It's been quite some time since our last adventure, but the one we just completed may be in our top 3 all time: A land/river cruise of Vietnam and Cambodia on the Magnificent Mekong. We started in Hanoi, then Siem Reap, Cambodia, floated down the Mekong where we ended in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). It was an amazing adventure, and an opportunity to learn and gain insights into the history and culture of two countries that are very much in the 'developing' stage. We saw and experienced far too much to detail here. But the sights, sounds and flavors of both countries will stay with us for a very long time, as will the spirit and welcoming nature of the people we met. We saw and experienced the wonderful, and not so wonderful (the devastation of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, the war of independence in Vietnam). Images of the crush of scooters and rickshaws competing with cars and buses in the cities, field after field of farmland (a very high portion of both economies), the colorful and chaotic market places and shops, the vibrancy of Phnom Penh, the bright, modern, youthful atmosphere of Ho Chi Minh City, the traditional family ambient of Hanoi, the stunning temples and historical sites, the beauty of the many rural areas we visited, stunning Ha Long Bay, and the delicious food and drink. The slide show is but a sliver (like, 11%) of the total images we recorded, and I hope you enjoy them.
© AHP