Photos in vietnam volume

candy-factory-pressing-rice / Pressing rice treated with coconut-sugar mixture into a form in a Mekong Delta candy factory

candy-factory-sifting-popped-rice / Sifting just-popped fresh rice in a Mekong Delta candy factory

candy-factory-sifting-rice / Sifting just-popped fresh rice in a Mekong Delta candy factory

candy-factory-puffing-rice / Puffing fresh rice in a Mekong Delta candy factory

mekong-delta-houseboat / Houseboat near the Cai Be floating market in the Mekong Delta

cai-be-floating-market / Cai Be floating market in the Mekong Delta, where locals hang fruits and vegetables from the masts of their ships to announce what's for sale

pigs-transported-on-motorbike / Lacking automobiles due to the cost and tax laws, the Vietnamese have become unusually inventive in transporting anything, including live pigs, on motorbikes

narrow-vietnamese-homes / There's a reason these homes in the suburbs are so narrow: Vietnam taxes homes primarily based on the size of the footprint, not the total square feet

ho-chi-minh / Ho Chi Minh, a North Vietnamese politician and revolutionary, remains a revered "Uncle Ho" figure, with his regime's starvation and summary executions overlooked

family-motorbikes / There's plenty of room for a fourth person, and some people do that too, on this family-sized motorbike

girl-with-net / Girl with net, probably fishing in the nearby waterway, outside the former city of Saigon

vietnam-motorbikes / Motorbikes crowd the streets of every major city in Vietnam, a consequence of expensive-for-locals gas prices and punishing taxes on automobiles

ho-chi-minh-city / Expansive skyline of Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon, that's home to over 9 million people

saigon-skyline / The colorful skyline in the downtown area of the city formerly called Saigon

saigon-port-night / The port of Saigon at night, on the Saigon River, which flows from southeastern Cambodia to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam

street-vendor-night / Street vendor at night operating the equivalent of a sidewalk cafe

saigon-motorbikes-night / A rush of motorbikes, at night and during the day, makes crossing city streets in the former Saigon no easy task

vietnam-motorbikes-night / A rush of motorbikes, at night and during the day, floods city streets in Vietnam

kimdo-royal-city-hotel / Kimdo Royal City Hotel at night in the city once called Saigon

saigon-river / Saigon River, which flows from southeastern Cambodia to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam and is the home of the bustling port of Saigon

street-vendor-selling-water / Street vendor selling chilled water for a little less than one U.S. dollar, no bargain for locals

electrical-wires-vietnam / Electrical and other wires are strung up on telephone poles more by happenstance than by any actual plan

saigon-notre-dame-basilica-elephants / Sacred elephants may not be part of Roman Catholic doctrine, but they're common in Vietnam and appear here in the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica

saigon-notre-dame-basilica / Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, Roman Catholic cathedral in the heart of the city, completed in 1863, now flanked by opportunistic street vendors

post-office-phone-booths / Beautiful wooden phone booths in the Saigon Central Post Office, built by the French colonials nearly a century ago

meat-for-sale-not-refrigerated / Westerners would be aghast at the meat for sale in this Vietnamese market, which sits on counters for hours at a time without being refrigerated

gold-for-sale / Perhaps because of the government's rampant inflation, many Vietnamese stores offer to buy and sell gold, in small fractions of an ounce

fruit-vendor / Fruit vendor in the Cho Binh Tay Market in the Cholon Chinatown area apparently selling rambutan, so-called hairy lychee fruit

cho-binh-tay-market-cholon / View from above in the Cho Binh Tay Market in the Cholon Chinatown area of the former Saigon

hats-for-sale / Hats for sale in the Cho Binh Tay Market in the Cholon Chinatown area of the former Saigon

candy-for-sale / Candy for sale in the Cho Binh Tay Market in the Cholon Chinatown area of the former Saigon

shoes-for-sale / Shoes for sale in the Cho Binh Tay Market in the Cholon Chinatown area of the former Saigon

cho-binh-tay-market-inside / Inside the bustling Cho Binh Tay Market in the Cho Lon Chinatown area of the former Saigon

cho-binh-tay-market / Vendors outside the bustling Cho Binh Tay Market in the Cholon Chinatown area of the former Saigon

cholon-temple-saigon / Visitors can purchase incense to be burned -- shown here hanging from the ceiling -- in this temple in the Cholon district of the former Saigon

temple-paper-prayer / Prayers in paper form -- visitors can pay to have an incription written on them -- in temple in the Cholon Chinatown district of the former Saigon

cholon-temple-offerings / Offerings burning in this temple in the Cholon Chinatown district of the city, along the west bank of the Saigon River

cholon-temple / Visitors can purchase incense to be burned -- shown here hanging from the ceiling -- in this temple in the Cholon district of the former Saigon

incense-cholon-temple / For a small fee, visitors can purchase incense to be burned in this temple in the Cholon district of the former Saigon

safes-for-sale / With the national currency losing value at 30 percent a year, annualized, Vietnamese use safes to store gold and retain purchasing power

war-remnants-museum-fighter / U.S. Air Force fighter used in Vietnam War now on display for tourists at the War Remnants Museum

french-guillotine / French-manufacturered guillotine that a sign at War Remnants Museum says was used to "decapitate the Vietnam patriots" when used in prison on Lagrandiere street

tiger-cages / War Remnants Museum reproduction of a South Vietnamese tiger cage, brutal cells in which prisoners were tortured. This was documented by Life magazine in 1970.

