Each day a picture of Vietnam

[giang]

http://vietnamnews.vnanet.vn/2007-11/06/Photos/DLS3.jpg
Elderly women of the Thai ethnic minority sit solemnly at the funeral of Quang Van Xom, a 108-year-old man of Thai ethnic minority from Chieng Ha Commune in the northern province of Son La. The photo, taken by Viet Nam News’ Nguyen Viet Thanh, recently won First Prize in the Photo Essay category at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand ’s 2007 Photojournalism Contest. Thanh was also awarded two other prizes, First Prize in the Feature Photography category and Second Prize in the Daily Life category. Winning photos are exhibited in Bangkok until November 30.

[giang]

http://vietnamnews.vnanet.vn/2007-10/22/Photos/03-Khong-bai.jpg
An exhibition entitled "Ho Chi Minh in Paris" opened in Paris on Saturday. On display are exhibits detailing President Ho Chi Minh’s life in France in 1919, 1920 and 1946. Attendees included Paris Mayor Jean-Pierre Brard and Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Dinh Bin.

AND YOU, DO YOU HAVE PICTURE TO SHARE WITH US ???

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/hmongmarket.jpg

These are women from the Hmong tribe selling cloth at the market.

[doman]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a181/mabu98/otofun/tu%20le%201/IMG_9668.jpg

[admin]

Dear Doman, nice picture. But ummm, comments, please ?

[admin]

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/2007-11/07/Photos/23-Rua-ho-Guom1.jpg
One of Hoan Kiem Lake’s famous turtles emerged from the depths to sun itself on Monday, drawing an audience of hundreds. At about 1.5m in length, with two deep slots in its shell, the turtle’s species is yet to be identified. According to turtle researcher professor Ha Dinh Duc there are around eight species of turtles living in the lake including the unique Hoan Kiem turtle.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/1844146628_faa7942d3d.jpg
River harbor near Ha Tien. Photo by Giang.

[Khatores]

Dear Doman, nice picture. But ummm, comments, please ?
It's a field with a mountain. Not much more to say. :p Nice picture, but self-explanatory IMO.

[nb]

yes it appears to be a mountain, but how can you be so sure. perhaps it's actually a clan of ninja's disguised as a mountain, and this shot was taken just moments before they attacked a village of pirates!!!

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2284/1843325687_87c8c3d906_m.jpg
It seems every house in the Mekong Delta has a road in front and some form of water behind, and there are a lot more boats than cars or moto. This woman just rowed her daughter with her bike across from their house to go to school. Notice she is paddling while squatting in the stern of her little boat. Incredible balance, eh? Photo by Giang.

[Khatores]

yes it appears to be a mountain, but how can you be so sure. perhaps it's actually a clan of ninja's disguised as a mountain, and this shot was taken just moments before they attacked a village of pirates!!!
Yep...I can see how you might see it that way. Or, it could be a giant hill of peas, or a gigantic green turkey... :p

[nb]

pft, now your just being silly :)

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2088/2019363421_a09dddb67e_b.jpg

Back porch of a Mekong delta home.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2214/2019369337_84607dc10a_b.jpg
The smallest ferry in the Mekong Delta. This one is actually just a temporary one, operated by the locals while their little bridge was being repaired.

Check out Giang's effort to cross with my moto in this youtube link. Sorry for the sideways orientation.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=X4nt3jNqSKw

[nb]

with a ride like that you should have just done an evil knievel and jumped the water. how did you manage to drop it btw? looked like the front wheel gave-out on the wet wood?

[bschuess]

Don't know how it happened, but it explains why I took Giang up on his offer to ferry my bike across. I would have ended up in the water.

I like the Evel Knievel idea. Actually crossing some of their narrow footbridges was about as scary as jumping them.

[nb]

was that just a bike you hired, or your own actual ride? couldn't imagine you shipping a bike over, but i didn't think they had bikes over there that appear to be in as good a condition as what that bike seemed to be, or that big an engine.

[bschuess]

Wish I had a bike here. There are quite a few bikes available in Vietnam. We couldn't find any to rent, but there were used ones for sales pretty reasonably. Giang found a dealer who would sell us bikes and then agree to buy them back less $10 per day use fee. The sale price was $1200-1400 USD for the bikes in the picture. The were 150cc with about 20,000 miles. The same shop also had a Rebel and an old Harley Shadow.

The Rebel sold in the week we were away from the shop.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2348/2011812365_0f944b1706.jpg

Incredibly large rice fields around nightfall. Picture by Giang.

