As the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is often overlooked and eclipsed by its more popular cousin Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). It’s dustier, hotter, and less accessible in some respects, but Hanoi is the gateway to awesome destinations such as, the Perfume Pagoda, Sapa, and of course the famous HaLong Bay.

With its effortless chaos and distinct subculture from the rest of Vietnam, Hanoi has a style uniquely its own. Locals still go about their daily lives as they have for decades while a cosmopolitan city develops around them. Modern cars mingle with waves of scooters, as an urban skyline rises around the old quarter and its mysterious Hoan Kiem Lake. Hanoi is so unique, that aficionados will even notice differences in its preparation of Pho (Vietnamese soup noodles).

Perhaps these cultural differences are due in part to its long history of occupation from the Chinese, Japanese and French, or perhaps it’s merely a result of its geographical distance from the south. Whatever the reason, what remains is a fluid juxtaposition of French and Asian, old and modern.

Hanoi is a Hidden Jewel!

Enjoy these photos, as I choose them in hopes to capture and embody the everyday of Hanoi Vietnam and compel you to give it a more intimate look:

• In Hanoi’s old quarter, where you’ll likely end up, the locals have embraced tourism effortlessly

• Old meets new. Amongst autos and cyclos, a Vietnamese woman wearing a conical hat still carries her wares by way of a shoulder pole

• The Vietnamese people are incredibly enterprising. In Hanoi, you’ll find small businesses in the most innocuous places providing an eclectic range of products from cigarettes, simcards, to pastries

• A vestige of French colonialism, St. Joseph’s Cathedral serves as the cathedral for the huge presence of practicing Catholics in the country

• A local in peach slippers gets off her bicycle in order to reposition her shipment of pomelos

• Bicycles and scooters are often the lifeblood of many Vietnamese families, often used for both transportation and business

• In most western cultures, roads are generally dominated by cars, in Hanoi and most parts of Vietnam, you’ll find that cyclos are far more prevalent

• You can’t see it, but in this image the woman is using a charcoal smoker in a narrow corridor to prepare dishes for the adjacent restaurant. To put this in perspective, it was easily 100˚F that day

• Turtle Tower located in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake), within Hanoi’s old quarter

• A delicious bowl of Hanoi Pho!

Have you been to Hanoi Vietnam? What are some of your favorite things?

The post Hanoi Vietnam, The Photoscape! #Hanoi #Vietnam #Southeastasia appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

Thailand, especially Bangkok, is one of the most popular travel destinations for its cost and ease of travel. Tourists from all walks of life, backpackers to families, will at one point find their way traveling through famous Bangkok, or the very least, have plans to visit one day in the future.

The truth is though, what most see of Bangkok, is merely the tip of the iceberg. The gorgeously chaotic Southeast Asian metropolis does have a seedy underbelly that, fortunately, most will never be exposed to but definitely does exist. Don’t get me wrong, the biggest city in the Land of Smiles is an amazing place. Whether you’re being sized up as prey by voracious lady boys or facing intimidating bouncers at local sex clubs, Bangkok is a never-ending adventure. However, Bangkok tourist scams can make a good time go south quickly. Generally speaking, most Bangkok tourist scams are just variants of some form of theft ranging from pickpockets to the ingenious long con (think Grand Palace Scam).

As a continuation to our previous 4 Thailand Scams to Avoid, here are 4 more Bangkok tourist scams to be aware of:

Related post:  4 Bangkok Tourist Scams

The $1000 dollar Beer

In a previous article I introduced Bangkok’s Red Light Districts. Walking through, or perhaps getting a quick Singha while watching the lady boys working a pole, is often a fun, and uniquely Thai experience, but the Red Light Districts can be rife with shadiness.  In a setting similar to the Mos Eisley Cantina in Return of the Jedi, Bangkok’s Red Light Districts can be a dizzying ordeal: You got the villains, the shakedowns, and the odd absence of police officers.