bob-kerrey-war-crime / Sign in War Remnants Museum says ex-Sen. Bob Kerrey was guilty of a "crime" -- exposed by the New York Times -- for slaughtering civilians in Vietnam in 1969

war-remnants-museum-b52 / Child's artwork by Nguyen Thi Thien Thanh, 12 years old, in War Remnants Museum depicts U.S. B-52s bombing civilians in the Vietnam War

war-remnants-museum-gift-shop / Gift shop in War Remnants Museum, with helmets and faux ammunition on sale

war-remnants-museum / Sign in War Remnants Museum boasts the US 101st Airborne Division had 'over double-fold losses' in Vietnam compared with World War II

presidential-bunker / Bunker in the concrete-lined sub-basement of Vietnam's Reunification Palace

vietnam-communist-propaganda / Communist propaganda in War Remnants Museum says South Vietnam was a 'dictatorial regime' resisting 'the cause of national unification of Vietnamese People'

elephant-foot / Actual, not plastic or a replica, elephant foot. No joking.

presidential-gambling-room / The South Vietnamese officials knew how to enjoy themselves: this was the so-called gambling room in the presidential palace

elevator-not-for-americans / This 6-person elevator is not designed for Americans. It has a capacity of 400 kg, 880 lbs, meaning each person on average can weigh no more than 146 lbs.

window-washer / Window washer in Vietnam's Reunification Palace

presidential-office-vietnam / Presidential office in Vietnam's Reunification Palace, constructed in 1962 and used by National Leadership Committee Chairman Nguyen Van Thieu until 1975

north-vietnamese-tank / The North Vietnamese Army tank that crashed through the gates of the presidential palace in 1975, ending the Vietnam War

vietnam-reunification-palace / Tourists outside Vietnam's Reunification Palace, formerly the South Vietnamese Independence Palace, which fell to North Vietnamese troops in April 1975

vietnam-motorcycles / Motorcycles at night in the former city of Saigon

candy-factory-coconut-sugar / Mixing fresh coconut and brown sugar to create a coating for popped rice in a Mekong Delta candy factory

candy-factory-cutting-rice / Cutting popped rice treated with coconut-sugar mixture in a Mekong Delta candy factory

candy-factory-bagging-rice / Bagging popped rice treated with coconut-sugar mixture, a more savory and less sticky version of a Rice Krispies treat, in a Mekong Delta candy factory

mekong-delta-candy-factory / Bagging popped rice treated with coconut-sugar mixture, a more savory and less sticky version of a Rice Krispies treat, in a Mekong Delta candy factory

rice-paper / Drying rice paper, which could be used to make spring rolls or candy wrappings

mekong-delta-ferry / Ferry near the Cai Be floating market in the Mekong Delta

longan-fruit / Boat in Mekong Delta apparently transporting longan fruit, a tasty, easily-peeled white-fleshed tropical fruit

mekong-delta-whole-fish / Meals in the Mekong Delta may involve a deep-fried whole fish, plus some lettuce and rice paper to make fish rolls, crustaceans, and deep-fried spring rolls

mekong-delta-snake / Be warned: Your guide in the Mekong Delta may try to convince you to wear a snake as a boa. This works if the snake is in a good mood.

fire-ants / Red ants, a variety of fire ants, which in this case seem to be quiescent until bothered, on tree in Mekong Delta

mekong-delta-houseboat-bedroom / Bedroom on houseboat near the Cai Be floating market in the Mekong Delta

mekong-delta-boy-motorboat / Boy on low-powered motorboat in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam

longan-fruit-boat / Boat in Mekong Delta apparently offloading longan fruit, a tasty, easily-peeled white-fleshed tropical fruit

dog-drinking-mekong-delta / This dog is drinking water in the Mekong Delta, where sanitary requirements are rather lax. You shouldn't.

water-taxi / This Mekong Delta woman provides a kind of human-powered water-taxi service, though careless tourists run the risk of falling in the muddy water

water-taxi-mekong-delta / This Mekong Delta woman provides a kind of human-powered water-taxi service, though careless tourists run the risk of falling in the muddy water

mekong-delta / The Mekong Delta, a lush and bountiful region where the lengthy Mekong River broadens, splits into innumerable byways, and begins to approach the sea

pig-transport-by-boat / This Mekong Delta pig is being transported by boat: there aren't many roads here

mekong-delta-women / These women are the Venetian gondoliers of the Mekong Delta

mekong-delta-boat / Mekong Delta boat transporting what seems to be palm leaves

mekong-delta-woman-water-taxi / Think of this woman, who provides water taxi services, as the Mekong Delta equivalent of a Venetian gondolier

plant-nursery-mekong-delta / Plant nursery in the Mekong Delta

mekong-delta-gondolier / Think of this woman as the Mekong Delta equivalent of a Venetian gondolier

mekong-delta-washer-women / Washer-women cleaning clothes in the useful, fecund, but not necessarily entirely sanitary waters of the Mekong Delta