[nb]

sounds like a good deal, as long as it's kept and you can afford to outlay that kind of money on someone's word. what keeps happening to these 'flickr' images disappearing, or is it just on my end something is going wrong?

[Khatores]

I wonder how long it would take to ride a motorcycle, or a bicycle across Vietnam? Start at Minh Hai and go all the way to Cao Bang, or the other way around. Or, maybe you could circle it...go up one side and down the other and come back to where you started.

Is that a common thing to do? VN is small enough to be able to take trips in, but long enough to make it interesting.

[bschuess]

If I was going to do it on a bicycle, I think I'd rather start at the sea in Central Vietnam and ride to the border. That would keep it in the 50 miles or less range.

The roads are pretty bad now. I was amazed at how long VN is from north to south. I think HCM City is as close to Manila as it is to Hanoi. The train between the two cities takes 2 days. On a motorcycle, the trip you described would easily take a week to 10 days, but what a waste to stay on the main highways.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/2012611006_13a9068c25_b.jpg

The new bridge being built at My Tho over one of the main branches off the Mekong River taken from the ferry that it will be replacing. This is not the bridge that suffered the recent accident at Can tho. Currently there is only one such bridge functioning...at Vinh Long. These bridges will really facilitate transportation in the Delta and stimulate the economy. An awful lot of the transportation now is still by water. It will be interesting if traditional institutions like the water markets will survive. The boat in the foreground appears to be scooping up the floating hyacinth plants, but I'm not sure.

[bschuess]

sounds like a good deal, as long as it's kept and you can afford to outlay that kind of money on someone's word. what keeps happening to these 'flickr' images disappearing, or is it just on my end something is going wrong?

Re the pictures, I erased a couple images on flickr after posting them on VIEX. If that's it, my bad, and won't do again.

Re the risk of the deal, we did have control of the titles, but also, I have found a lot integrity in Vietnam. Ok, truth be told, here's the real picture of the motorcycle.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/2019361535_29163676ba_m.jpg

That doesn't mean you don't watch out for pickpockets, but the general level of honesty is quite high.

We might want to move this to a different forum if people want to continue the discussion.

There was a reference in another forum about the morality of charging foreigners a higher price than Vietnamese.

1) Commerce in VN is based heavily on bargaining. Foreigners, including myself, don't like to or know how to bargain. As a result we pay higher prices.

2) Foreigners are a lot better off than Vietnamese, many, many of whom are very poor. So think of it as a progressive income tax.

3) If gouging of foreigners does exist, Vietnam certainly didn't invent the concept, but in general I find the Vietnamese people to be extremely friendly and helpful and tolerant.

[Khatores]

This is not the bridge that suffered the recent accident at Can tho.
What was the recent accident? That sounds ominous.

[bschuess]

What was the recent accident? That sounds ominous.

The accident was at the end of September. There were some posts on VIEX at the time that I can't find now. Here's one link

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/photo/26092007/24/photo/photos-n-world-general-view-collapse-tho-bridge.html

Interestingly, I never saw the story in the US news, but I did learn about Hoang Thuy Linh. Oh well.

[Khatores]

Wow...that's bad, but it could have been even worse if there were traffic on the bridge at the time.

Generally speaking, what is the rate of accidents in VN? For example, structural and large aircraft accidents in the US are very rare, but car accidents are more common than they should be, mostly caused by people who are doing too many things at once while driving, or are in a hurry. We also have some old people who have heart attacks and plow into crowds of people at farmers' markets.

[bschuess]

All I know is that the accident rate is down since I left town.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2077/2038499749_62cfc687a8_b.jpg

Sunset on the beach at Rac Gia just prior to a rainstorm. Photo by Giang

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2230/2012600858_4add20642f_b.jpg

Mmmmmmmmm. Nothing like a big bowl of black scorpions to get your day started. These were for sale in the market in the Mekong Delta. Can anyone tell me if these are really eaten...and how?

Not knowing how to eat it, I offered a kiss, but got the same reaction I often get.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2331/1843318027_f03bee8e5e.jpg

[nb]

they still let people that old walk the streets??? wow. :D

so did you get it's phone number, or are you one of THOSE guys?

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2231/1843887072_7f4c901d17_b.jpg

Rural family in the Mekong rice fields. These people are tenant laborers. By my understanding, they live in houses in the fields that they don't own and are available to work in the fields during planting and harvest. In between, the men may seek labor elsewhere
...construction, xe om, etc.

