Cats of Bandung

A Travelogue

Wandering and wondering.

A mission not to have a mission. A goal to have time and space to connect and heal.

Final Days in Da Nang and Vietnam

Posted September 7

I didn’t know what to expect when I came to Vietnam. I knew that it was a country that (at least in the US) didn’t get anywhere near the respect it deserved. I now know firsthand that the Vietnamese are proud of their accomplishments, their history, and have begun to thrive despite the efforts of the West to prevent that from happening. The resiliency and ingenuity here is amazing.

Hoi An and Hue

Posted September 5

Da Nang is conveniently located between Hue to the North and Hoi An to the South. A day trip to each city is time well spent and allows more views on life and history in Vietnam.

Da Nang

Posted August 29

Situated on the shores of the South China Sea about halfway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang is a large city that has a split personality. Part of it is a tourist centered beach town, with all the trappings of a destination vacation spot. However, it’s a metropolitan area of over a million residents, so there is a large no-nonsense business portion of the city as well.

Ho Chi Minh City

Posted August 22

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam, its economic center, and sprawls out every bit its size. But the various Districts are diverse and the people are friendly. Exploring every nook and cranny is impossible, but there’s a lot here to keep things interesting and fun.

Train to Ho Chi Minh City

Posted August 15

You can fly, bus, or train from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City. I chose badly. Depending on semantics of choice, perhaps rather than badly I chose adventurously.

Nha Trang

Posted August 11

Nha Trang is synonymous with beach life in Vietnam. The coastal city boasts a long, beautiful beach that is the main draw for visitors. There are not a lot of other reasons for going to Nha Trang, but that’s not a bad thing at all.

Hanoi

Posted August 6

Hanoi, the past and present capital of Vietnam, is a sprawling metropolis that doesn’t have time for your sightseeing and gawking. Move along and do that somewhere else. If you want to dive into things and walk a mile in Hanoi’s shoes, then by all means you’ll be rewarded.

Ha Long Bay

Posted August 4

Ha Long Bay in Northeast Vietnam deserves every bit of its reputation as a gorgeous and scenic wonder. Even though there are dozens of boats that bring cruise passengers out to see the limestone cliffs and islets, there is ample space and the cruise companies coordinate to make it seem a little more intimate than it probably is. But it is a great and worthwhile adventure.

Banh Mi vs. Khao Jee Pâté

Posted July 31

The extent of French Territorial colonialism in SE Asia means that there are local versions of foods that were originally inspired by the French, like baguette sandwiches. Those local sandwiches seem to reflect more than just the locally available ingredients, they seem to be an analogy for the cultures and societies too.

Traveling To Vietnam

Posted July 30

You couldn’t ask for a bigger study in contrasts than going from Luang Prabang to Hanoi. The trip went well except for an hour-long wait for passport control. I got to my hotel in time to walk to the infamous Train Street in Hanoi for dinner time, and there’s a video in the blog post.