mekong-delta-kitchen / Kitchen in the local equivalent of an upscale home in the Mekong Delta

banana-plant / Banana plant

mekong-delta-bank / Muddy bank with mangrove-like roots in the Mekong Delta

mekong-delta-stilt-house / Stilt house in the Mekong Delta

longan-fruit-boat-transport / Longan fruit transported by boat in the Mekong Delta

mekong-delta-bridge / Motorbike on Mekong Delta bridge

mekong-delta-sunrise-hut / Sunrise in a Mekong Delta hut, with chicken and laundry in the background

viet-cong-hotelier / This aged gentleman, described by an interpreter as a onetime Viet Cong, is now a hotelier who caters to American tourists in the Mekong Delta

mekong-delta-children-ferry / Children on ferry in Mekong Delta

bricks / Bricks, not entirely uniform, basically hand-made in Mekong Delta factory

rice-husks / Massive piles of rice husks, used to fuel brick and pottery furnaces, in Mekong Delta factory

women-working-brick-furnace / Women working at a kiln, transferring bricks by hand, in Mekong Delta factory

women-working-kiln / Women working at a kiln, transferring bricks by hand, in Mekong Delta factory

women-working-brick-oven / Women working at a brick oven, transferring bricks by hand, in Mekong Delta factory

brick-oven / Women working at a brick oven, transferring bricks by hand, in Mekong Delta factory

kiln / A kiln powered by rice husks at Mekong Delta brick factory

pottery-for-sale / Any of these enticing products could be yours, if you visit this Mekong Delta brick and pottery factory

factory-carts / Carts used to transport bricks and pottery by hand at Mekong Delta factory

bricks-bricks-bricks / Bricks, bricks, and more bricks created through manual use of a pressing machine at Mekong Delta factory

unbaked-pottery / Unbaked pottery at Mekong Delta factory

pottery-wheel / Pottery wheel in use at Mekong Delta factory

garden-pottery / Garden pottery being shaped by hand at Mekong Delta factory

cat-planter / This cat planter is either incredibly ironic or indescribably tacky

construction-site-mekong-delta / Mekong Delta riverside construction site

mekong-delta-larger-boats / Some of the larger boats that ply the waters of the fecund, muddy Mekong Delta

mekong-delta-tugboat / Tugboat-like vessel in the Mekong Delta

boys-playing-mekong-delta / Boys playing in the muddy, fecund, probably not potable water of the Mekong Delta

vinh-long / Vinh Long, a town on the Co Chien River, part of the Mekong Delta

mekong-delta-powerboat-travel / The best way to travel in the Mekong Delta: a powerboat

vinh-long-boat / Boat leaving the market area of Vinh Long, a town on the Co Chien River, part of the Mekong Delta

dragonfruit-for-sale / Dragonfruit, properly called pitaya, for sale. The fruit has a white, tasty, melon-like pulp with black specks.

vinh-long-town / Town of Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta

vinh-long-outdoor-market / Fruit, vegetables, fish, pigs, and more are for sale in the crowded Vinh Long outdoor market

vinh-long-market / Fruit, vegetables, fish, pigs, and more for sale in the crowded Vinh Long outdoor market

vinh-long-market-fish / Fish, freshly caught in the waters of the Mekong Delta a few steps away, for sale in the Vinh Long market

vinh-long-fish-for-sale / Fish, freshly caught in the waters of the Mekong Delta a few steps away, for sale in the Vinh Long market

vinh-long-squid-for-sale / Squid, freshly caught in the waters of the Mekong Delta a few steps away, for sale in the Vinh Long market

vinh-long-fresh-fish / Fish for sale in the Vinh Long market. Some seemed to be mildly alive.

vinh-long-fish-alive / Fish for sale, still alive and freshly caught, in the Vinh Long market

vinh-long-crustaceans / Crustaceans, namely large shrimp caught in the waters of the nearby Mekong Delta, for sale in the Vinh Long market

vinh-long-shrimp / Shrimp, caught in the waters of the nearby Mekong Delta, for sale in the Vinh Long market

vinh-long-squid / Squid, freshly caught in the waters of the Mekong Delta a few steps away, for sale in the Vinh Long market

vinh-long-market-fresh-fish / Fish for sale in the Vinh Long market. Some seemed to be mildly alive.

vinh-long-market-fish-chopped / Fish for sale in the Vinh Long market, chopped into cross-sections

vinh-long-seafood / Shrimp and other seafood, caught in the waters of the nearby Mekong Delta, for sale in the Vinh Long market

vinh-long-market-seafood / Fish, eel, and other seafood, caught in the waters of the nearby Mekong Delta, for sale in the Vinh Long market

vinh-long-crabs / Crabs, lobster, and other seafood, caught in the waters of the nearby Mekong Delta, for sale in the Vinh Long market

pigs-vinh-long-market / Pigs for sale in the Mekong Delta's Vinh Long market

pigs-for-sale / Pigs for sale in the Mekong Delta's Vinh Long market

pigs-vietnam-market / Pigs for sale in the Mekong Delta's Vinh Long market

eggs-vietnam-market / Eggs for sale in the Mekong Delta's Vinh Long market

nep-thai-rice / Nep thai, a variety of rice for sale on the street in the town of Vinh Long, for less than US$0.50 per pound