Not a peace sign in the bunch!!!!!

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2309/1843886444_361421f9ea_b.jpg
These are the fronts of the rice laborers homes. They are partly on stilts over the paddies.

[bschuess]

These are the backs of the same houses.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2010/1628845275_eaa837344d_b.jpg

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2238/1629558498_c0af1e053a_b.jpg

Basket peddler.....er pedlar

[camly]

sounds like a good deal, as long as it's kept and you can afford to outlay that kind of money on someone's word. what keeps happening to these 'flickr' images disappearing, or is it just on my end something is going wrong?
Good thought! I think VIEX should have a place to upload images on its server for posting.

[bschuess]

Here are some pictures from my "homestay" last December. This family had added to their home to accommodate visitors, so it wasn't quite as rustic or interesting as a farm stay, but it was pretty cool anyway.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2173/2054146968_a0dba4f6a3.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2344/2054147764_da6d218259_m.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2254/2054152674_56478f7826.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2236/2054149656_701d44b1a9.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2137/2054153606_98563e6efb.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2407/2054150724_efc70fd504.jpg

I got to know this family a little and fit into their lives as much as I wanted, but also to observe the river based life styles of all the neighbors...fishing, going to market, washing clothes and bathing in the river, etc. I read that some of the more rustic homestays include a morning bath in the Mekong.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2377/2054154434_72608611d4_b.jpg

This boat on a channel of the Mekong River near Vinh Long is loaded with rice husks or hulls, the inedible shell of the rice grain that is removed by milling. The hulls are burned fuel are headed for a brick factory. They can also be used in pet food or as an insulating compound in construction among other uses. The ash that results from the burning is also used in the production of cement or as a fertilizer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_hulls


Notice the eyes painted on the bow. This is a popular tradition.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2399/2053362681_58ced19e61_b.jpgFish drying in the market at Vinh Long.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2137/2054153606_98563e6efb_b.jpgDad or Grandpa takes Junior to school past my homestay. Notice the life vest on the kid. Apparently this is not the norm since drowning is a pretty common cause of death for kids in VN. A lot of kids drown on their way to school when boats and ferries sink.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2322/2053357489_468a2772c8_b.jpg

[Khatores]

That looks like beef in the middle, chicken or duck on the right...what's on the left? Is that squid?

[bschuess]

I'm often not sure what I'm looking at in Vietnamese markets, but the picture looks like tripe....cow stomach. And the right looks like it might be organs, but I'm not sure. Can any of our Viet friends help us?

[giang]

http://www.quehuong.org.vn/en/nr061129085334/nr061129145550/nr061218150132/cho-cai-rang.jpg
Cai Rang floating market before the New Year

[giang]

http://www.quehuong.org.vn/en/nr061129085334/nr061129145550/nr061218150132/c5-3.jpg
Garlic harvest, at Binh Thuan province

[giang]

I'm often not sure what I'm looking at in Vietnamese markets, but the picture looks like tripe....cow stomach. And the right looks like it might be organs, but I'm not sure. Can any of our Viet friends help us?
Yeap, you are right, anh Bob!

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2170/2054145126_f8c4e92604_b.jpgI couldn't believe how many varieties of rice were offered for sale in the markets...by country, region, grain size, etc, etc, etc.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2340/2053357259_da0d045301.jpg?v=0


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2211/2053357015_aca7ad8bbe_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2242/2054141474_cfe3088532.jpg?v=0

[giang]

Excellent photo, thank you so much. Giang

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2172/1844150542_d9b31220f4_b.jpg

Typical road in rural Mekong delta area. In many places, the roads are simply the tops of dikes that contain the rice fields. There are also some small footpaths through the fields, as well as a lot of walking barefoot through the paddies.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2140/1843317291_0f0699a376_b.jpg

A restaurant located around a fish pond.

[tibertiger]

how pretty this is! what part of the country were these taken?

[bschuess]

how pretty this is! what part of the country were these taken?

It's in An Giang province, in the Mekong delta near the Cambodian border.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2179/1514331287_3af3ace716_o.jpg

Class picture at the University in Hanoi.
1) How come I never had a class where I was the only guy?
2) What's with the backhanded peace sign at the front right? Never saw that one before.

[Khatores]

What happened to giấy vệ sinh cái đầu on the right? Mặt trái, Anh! :p

[bschuess]

She had an accident on her motor scooter the previous day...no helmet apparently.

