This temple was built in 1010, dedicated toTaoism, a Chinese philosophy about living inharmony.Famous Vietnamese saying: "Talented andrighteous men are the strength of our country."Mike and our friend Tom Epley had noquarrel with that!Vietnamese women [...]
Photos of US POWs having a dandy timeplaying pool are at odds with numerousaccounts by officers. Current Vietnamesegovernment holds to the view that thesewere criminals, "pirates" and "bandits", whoattacked Vietnam without authority. Theyalso say they [...]
The Cu Chi tunnels are a 75 mile network of interconnecting tunnels under Saigon. Usedby the Viet Cong during the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam war, which they call the "AmericanResistance War". They've opened part [...]
These boats are made of nothing but wovenbamboo, and they power through the surf withONE oar. Amazing.Eyes on the bow ward off evil demons.Results of the catch, immediately for sale.This is as much an art [...]
Weird rubber fact: the price of natural rubber is controlled by the price for unrelated synthetic (petroleum based) rubber, produced since 1932.Natural rubber is made from latex, tapped directly from rubber trees. It looks like Elmer's glue.Each worker taps about 400 [...]
Vietnamese checkers - not sure about the rules,but there seems to be lots of kibitzing.Mike is ready to give up on his career as anelectrician.Martial arts school looks pretty innocent, exceptfor the ginormous sword on [...]
Spring rolls, wrapped in rice paper so thin youcould read through it, and hoisin peanut sauce.Bahn mi, Vietnamese for bread, was introducedduring the French occupation. The French are gone, but the bread remains. Typically, meatfilling, lots [...]
Both women and men wear face masks toprotect their skin from the sun and the effectsof air pollution. Helmet use is now required,but many are very poorly constructed.More than once we saw a rain drape [...]