vinh-long-fruit / Fruit and vegetables for sale in Vietnam's Vinh Long market

vinh-long-street / Crowded street in the town of Vinh Long, with fruit and, courtesy of the onetime French colonials, fresh baguettes for sale

vinh-long-deli / Vietnamese equivalent of a deli in the Mekong Delta town of Vinh Long

vinh-long-gold-store / Gold jewelry for sale in the Vietnamese town of Vinh Long, where severe inflation has led locals to turn to precious metals

vietnamese-deli / Vietnamese equivalent of a deli in the Mekong Delta town of Vinh Long

vietnam-pho-restaurant / Pho restaurant, serving a rice-noodle soup, kind of the equivalent of a deli counter, in Vietnam's town of Vinh Long

vietnamese-pho-restaurant / Vietnamese Pho restaurant, serving the famous rice-noodle soup, kind of the equivalent of a deli counter, in the town of Vinh Long

rice-noodles-for-sale / Rice noodles for sale in the Mekong Delta town of Vinh Long

vietnam-market-stalls / Market stalls, and woman wrapping fabric with string, in town of Vinh Long, Vietnam

caged-bear / Bear kept in a downtown cage in less-than-perfect conditions near the market in the town of Vinh Long

rice-warehouse-vietnam / Rice warehouse near the town of Vinh Long

dong-tam-snake-farm / Dong Tam Snake Farm, operated by Vietnamese military for a profit, which raises snakes including king cobras for food, skins, and producing antivenin or antivenom

dong-tam-alligator / Alligator, complete with pit of fetid water, on display in the military-operated Dong Tam Snake Farm

king-cobra-snake-farm / Dong Tam Snake Farm, which raises king cobras, the world's largest venomous snake, for food, skins, and producing antivenin or antivenom

dong-tam-monkey-cage / Monkey kept in cage with about a dozen others in noisome conditions in the military-operated Dong Tam Snake Farm

dong-tam-monkey / Monkey kept in cage with about a dozen others in noisome conditions in the military-operated Dong Tam Snake Farm

king-cobra / King cobra, world's largest venomous snake, in Vietnamese ran ho chua, on display in the military-operated Dong Tam Snake Farm. It can kill a human with one bite.

ho-chi-minh-city-motorbikes / Motorbikes in HCMC, or Ho Chi Minh City

hcmc-motorbikes / Motorbikes in HCMC, or Ho Chi Minh City

b-52-drink / A generation ago, B-52 Stratofortress bombers leveled hundreds of square miles of Vietnam. Now the B52 is a US$3 drink in this upscale restaurant.

homeland-security-in-vietnam / It's unclear why the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which exists to secure the U.S. homeland, needs to have an office here in the Saigon Center building

girl-on-boat / Girl on boat used for hire on the Perfume River, based in Hue

woman-on-boat / Poor, elderly woman on boat on the Perfume River, based in Hue

perfume-river / Perfume River, named for flowers falling into the river from upstream orchards, in Hue, Vietnam

thien-mu-pagoda-buddha / Gautama Buddha statute in Thien Mu Pagoda, built in 1601

novice-buddhist-monk / Novice Buddhist monk in Thien Mu Pagoda. It's common for young boys, sometimes called samanera, to spend some time living at a monastery.

thich-quang-duc-car / The car that Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc used to drive to his self-immolation in Saigon in 1963 to protest the government's pro-Catholic, anti-Buddhist policies

novice-buddhist / Novice Buddhist monk in Thien Mu Pagoda. It's common for young boys, sometimes called samanera, to spend some time living at a monastery.

incense-thien-mu-pagoda / Incense burning in the Thien Mu Pagoda, a historic temple outside of Hue, Vietnam

cow-thien-mu-pagoda / One cow in a herd grazing in what appears to be a cemetery adjacent to the Thien Mu Pagoda

novice-buddhist-boy / Novice Buddhist monk in Thien Mu Pagoda. It's common for young boys, sometimes called samanera, to spend some time living at a monastery.

perfume-river-boat / Boat on Perfume River, named for flowers falling into the river from upstream orchards

perfume-river-houseboat / Houseboat on Vietnam's Perfume River, named for flowers falling into the river from upstream orchards

perfume-river-sand-dredging / Dredging for sand on Vietnam's Perfume River. The sand is sold to companies that mix it with cement to form concrete.

perfume-river-woman-on-boat / Woman on boat, perhaps doing her laundry, anchored on the Perfume River

perfume-river-sand / Dredging for sand on Vietnam's Perfume River. The sand is sold to companies that mix it with cement to form concrete.

perfume-river-hut / A hut, or more charitably a shack, located on Vietnam's Perfume River

perfume-river-conical-hats / Boaters with conical hats, common throughout Vietnam, to protect against the sun on the Perfume River

boys-playing-perfume-river / Boys playing in the water in Vietnam's Perfume River

dredging-for-sand-vietnam / Dredging for sand on Vietnam's Perfume River. The sand is sold to companies that mix it with cement to form concrete.