[Khatores]

She had an accident on her motor scooter the previous day...no helmet apparently.
Oh...I thought it was a guy. She has short hair and it's hard to see. Anyway, someone did a messy job on the bandaging.

Why doesn't anyone there wear helmets while hurtling around on motorcycles? I guess it's the same reason they didn't wear đai lưng buộc vào chỗ ngồi on Star Trek: it's not in the plot.

[bschuess]

Helmet usage varies a lot by locale. I saw more in the Mekong than in HCM city, for example. But starting this month it's a new national law. It will be interesting to see if it's enforced.

Hey how about a moto-air bag law! http://www.****interesting.com/?p=525

[bschuess]

đai lưng buộc vào chỗ ngồi

OK, you're starting to scare me now.

why not:

Sarah Silverman > Sarah người đàn ông bạc :D

[Khatores]

OK, you're starting to scare me now.
đai lưng buộc vào chỗ ngồi is what is says in the dictionary for "seat belt". It does seem unnecessarily long, though. Maybe it's the technical term - like "anti-collision seat restraint system" or something. :p

Hey how about a moto-air bag law! http://www.****interesting.com/?p=525
That's pretty cool. An added benefit is that if you get thrown into the water, you have about 4-5 seconds of float time. I've also seen motorcycle clothing that has kevlar embedded in common impact points. The neck is really an area that hasn't been well-protected, though...the airbag suit would seem to do that.

[Khatores]

Actually, considering the dynamics of risk compensation (http://www.****interesting.com/?p=494), maybe everyone is actually safer if they're not all wearing helmets. Are people going to go faster and more often run over pedestrians if they have protective headgear on?

điên bản tính con người... :confused:

[ChubbyChocobobo]

điên bản tính con người... :confused:

Điên là bản chất của con người.

[Khatores]

Now I have forgotten what I was trying to say. What does the edited version say? Something about human nature...

[bschuess]

Now I have forgotten what I was trying to say. What does the edited version say? Something about human nature...

I have the same problem. That's why I post bilingually, so they can tell what I am trying to say in my Vietbabble. I hope you don't object to the corrections. I assume you, like me, want to see how it's working.

[Khatores]

I have the same problem. That's why I post bilingually, so they can tell what I am trying to say in my Vietbabble. I hope you don't object to the corrections. I assume you, like me, want to see how it's working.Indeed...though it appears that another reason for that would be so that I know what was trying to say later. lol

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2370/2080668215_837ce61e95_b.jpg

Each temple (usually referred to as pagoda by Vietnamese) has these incense receptacles in front of multiple altars. People buy the sticks from the pagoda, light them, bow slightly several times while praying, and leave the sticks in the urns as you see.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2071/2081453472_60f2318696_b.jpg

[giang]

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/xetho.jpg

The corner of xe ôm (motorbike taxi), or also called "xe thồ". It's in front of a small market in Dalat. You can see that most of the xe ôm wear helmet. Vietnamese government has just made a decision that all motorbike raiders have to wear helmet. Photo by Giang

[doman]

Hehe ! "Xe thồ" sounded too raw. In Northern, "xe thồ" called transported means transport goods or animals...but not "thồ" human.
In Thanh Hóa they have "xe lai" (bike taxi)... we called it "xe đạp ôm".:D
It's a very funny kind of Taxi !

[giang]

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/trung.jpg
People sell eggs in the street by a "gánh". Why are the egg colors different?

[Khatores]

People sell eggs in the street by a "gánh". Why are the egg colors different?

We used to have gà con (chickens) that made nâu (brown) eggs and others that made blue-green ones. There were some others that looked hồng (pink).

Wikipedia says...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_egg#Shell

Egg shell color is caused by pigment deposition during egg formation in the oviduct and can vary according to species and breed, from the more common white or brown to pink or speckled blue-green. In general, chicken breeds with white ear lobes lay white eggs, whereas chickens with red ear lobes lay brown eggs. Although there is no significant link between shell color and nutritional value, there is often a cultural preference for one color over another. For example, in most regions of the United States, chicken eggs are generally white; while in the northeast of that country and in the United Kingdom, they are generally light-brown. In Brazil and Poland, white chicken eggs are generally regarded as industrial, and brown or reddish ones are preferred.

[bschuess]

We used to have gà con (chickens) that made nâu (brown) eggs and others that made blue-green ones. There were some others that looked hồng (pink).



I would question your knowledge of such things, but then I saw the following article. Obviously the abilities must be environment, not hereditary. Did you learn anything useful from the wolves???