One of the most grievous of the Bangkok tourist scams, is the shake downs that occur while partaking in the many theatrical offerings, like a Ping Pong show.  And as wild as that show can be, it’s what potentially can happen afterwards that will leave its indelible mark.

More than one curious tourist has been fleeced upon leaving a bar or strip club by being hit with a 1000 Baht tab from just a couple of Singhas. To top it off, the Bouncers and sometimes even the Manager, will surely accost you until you pay up; and many terrified tourists do, in fact, pay up.

Ladyboy Pickpockets

Pickpockets are rampant everywhere, not just Bangkok. But in Bangkok, it’s sometimes the desperate lady boy prostitutes who will work in tandem to relieve the unsuspecting of their wallets.  One will ply all the tricks of their trade to captivate your attention while the other works your pockets. Be wary when approached by more than one individual as one of them, not so surprisingly, will attempt to move out of eyesight.

The Grand Palace – Khlong Scam

This is actually a combination of two well-known scams. An incredibly creative and prolific long con, the Grand Palace Scam or Khlong Scam, as it’s now known, involves multiple players over a large distance. Often starting near Khao San road, you’ll first be intercepted by a “friendly” local who’ll recommend The Grand Palace as a great place to visit in order to set you off in the right direction.  Along the way, a few more “friendly” locals will approach you (depending how far off track you’ve wandered) who will claim to be either security, or some type of official, and will regrettably inform you that the Grand Place is closed.  Noticing your obvious disappointment, the helpful local, will invariably suggest a great deal on a floating market tour, one that’s even better than the famous Damnoen Saduak – and all you would have to do is drop his name. To gain further trust, he’ll even negotiate a great Tuk Tuk rate on your behalf, going so far as to having a “heated” exchange with a seemingly “random” Tuk Tuk driver. If you take them up on this offer, prepare to lose a quite a few bahts on an unimaginative boat tour of Bangkok’s canals.

Forged Certifications

Asia is renowned for their counterfeiting skills. However, the ingenious buggers have evolved their skills beyond just copying the Louis Vuttons and Pradas. On a recent trip through Thailand I saw fake licenses being offered on Khao San Road for PADI certifications, teacher certifications, and even licenses for airline employees. Give these guys a wide berth. If you plan to go diving in Koh Toh with a “Khao San Road certified” dive instructor you may want to brace yourself for a few shattered eardrums.

Bangkok is a fun, entertaining city to visit. Most of the time you won’t have an issue, but just by being aware of some of the seedier elements, you’ll be that much more prepared in the event something does happen. Be a smart, safe and informed traveler and always listen to your gut.

If you do happen to be caught in the web, don’t fret; just consider it the cost of a story you can tell over and over. Without some of the craziness, Bangkok would be pretty bland and lifeless, and who’d like that?

BONUS:

Not really a scam, but interesting nonetheless.

The Ducks Are Hungry

Call it seedy or outright shocking but Bangkok seems to have an inordinate number of eunuchs created at the hands of jilted lovers.  In Thailand, saving face is key. If you’re a Thai woman dealing with a cheating husband for months or years of infidelity, eventually it may be too much to take. Reading local papers over the course of a year reveals way too many of these horror stories.

If a wife has caught her husband cheating she may note this in the face saving way of speaking a Thai phrase, which means: “The ducks are hungry.”  In rural areas of Northern Thailand ducks are plentiful and from past horrors, ducks seem to be fond of male genitalia tossed out of the window.  Either she follows up on the threat or the husband gets the hint.

What Bangkok tourist scams have you seen and can add to the list?

The post 4 MORE Bangkok Tourist Scams, Plus a Hungry Duck appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

Upon landing in Siem Reap there was really only one destination I had in mind: Angkor Wat. Of course there are other things to do in the thriving Cambodian city, but our plan was to see Angkor and then figure out the rest as we went.