swastika / Swastika in tomb of Vietnamese Emperor Khai Dinh. The symbol has been used in Buddhism for over 2,000 years, and also features in Hinduism.

emperor-khai-dinh / Emperor Khai Dinh, ruler of part of Vietnam from 1916, known for his concubines, punitive beheadings, acquiescence to the French, and high taxes

khai-dinh-mandarin-statue / Statute of mandarin in tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh, known for his concubines, punitive beheadings, acquiescence to the French, and high taxes

savory-rice-in-leaf / Savory, delicious rice in leaf, probably a banana leaf, in local restaurant

dogs-napping-hue / Dogs napping in Hue home

no-lying-zone / Good advice anywhere and everywhere: no lying zone (khu vuc cam nam)

vietnamese-tourists-hue-citadel / Vietnamese tourists in citadel, once focus of Vietnam War's bloody Battle of Hue, causing deaths of hundreds of American and Viet Cong troops

tourist-and-vietnamese-girl / Dutch tourist and Vietnamese girl named Cho X, which seemingly translates to 'pood-le' in English

battle-of-hue / Little remains of the fierce Battle of Hue, a Vietnam War conflict that killed thousands, except bullet holes in this cistern in the town's citadel

citadel-hue-vietnam-war / A dilapidated section of Hue's citadel, site of major Vietnam War battle involving U.S. Marines and U.S. Army calvary regiments, slowly being rebuilt

hue-imperial-palace-war / Overgrown section of Hue's Imperial Palace, site of major Vietnam War battle pitting U.S. forces against Viet Cong and NVA troops

hue-imperial-palace / Dilapidated corner of Hue's Imperial Palace, site of 1968 Vietnam War battle that led to a bloody U.S. victory and stateside anti-war revulsion

imperial-palace-show / Music and dance show in Hue's Imperial Palace, site of 1968 Vietnam War battle with fierce Viet Cong resistance and a high-cost U.S. victory

children-pointing-at-fish / Children pointing at fish in Hue's Imperial Palace, part of the town's citadel, site of a bloody 1968 Vietnam War battle between U.S. and Viet Cong

roadside-produce-sellers-hue / Roadside sellers offering produce and jeans

lychee-rambutan / Roadside vendors in Hue of bananas and what appears to be rambutan, so-called hairy lychee fruit

hue-unloading-fruit-truck / Unlocking fruit from a truck next to a market in Hue

vietnamese-girl-wearing-mask / Vietnamese girl wearing full-face mask, more for protection from the sun than airborne pollution. Light-colored skin is prized.

roadside-fruit-sellers-hue / Roadside fruit seller in Hue, a mid-sized town in central Vietnam

classic-french-cars / Classic cars, including an old Citroen, dating back to the French occupation, at the La Residence hotel. US$20 to rent for a drive.

la-residence-hotel-lobby / Lobby of La Residence, former French governor's mansion that's now a nicely-appointed boutique hotel and spa on the Perfume River

la-residence-hotel-and-spa / La Residence Hotel and Spa, former French governor's mansion that's expanded to become a nicely-appointed boutique hotel on the Perfume River

hanoi-rickshaw-cyclo / Take a pedicab tour on a tricycle-like rickshaw, also called a cyclo, through the old section of the city

vietnamese-girl-with-mask / Vietnamese girl with full-face mask, more for protection from the sun than airborne pollution. Light-colored skin is prized.

three-people-on-scooter / Three people on a scooter isn't impressive. Four people is routine, and motorbikes are also used to transport pigs, chickens and even (securely-tied) water buffalo.

hanoi-conical-straw-hat / Conical straw hats, also called a sedge hat or coolie hat, offer protection from the rain, and especially the sun

metal-racks / Metal racks for sale from streetside store

metal-racks-for-sale / Metal racks for sale in Hanoi's old quarter shopping district

hanoi-scooters-motorbikes / Millions of scooters and motorbikes fill the streets of Hanoi at all hours of the day and night

conical-hat-hanoi / Conical hats, also called a sedge hat or coolie hat, offer protection from the rain, and especially the sun

conical-hat-flowers / Woman carrying flowers and wearing a conical hat, which offers sun and rain protection

conical-hat-baskets / Woman carrying two baskets balanced on a wooden pole and wearing a conical hat, which offers sun and rain protection

hanoi-millions-of-scooters / Millions of scooters and motorbikes fill the streets of Hanoi, nearly all below 250cc engine size. Anything larger requires dispensation from the government.

hanoi-motorbike-parking / Parking for the motorbikes that fill city streets, nearly all below 250cc engine size. Anything larger requires dispensation from the government.

hanoi-children / Children waiting to be picked up from school

hanoi-sofitel-metropole / Front desk attendant at the Hanoi Sofitel Metropole, who walks you to your room

vietnam-high-inflation / Vietnam has such high inflation, caused by government printing too many 'dong,' that stickers with new prices are placed on menus. This one was altered multiple times.

hanoi-scooters-stop-light / Hanoi scooters waiting at stop light

temple-of-literature-tortoise / 82 stones with names of doctoral awardees on tortoises in Temple of Literature. Even though a guard is present, students dart in to rub their heads (stelae) for luck.

