Post by calflier on Feb 20, 2011 17:25:19 GMT 1
Whilst in Vietnam recently,I travelled from HoChi Minn city, also known as Saigon,to Hanoi,in the north,a distance of over a thousand miles,by train I allowed seven days to do this trip,which included sleepers,but not the type most westerners go for,I travelled as the Vietnamese do,and it was a fantastic experience,I share some photos of the trip.hope you find it interesting,as I know there are train fans also on this forum.
Independance Palace,Saigon,there are some Mig,
gate guards here,but not easy to photograph unfortunately
The amazing CuChi tunnels at HoBom woods.
firing an AK 47 at the national shooting range in HoBom woods,I managed two out of ten on my target,three would have got me a free t-shirt wow!
Time to escape the chaos of Saigon.this is district 1,where most travellers stay.
My train about to leave Saigon station or Ga,The city is still referred to as Saigon,but the surrounding areas are know as HoChi Mhinn city,the train is the SE4,northbound to Hanoi,taking about 36 hours,although I would be getting off at Da Nang (approx 18 hours and half way between Saigon and Hanoi).
My sleeping compartment on SE4,shared with three other people,all Vietnamese and very friendly,
The SE4,arriving at Da Nang Ga.
On some trains tour operators have their own cars,this one has western style toilets and much more upmarket sleeping facilities more acceptable to the Japanese and American tourist,but with prices to match of course!
Although the train,crosses the famous Hi van pass,between Da Nang and Hue,I travelled by bus,which is not for the faint hearted,however is still more comfortable than,how the Top gear team travelled,by moped.
I rejoined the train after a few days in Hue,mid way,to Hanoi,which has the Imperial city and the Perfume river,with many tourist boats plying it.
Hue Ga,
Arriving at Hanoi Ga,after a great trip the full lenght of Vietnam.
You can continue from Hanoi to Ha long by train,for one of the world,s greatest sight,s Halong bay.
Vietnam is a fantastic country to visit and the people really are the friendliest I have met anywhere on my travels.
Its amazing to think,that you can continue by train,from Hanoi,to Beijing,China,then take the trans Siberian railway back to Europe via Moscow,now if I only had the time,
Thanks for looking.
Some more from Vietnam
View from my boat in Halong bay.
The curious but enjoyable War remnants museum in Saigon
Street scene in Hanoi.
To complete this thread,some more pics
Arriving at Ton Son Nhat airport Saigon,There is also a big military prescence here,but taking an interest in it is not recommended,as you may be refused entry for taking any photographs of miltary installations,so dont do it.
View from my Moped in Saigon,(I was a passenger by the way)
The famous Caravelle hotel,In Saigon I remember this being referred to many time by Vietnam war correspondants during the 60,sand 70,s ,
Inside the Cu Chi tunnels at Ho Bom,very scary,and taken with a very basic camera,hence the low quality,takes at least 6 minutes to go through and has been made larger for western tourists,I had to go through on all fours,glad I did it, would I do it again?,I am not sure!
The Austin A95,used by Buddist priest,Thích Quảng Ðức,who set himself on fire in a busy Saigon street in 1963,a photograph which captured the horror,during the lone protest of the treatment of Buddist priests by the South Vietnamese govenment at the time. won the Press photo of the year,for the famous picture which the car is also featured on,The priest was from Tháp Phýc Duyên temple at Hue,where the car is still present as a memorial
Some more views of Halong bay,
Thanks for looking at my photographs,I have enjoyed posting them,hopefully it will create some interest with people in travelling to Vietnam,it all helps the Vietnamese people in a small way.
best regards Calflier.
Independance Palace,Saigon,there are some Mig,
gate guards here,but not easy to photograph unfortunately
The amazing CuChi tunnels at HoBom woods.
firing an AK 47 at the national shooting range in HoBom woods,I managed two out of ten on my target,three would have got me a free t-shirt wow!
Time to escape the chaos of Saigon.this is district 1,where most travellers stay.
My train about to leave Saigon station or Ga,The city is still referred to as Saigon,but the surrounding areas are know as HoChi Mhinn city,the train is the SE4,northbound to Hanoi,taking about 36 hours,although I would be getting off at Da Nang (approx 18 hours and half way between Saigon and Hanoi).
My sleeping compartment on SE4,shared with three other people,all Vietnamese and very friendly,
The SE4,arriving at Da Nang Ga.
On some trains tour operators have their own cars,this one has western style toilets and much more upmarket sleeping facilities more acceptable to the Japanese and American tourist,but with prices to match of course!
Although the train,crosses the famous Hi van pass,between Da Nang and Hue,I travelled by bus,which is not for the faint hearted,however is still more comfortable than,how the Top gear team travelled,by moped.
I rejoined the train after a few days in Hue,mid way,to Hanoi,which has the Imperial city and the Perfume river,with many tourist boats plying it.
Hue Ga,
Arriving at Hanoi Ga,after a great trip the full lenght of Vietnam.
You can continue from Hanoi to Ha long by train,for one of the world,s greatest sight,s Halong bay.
Vietnam is a fantastic country to visit and the people really are the friendliest I have met anywhere on my travels.
Its amazing to think,that you can continue by train,from Hanoi,to Beijing,China,then take the trans Siberian railway back to Europe via Moscow,now if I only had the time,
Thanks for looking.
Some more from Vietnam
View from my boat in Halong bay.
The curious but enjoyable War remnants museum in Saigon
Street scene in Hanoi.
To complete this thread,some more pics
Arriving at Ton Son Nhat airport Saigon,There is also a big military prescence here,but taking an interest in it is not recommended,as you may be refused entry for taking any photographs of miltary installations,so dont do it.
View from my Moped in Saigon,(I was a passenger by the way)
The famous Caravelle hotel,In Saigon I remember this being referred to many time by Vietnam war correspondants during the 60,sand 70,s ,
Inside the Cu Chi tunnels at Ho Bom,very scary,and taken with a very basic camera,hence the low quality,takes at least 6 minutes to go through and has been made larger for western tourists,I had to go through on all fours,glad I did it, would I do it again?,I am not sure!
The Austin A95,used by Buddist priest,Thích Quảng Ðức,who set himself on fire in a busy Saigon street in 1963,a photograph which captured the horror,during the lone protest of the treatment of Buddist priests by the South Vietnamese govenment at the time. won the Press photo of the year,for the famous picture which the car is also featured on,The priest was from Tháp Phýc Duyên temple at Hue,where the car is still present as a memorial
Some more views of Halong bay,
Thanks for looking at my photographs,I have enjoyed posting them,hopefully it will create some interest with people in travelling to Vietnam,it all helps the Vietnamese people in a small way.
best regards Calflier.