There are different ways you can go and explore Angkor Wat, but Mike and I opted to get our own tuk-tuk driver and a personal guide (allowing us to set our own pace and see what WE wanted to see). After a good night sleep and a hearty breakfast we were ready to be amazed. And amazed we were. I have been to a few Wonders of the World and other World Heritage Sites, but Angkor Wat is in a class of its own. I was instantly captured by its beauty, lost in the amazement and often found myself racing to catch up to Mike and our guide.

Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that occupies over 400 square kilometers and includes three large temples: Bayon, Ta Prohm and Ankor Wat. Once the capital of the Khmer Empire, the temple city contains temples and monuments that pay homage to both its Hindu and Buddhist past. Initially a Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu, it was later converted into a Buddhist temple and statutes of Buddha, along with other elements and symbols of Buddhism, were added everywhere. As a city deeply rooted in religion, Angkor was once the largest religious pilgrimage site in Southeast Asia.

The Bayon Temple.

Ta Prohm Temple.

The biggest temple – Angkor Wat.

Vishnu – The Hindu God.

Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva – the Compassionate Goddess in the Buddhist Religion.

Angkor is an architect’s dream. There is purpose and meaning in every structure, adding to the city’s brilliance. It has been the setting for some epic battles in Cambodia – first with the Chams and Thais, and then amongst the Cambodians during the Civil War – and it is tragic that some of the temples and statues became victims of the wars. During our tour, we saw massive bullet holes along bridges and structures and missing Buddha heads, all evidence of the violence and invasions the city endured.

Both sides of the bridge to the Bayon Temple is lined with buddha statues, but you can see some of the heads were missing.

Bullet holes on the left side of the frame.

It is hard to describe in words the beauty and magnificence of Angkor Wat, so let me show you with photos what I can’t do with words. But even these pictures don’t properly convey the magic of Angkor. It is something you really need to experience.

The enormity of Angkor Wat is a bit overwhelming, so here are some helpful tips for visiting Angkor:

• Hire a guide: the history and stories are just as important as the temples themselves, so hire a guide who can give you valuable information and provide context to what you are seeing. This will allow you to appreciate the site so much more. Also, a guide can show you where the more popular points of interest are or tricks to avoid bottlenecks, which are helpful especially if your time is limited.

• Give yourself plenty of time: there is a reason why Angkor is considered a temple city. It is enormous, so make sure you have enough time to enjoy yourself so you aren’t rushing from one temple to the next.

• Weather: it can get extremely hot, so it is better to go early in the morning or late in the afternoon (when the sun is not beaming down on you). A lot of people try to make it to Angkor for the sun rise, which I’m sure would be breathtaking, but given that I’m not an early riser (especially on my vacation) it was something we didn’t get the opportunity to experience. Also, bring lots of water, sunscreen, and a hat to shield you from the direct sunlight.

• Respect the dress code: there is a lot of walking, so make sure you are dressed comfortably but remember no sleeveless shirts, and pants and skirts must be below the knee. You don’t want to be in a situation where you are refused entrance to one of the temples.

• Be patient: there are a lot of tourists and it can get congested, especially in places where only “one-way” traffic is permitted and you have to wait for a good break in the flow before you go up or down. Don’t let this frustrate or annoy you, just accept it as being part of the experience. Also, it can be difficult to get the perfect picture in front of a temple or statue without tons of people being in your frame, but check out Travel Hack #3 to get the perfect shot.

• Enjoy and live in the moment: it is easy to get lost in the busyness of Angkor and want to move from one place to another, but find a place to sit back and soak in the wonder. Be present.

Buddhas sitting in meditation.

The post Angkor Wat: A Wonder in Siem Reap appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

It had been 12 years since my last visit to Saigon Vietnam. Needless to say I was thrilled and giddy with excitement to see my family, devour all the fruits, desserts, and Vietnamese cuisine that was on my long list of Things I must eat while in Saigon, and I was very much looking forward to finally introducing Mike to my cousins, aunts, and uncles!

My auntie spoiled me by making one of my favourite meals – Banh Canh (Vietnamese udon). Topping things off with a nice cool coconut!