temple-of-literature-students / Students flock to Quoc Tu Giam, which houses the Temple of Literature and the Imperial Academy, to pray for luck before the university entrance exam

temple-of-literature-praying / Students light incense in the Temple of Literature, which dates to 1070, for luck before university entrance exams

temple-of-literature-incense / Students light incense for luck before university entrance exams. This is the Temple of Literature, which housed Vietnam's first university, founded for educating bureaucrats.

incense-vietnam-entrance-exams / Students light incense in the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's oldest univeristy dating back to 1070, for luck before university entrance exams

lighting-incense-for-luck / Students light incense in the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's oldest university dating back to 1070, for luck before university entrance exams

aptech-computer-education / Students light incense for luck before university entrance exams. The orange booklet is titled Aptech Computer Education, a courseware vendor.

lighting-incense-before-exams / Students light incense in the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's oldest school dating back to 1070, for luck before university entrance exams

vietnam-university-entrance-exam-luck / Students light incense in the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's oldest school dating back to 1070, for luck before university entrance exams

temple-of-literature-incense-1 / Students pray and light incense for luck in the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's oldest university dating back to 1070, for luck before college entrance exams

temple-of-literature-incense-2 / Students pray and light incense for luck in the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's oldest university dating back to 1070, for luck before college entrance exams

temple-of-literature-incense-3 / Students pray and light incense for luck in the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's oldest university dating back to 1070, for luck before college entrance exams

uncle-ho-mausoleum / Blocky, Stalinist mausoleum of embalmed Vietnamese revolutionary Ho Chi Minh, or Uncle Ho, the Communist-directed subject of a fierce national personality cult

ho-chi-minh-tomb / Blocky, Stalinist tomb of embalmed Vietnamese revolutionary Ho Chi Minh, built by Communists against his wishes. He preferred cremation: 'it saves farmland.'

hanoi-food-market / Lively, vibrant food market in Hanoi

ngoc-son-temple / Vietnamese girls at Ngoc Son Temple on the Hoan Kiem Lake in central Hanoi

men-playing-checkers / Older men playing a checkers-like game at Ngoc Son Temple on an island in Hoan Kiem Lake

men-playing-traditional-checkers / Men playing a traditional checkers-like game at Ngoc Son Temple on an island in Hoan Kiem Lake

kentucky-fried-chicken / Communist North Vietnam won when the south fell in 1975. But capitalism eventually triumphs, with Kentucky Fried Chicken, HSBC, Olympus, Canon, present.

scooters-scooters-scooters / Scooters, scooters, and more scooters and motorbikes in Hanoi

vietnamese-girls / Trendy, well-dressed Vietnamese girls in park in central Hanoi, a far cry from the back-breaking work on rice paddies just a few miles outside the city

caged-ducks-for-sale / Caged ducks for sale in village between Hanoi and the Mai Chau valley

vietnamese-hair-salon / Vietnamese hair salon in village between Hanoi and the Mai Chau valley

vietnamese-rest-stop / Vietnamese rest stop at crest of mountain between Hanoi and the Mai Chau valley, with vendors selling mostly steamed corn

hoa-binh-province / Province of Hoa Binh, a mountainous area in the northwest part of Vietnam

hoa-binh-valley / Lush, verdant valley in the Vietnamese province of Hoa Binh, a mountainous area in the northwest part of the country

hoa-binh-province-valley / Valley in the province of Hoa Binh, a mountainous area in the northwest part of Vietnam

hoa-binh-province-rest-stop / Rest stop at Hoa Binh province, at crest of mountain between Hanoi and the Mai Chau valley, with vendors selling mostly steamed corn

mai-chau-town / Town of Mai Chau in the eponymous valley, about 150 kilometers from Hanoi to the northwest

mai-chau-valley-overhead-view / Overhead view of the picturesque Mai Chau Valley, with rice paddies separated by thin green strips of earth

mai-chau-valley-rice-paddies / Overhead view of the picturesque Mai Chau Valley, with rice paddies separated by thin green strips of earth

rice-paddy-field-women-1 / Women planting rice in paddy field in Mai Chau Valley

rice-paddy-field-women-2 / Women planting rice in paddy field in Mai Chau Valley

rice-paddy-field-women-3 / Women planting rice in paddy field in Mai Chau Valley

vietnam-boys-with-ipod / Boys riding by rice paddies in Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley with white earphones, probably meaning an iPod, or perhaps a knockoff

vietnam-rice-paddies / Rice paddies in Mai Chau Valley, Vietnam

boy-haircut / Boy having a haircut next to a Thai-style stilt house in the Mai Chau Valley

man-pulling-plow / If you don't own a water buffalo, you are one. This man pulling a plow demonstrates it's back-breaking work.

carrying-baskets-rice-paddies / Carrying baskets along rice paddies in the Mai Chau Valley

vietnam-rice-paddy-fields / Rice paddy fields in Mai Chau Valley, Vietnam

man-carrying-plow / Man carrying plow that he used in muddy rice fields demonstrates this truism: If you don't own a water buffalo, you are one.

thai-style-thatched-hut / Thai-style thatched hut in Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley, where immigrants from Thailand settled generations ago

satellite-dish-rice-paddy / Satellite dish adjacent to a rice paddy. Many Vietnamese still rely on terrestrial broadcasts for TV, but this village is in a deep valley.

