands area of Vietnam. The city enjoys cooler mountain air and dotted with waterfalls, forests, garden and lakes. We visited the Emperor Bao Dal’s Summer Palace and a flower garden. We saw a few surprises at the local market and were careful ordering our meals afterwards!

We stayed in Hoi An, a beautiful riverside town, where tailors shops abound. When we left the town our luggage was much heavier.

Next on our itinerary was Ho Chi Minh City, now a dynamic metropolis and a paradise for “night owls”.

The Cu Chi tunnels were a sombre experience. We dropped to our hand and knees and squeezed ourselves underground to see how people lived there for months on end.

We began the Cambodian leg in the capital Phnom Penh, still bearing reminders of its violent past, before moving on to the killing fields of Choeung Ek.

The tour ends in the fabled city of Angkor, the spectacular ancient capital of the powerful Khmer Dynasty and home to the greatest number of religious monuments in the world. In its one hundred or so temples - only discovered in the 19th century, and since reclaimed from the lush tropical vegetation - are shrouded in mystery and splendour at dawn and sunset.

It was an exciting and memorable trip taking in Vietnam and Cambodia with their breathtaking contrast in cultures, history and scenery. We took every opportunity to get to know the local people and their harsh everyday life of survival, suffering and stoicism, yet found them rich in personality and charm.

We’ve started to download our photos. Keep checking our website www.50plustravel.co.nz/vietnam and see our online Live Journal for some enticing pictures of the journey through the ‘jewels of Indo-China”.

We have many exciting tours for you in 2009. Our groups are strictly limited in numbers, so by booking now you’ll not only ensure a place on your chosen trip but also secure current prices. Pay before 15 December 2008 and we’ll guarantee you today’s price. Remember our groups are small. Be in first and secure your place on what could be your best trip ever!

If you close your eyes and dream about your next travel adventure, where would you like to go? The choice is yours:

RUSSIA: Waterways of the Czars (river cruise from St Petersburg to Moscow)
UKRAINE: Footsteps of the Cossacks (river cruise Kiev-Odessa-Sevastopol-Yalta)
PRAGUE TO PARIS: from Prague on the river cruise through Germany to Paris
CANADA & ALASKA: Rocky Mountains, Rail and Alaska Inside Passage Cruising
CHINA & TIBET: Roof of the World (from Beijing to Shanghai, including a 6-day Yangtze River cruise, and Lhasa
AUTHENTIC VIETNAM & CAMBODIA: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, including Mekong Delta cruise, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap

anna@50plustravel.co.nz
www.50plustravel.co.nz

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