With family in Saigon and the ability to speak passable Vinglish (a mixture of Vietnamese and English words with a lot of “cai ai”, which means “the thing”, thrown in when I don’t know the proper word for what I’m describing) in my heavy Canadian accent, I am fortunate to be able to experience Saigon in a completely different way. The moment Mike and I stepped off the plane at Tan Son Nhat International Airport my cousin, who unlike me is fluent in Vietnamese, escorted us through customs with absolutely no problems. We did get a lot of stares from those waiting in line to get their Visas approved (Mike and I had applied for our Visas in Canada, so we would have skipped that step), as well as those who were being questioned by the Customs Officers. Once our luggage finally arrived (we were waiting so long for my bag that I was scared it was still somewhere in Vancouver), my uncles had a cab waiting to take us to our Bed and Breakfast, which was in the Backpackers District (more on that later).   Luckily for us, the nerves that some travelers get when first arriving in a foreign country were not there because my cousin and uncles were with us. They knew exactly where to go and made sure we were properly settled before taking off. Also, we didn’t even have to worry about going through the troubles of getting Vietnamese Dongs because all of that had been arranged beforehand and my uncle just handed over a wad of cash and we became instant millionaires (well in Dong currency that is).

It was about 2:00 a.m. when we finally settled in and both Mike and I were exhausted after more than a day of traveling, so the first thing Mike did was raid the mini bar. Normally, we would leave the mini bar alone and just go out and buy our own beer but at 20,000 Dongs for a can of Heineken (that is approximately $1 CDN), I told Mike to have at it.

The next day, after Mike enjoyed his first real Vietnamese breakfast and authentic Vietnamese coffee (café sua da – YUM), my uncles picked us up to take us to my grandpa’s house (where my dad was born and grew up), so I could pay my respects. I know that anyone who has traveled to Vietnam will have seen all the scooters and mopeds whizzing around, but whether they have ever driven one, or ridden on the back of one, is a completely different story. Mopeds are the main form of transportation in Vietnam. It is not uncommon to see a family of four on a moped or even someone move a couch on one – it is completely foreign to us, especially when the only system we know is one that requires us to buckle up and refrain from using electronics or doing anything that will “distract” us from driving (I can’t imagine a bigger distraction than trying to balance a couch on the back of your scooter, while at the same time moving through a heavily congested road) – but this is the only system that Vietnamese people know and it works for their lifestyle.

Taking distracted driving to a whole new level! Although this picture was taken in Hanoi, Vietnam, this was a common scene in Saigon.

Armed with extra helmets, my uncles passed them to us and I immediately jumped on. Mike, on the other hand, hesitated and asked me whether this was a good idea. I had never driven a moped, but had ridden on one numerous times so this was an experience that I was familiar with. I completely understood Mike’s fear (the best way to describe the traffic in Vietnam is organized chaos), so I told him to put on his helmet, hold on to my uncle and “trust in the driver”. After a while, Mike was able to relax a little bit but I don’t think he was ever able to enjoy the ride. For some reason, he was more comfortable crossing the streets of Saigon than sitting on the back of a moped.After the first few times Mike quickly learned that when crossing the street, look straight ahead and keep on going – do not hesitate and do not make any unexpected moves or else you will throw off the whole system. You don’t have to worry about dodging the drivers, they will get out of your way.

This is Mike doing the Saigon Street Shuffle:

Brings a new meaning to “sharing the road”. Both pedestrians and drivers have the right of way.

Despite not speaking the same language, Mike got along extremely well with my uncles. It was great to hear my uncles cracking jokes, even though they were at Mike’s expense. I was telling my uncles how much I was paying for certain things and not surprisingly it was more than what the locals paid. My uncle Tam told me it’s because I have the “white guy” with me and so everything will instantly cost at least twice as much. That comment was immediately followed with a hearty chuckle and became an inside joke between Mike and uncle Tam. From the start my whole family liked Mike and told me how lucky I was to have such a kind and tall husband (Vietnamese people are not very tall, so anyone over 5 feet 8 inches is considered tall). They doted on him, asking what his favorite Vietnamese meals were so they could prepare it, and my cousin Trang always made sure to have an abundance of beer in the fridge just for him. The best thing about this trip to Saigon, besides sharing it with my husband, is I got to spend a lot of time with my family and get to know my uncles better.