ducks-mai-chau / Ducks in Mai Chau Valley. Land in Vietnam is privately owned, and sometimes areas of water are fenced off to protect private property rights.

planting-rice-in-paddy / Woman in Mai Chau Valley planting rice in paddy

water-buffalo-rice-field / Water buffalo being led along rice field in Mai Chau Valley

water-buffalo-rice-paddy / Water buffalo plowing rice paddy in Mai Chau Valley

mai-chau-valley / Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley, home to a verdant landscape, small villages, Thai-style thatched huts, meandering streams, and countless rice patties

water-buffalo / Water buffalo being led along rice paddy in Mai Chau Valley

water-buffalo-girl / Girl herding, more or less, a pair of mild-mannered water buffalo along rice paddy in Mai Chau Valley by means of a wooden switch

bicycling-mai-chau-valley / Bicycling through Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley. Low traffic makes it a good place for cycling, and bicycles can make their way along most rice paddies.

bicycle-mai-chau-valley / Bicycling through Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley. Low traffic makes it a good place for cycling, and bicycles can make their way along most rice paddies.

woman-basket-mai-chau-valley / Woman with basket in Mau Chau Valley

vietnamese-children-mai-chau / Vietnamese children near the rice paddies of Mau Chau Valley

vietnamese-children-running / Vietnamese children running in the Mau Chau Valley

mechanical-water-buffalo / Mechanical water buffalo used to plow a rice field in Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley

mai-chau-girl-wheelchair / Girl in Vietnam's Mai Chau valley on wheelchair, used by her mother, who is crippled because of malformed knees

mai-chau-boy-scarf / Boy in Mai Chau Valley who's selling a scarf, which could also be used as a table runner, on behalf of his mother. The cost is about three U.S. dollars.

mai-chau-boy / Boy in Mai Chau Valley

rice-paddies / Rice paddies, intentionally flooded arable land that takes about three or four months to grow rice, in Mai Chau Valley

vietnamese-mother-and-children / Vietnamese mother and children at edge of rice paddy in Mai Chau Valley

man-with-rake-mai-chau / Man with rake on rice paddy in Mau Chau Valley

men-working-rice-fields / Men working in rice fields, or paddies, in Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley

woman-rice-paddies / Woman working in flooded arable land used for rice paddies in Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley

women-rice-paddies / Women working in intentionally-flooded arable land used for rice paddies in Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley

ducks-ducklings / Ducks and ducklings alongside rice paddies in Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley

mai-chau-rice-paddies / Women planting rice sprouts in intentionally-flooded arable land used for rice paddies in Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley

planting-rice / Planting rice in Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley. In some areas, rice is planted densely, and manually separated as it grows, making for terrificly repetitive work

human-water-buffalo / Human water buffalo plowing rice paddy in Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley. Plowing is necessary to eliminate weeds that could otherwise grow in the flooded field.

planting-rice-paddy / Planting rice in Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley. In some areas, rice is planted densely, and manually separated as it grows, making for terrificly repetitive work

water-buffalo-plowing / Water buffalo plowing

mai-chau-cafe / A cafe selling cold beer, Bia Hoi, overlooking the rice paddies in Mai Chau Valley

mai-chau-thai-dancing / Be warned, or possibly excited: Your hotel may organize an hour-long traditional Thai dance after your dinner

mai-chau-valley-fog / Fog shrouds morning over the rice paddies in Vietnam's Mai Chau Valley

green-hmong-village / Village inhabited by Vietnam's Green Hmong ethnic minority group, about an hour's drive from Mai Chau

naked-vietnamese-villager / Naked Vietnamese villager, part of the Green Hmong ethnic minority group, in rural village

green-hmong-pair-girls / Pair of two girls, part of Vietnam's Green Hmong ethnic minority group, in rural village

green-hmong-girls / Three girls, part of Vietnam's Green Hmong ethnic minority group

green-hmong-boys / Two boys, one more shy than the other, part of Vietnam's Green Hmong ethnic minority group, in rural village

beehives / Beehives in rural Vietnam village

green-hmong-boy / Boy with traditional knit clothing, part of Vietnam's Green Hmong ethnic minority group, in rural village

green-hmong-girl-washing / Girl washing linens at community bathroom and water source, in rural village inhabited by members of Vietnam's Green Hmong ethnic minority group

green-hmong-girl-village / Girl in rural village inhabited by members of Vietnam's Green Hmong ethnic minority group

green-hmong-sewing / Youths in village inhabited by members of Vietnam's Green Hmong ethnic minority group sewing patterns onto cloth, presumably for resale

vietnam-road-safety-lessons / Lessons in road safety, overloaded trucks, and mountain roads, Vietnam-style.

long-bien-bridge-hanoi / Mile-long Long Bien steel bridge in Hanoi, designed by French architects Dayde and Pille. Opened in 1902 and repeatedly bombed in Vietnam War.

hanoi-city-traffic / View of Hanoi city traffic at sunset

hanoi-slum-garbage / It's not quite a slum, but this part of Hanoi shows how garbage is tossed into the canal leading directly to the nearby Red River

red-river-boats / Boats on the Red River in Hanoi

red-river-hanoi / The sprawling, slow-moving Red River in Hanoi at sunset

long-bien-bridge / Long Bien steel bridge in Hanoi, repeatedly bombed in Vietnam War to sever key North Vietnamese rail links. American POWs were used for repairs.

roadside-melon-market / Roadside Melon Market across the Long Bien bridge from downtown Hanoi

capitalist-boat-entrepreneurs / Vietnam is theoretically a Communist country. But capitalist boat entrepreneurs on Ha Long Bay gladly sell Pepsi, Oreos, Pringles, and more.

floating-supermarkets / Vietnam is theoretically a Communist country. But capitalist boat entrepreneurs on Ha Long Bay operate these floating Oreo-selling supermarkets.

communist-floating-supermarket / Vietnam is theoretically a Communist country. But capitalist boat entrepreneurs on Ha Long Bay operate these floating Oreo-selling supermarkets.

communist-supermarket / Vietnam is theoretically a Communist country. But capitalist boat entrepreneurs on Ha Long Bay operate these floating Oreo-selling supermarkets.

hang-sung-sot-cave / If you go to Ha Long Bay, you can enjoy being herded through the Hang Sung Sot cave, along with tens of thousands of tourists who will visit the same day

hang-sung-sot-cave-opening / Opening at the top of the Hang Sung Sot cave, a remarkable sight but plagued with hordes of tourists.

hang-sung-sot-opening / Opening at the top of the Hang Sung Sot cave, a remarkable sight but plagued with hordes of tourists.

halong-bay / Halong Bay, a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site, marred by the congestion of too many junks, or boats

ha-long-bay / Ha Long Bay, a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site, marred by the congestion of too many junks, or boats

hang-sung-sot-cave-entrance / Entrance to the Hang Sung Sot cave in Ha Long Bay, a remarkable sight but plagued with hordes of tourists.

victory-junk / 'Victory' junk on Ha Long Bay, operated by Bai Tho Tourism

halong-bay-boy-shells / Boy and his sister selling shells in Ha Long Bay. Warning: He has anger-control problems if you shop but don't buy.

ha-long-bay-boat / Boy and his sister selling shells in Ha Long Bay

ha-long-bay-floating-village / Floating village in Ha Long Bay, home to local fisherman. About 1,600 live in the entire bay.

ha-long-bay-tourist-beach / Your Ha Long Bay boat, or junk, will end up at this beach, which features a path to the top of the rock. Unfortunately, everyone else has the same idea.

halong-bay-night / Halong Bay at night. All boats are anchored nearby, so police can more easily patrol to stop thieves from boarding after dark.

ha-long-city-beach / Ha Long City beach, which is becoming an increasingly popular, and crowded, tourist destination

rest-stop-road-to-halong-bay / On the way from Hanoi to Halong Bay you'll see rest stops that feature handicrafts by the handicapped. It's a charity project, though with sky-high prices.

rice-paddy-cemetaries / Never say Vietnam doesn't respect property rights: Some rice farmers want to be buried in a small, above-ground tomb in a family plot on their own field

chickens-on-motorbike / These live chickens are somehow strapped to the back of a motorbike. Vietnam offers a growth opportunity for animal rights activists.

chickens-on-motorbike-vietnam / These live chickens are somehow strapped to the back of a motorbike. Vietnam offers a growth opportunity for animal rights activists.

vietnam-pigs-on-truck / Pigs on truck on road from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay

pig-on-motorbike / Pig strapped to motorbike in Vietnam. Water buffalo are also, unbelievably, carried this way. You may not believe it until you see it.

pig-on-motorbike-vietnam / Pig strapped to motorbike in Vietnam. Water buffalo are also, unbelievably, carried this way. You may not believe it until you see it.

vietnamese-road-design-philosophy / Unique Vietnamese road design philosophy: On a divided highway, instead of having the two lanes on one side go in the same direction, they're opposite.

beautiful-unique-vietnamese-sculpture / If you are silly enough not to stop at this Vietnamese sculpture garden on the Hanoi road, you will miss these beautiful, unique objects d'art. They ship internationally.

halong-bay-victory-cruise / Not-exactly-sparse dining room on boat, or junk, called 'Victory' that offers overnight cruises on Ha Long Bay

halong-bay-tourists / If you go to Ha Long Bay, you too can take photos of tourists taking photos of you

halong-bay-harbor / The crowded harbor of the city of Ha Long, which opens onto the equally-crowded waters of Ha Long Bay

halong-bay-crab / Ha Long Bay crab for dinner on the 'Victory' cruise boat, or junk

halong-bay-crab-served / Ha Long Bay crab served for dinner on the 'Victory' cruise boat, or junk

halong-bay-junks / Junks on Ha Long Bay, in theory a surpassingly beautiful area and UNESCO World Heritage Site but in reality overflowing with tourists. All the junks head to this one small beach.

halong-bay-boy / Boy and his sister selling shells in Ha Long Bay. Warning: He has anger-management issues if you shop but don't buy.

dog-meat-restaurant / Cooked dog meat at restaurant in Hanoi. One common dish is 'thit cho hap,' or steamed dog. Other options include grilled dog, or fried dog in lemongrass and chili peppers.