Mike and the three Musketeers during a family dinner.

My cousin Trang and I. She’s absolutely amazing!

I got to meet this cutie patootie named Bean, who was always hamming it up and never shying away from attention.

Mike and I stayed on Phạm Ngũ Lão Street, also known as the Backpacker’s District, which is a lively and safe area with lots to do, good places to eat, and plenty of other tourists so you can meet people from all over the world. The first bed and breakfast we stayed at met our needs perfectly, the location was great and the staff were friendly, but after my dad (who met us in Saigon) and uncles found out how much we were paying per night (which was not that much, especially when compared to what we would pay for similar rooms in different countries), they organized a quick exit for us. Fortunately they found another hotel for us, which was also located in the Backpacker’s District, and $12 less than what we were paying. Neither Mike nor I really wanted to leave because it was a hassle to pack up just for one night (we were flying out to Nha Trang the next), but the three musketeers made such a ruckus there was no way we could stay (Mike and I still joke about this). That’s the thing about family – it really is hard to tell them no. LOL. I would definitely recommend finding a place on Phạm Ngũ Lão Street.

An alley in the Backpacker District of Saigon.

I know not everyone is fortunate to have friends or family in Saigon, and so here are some things you should know that will make your trip that more comfortable:

• It can get extremely hot and humid in Saigon, so if you are going during the summer time make sure to pack plenty of sunscreen and insect repellant. This time around, we went in December and I was pleasantly surprised. I had mentally prepared for a morning ritual of salving on the sunscreen, then spraying myself from head to toe with bug spray, but fortunately this was not the case. It is cooler and less humid in December, as compared to July and August, and apparently when Mike and I were there, Saigon was experiencing an unusually “cool winter” (it was 25 degrees Celsius and my cousin Trang was complaining about how cold it was), so we got away with just sunscreen. It makes a huge difference when you aren’t eaten alive by mosquitoes or sweating all day.

• If you don’t feel like driving or riding on a moped the easiest and, most importantly, safest way to get around Saigon is by taxi. There are two official taxi companies in Saigon: Mai Linh Group (they drive green and white vehicles) and Vinasun Taxi (vehicles are mostly white with their logo prominently displayed on the side), and I recommend sticking to these two companies.

• It is extremely smoggy in Saigon and the air pollution is really bad. You will notice that most people on mopeds wear masks, so if you plan to walk around for long periods of time pick up a mask and wear it.

• Always carry tissue or toilet paper with you because you never if there will be toilet paper and that could be extremely uncomfortable . . . especially for us ladies.
• Do not drink the water or even ice cubes for that matter. Drink bottled water, canned beverages, or fresh coconut (nothing beats fresh coconut water).

How ice is transported in Saigon.

Coconut vendors are a common sight in Saigon.

• Be aware of pickpocketers and other thievery. Iphones are a hot commodity and walking around with your iphone will make you an easy target. Also, anything on your body, not just in your pocket, is fair game and they aren’t afraid to rip necklaces off of you.

• The Vietnamese are a humble people and extremely welcoming and eager to please. If you are looking for a “Kodak moment” and want to partake in the Vietnamese way of life, do not hesitate to ask for a picture but make sure to tip them.

Mike wanted to try his hand at selling coconuts.

• Try speaking simple Vietnamese words like “cam on”, which means thank you. Vietnamese people really appreciate the effort and you will get a smile out of them.

Want to know what to do during your visit to Saigon Vietnam? Read my next article for some suggestions.

The post Saigon Dep Lam Saigon Oi Saigon Oi (Saigon is Very Beautiful) appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.