Chimps Exhibit Superior Memory, Outshining Humans

By HENRY FOUNTAIN
Published: December 4, 2007
Spend even a little time around chimpanzees, and you begin to realize how intelligent they are. But can they outshine humans in brain power? Most humans would scoff at that.
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/12/03/science/obox190.jpg Chris Gash


But researchers have shown that young chimps outperform adult humans in a memory (http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/test/mental-status-tests/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier) test, a Concentration-like game using numerals on a computer screen.
“We were very surprised to find this,” Tetsuro Matsuzawa of the Primate Research Institute at Kyoto University said. “But it’s a very concrete, simple fact. Young chimps are superior to human adults in a memory task.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/science/04obchim.html

[Khatores]

I would question your knowledge of such things, but then I saw the following article. Obviously the abilities must be environment, not hereditary. Did you learn anything useful from the wolves???

http://www.geocities.com/cornixcornicatur/upload/tongue.jpg

:p

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/streetvendor.jpg

[Khatores]

I have this picture as the wallpaper on one machine. I like it because there's so much going on, and it catches many people looking at different things at the same time. It is taken from the perspective of what looks like people in boats selling vegetables. Rather than looking at them from the perspective of someone standing up though, it's taken from their angle. What are all of these people there for? Maybe the two women in the hats are selling food. The young kid is looking at something (maybe a boat)? The other people in the distance seem to be looking over food or something to buy.

[giang]

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/trenduong.jpg
A woman selling cigarettes, chewing gum and candy: an easy-to-find image in streets in Vietnam. What she earns may be enough for herself for one day's food and some candies for her grand-children. Photo taken in front of Dalat bus terminal by Minh Quan's dad.

[bschuess]

I have this picture as the wallpaper on one machine. I like it because there's so much going on, and it catches many people looking at different things at the same time. It is taken from the perspective of what looks like people in boats selling vegetables. Rather than looking at them from the perspective of someone standing up though, it's taken from their angle. What are all of these people there for? Maybe the two women in the hats are selling food. The young kid is looking at something (maybe a boat)? The other people in the distance seem to be looking over food or something to buy.

It is a cool picture. The people in the background are in different boats, so this could be a floating market which is a pretty common occurrence in the Mekong. These are the kind of boats I saw being loaded up with produce during my homestay on the islands near Vinh Long.

The boy is standing by the outboard motor and propeller shaft. The motors are real different than outboard motors in the States. The propeller is at the end of a long shaft extending almost horizontally from the motor so it is very shallow in the water and allows for very tight turning. I'll look as see if I have a picture showing one of these boats "on the move".

[Khatores]

The boy is standing by the outboard motor and propeller shaft. The motors are real different than outboard motors in the States. The propeller is at the end of a long shaft extending almost horizontally from the motor so it is very shallow in the water and allows for very tight turning. I'll look as see if I have a picture showing one of these boats "on the move".
I noticed the motor there...but it looks like it may have been built from a tiller engine. The frame also seems to be made mostly of wood with metal on the outside. It's a very interesting way of putting together a very effective engine, probably at very little expense.

Many of these pictures remind me a little of Richard Scary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_scary) illustrations with all of the activity going on.

[bschuess]

Richard Scary is a great analogy!

Yeah, I'm sure cost is a major factor. I'm sure boats are by far the most common vehicle in the Mekong and money is scarce. Most of the boats are very old.

I think the motors and propellers are set up that way for shallow draft and to minimize tangles with the islands of hyacinth floating everywhere.

[bschuess]

Here are some pictures of these boats "in action".

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/2088745113_d68d459b0b.jpg

The above is a little larger version.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2259/2089533554_fdff81f87c.jpg

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/2081449100_1480eb5e06.jpg

[bschuess]

[http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2106/2081445672_89d1a2c302.jpg

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2402/1843066675_253ac9b188.jpg

[nb]

it almost looks safer to just swim across rather than take the bridge.

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/552801513_192006d4d2_b.jpg

For the original (much larger), click here (http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=552801513&size=o&context=photostream). You definitely see a lot more detail.

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/row_boat.jpg
(I took this from a Flickr page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/maapu/2056677617/) but they don't make it easy to direct link)

Why do some people wear the mask over their face, and gloves with long sleeves? Is this to keep mosquitos away, or what? Do men as well as women do it?

I think the great thing here is that I could put on a Viet hat, wear a mask and some clothing like they wear and as long as I am sitting down, maybe they will not know I am not from around there. If anyone asks questions I can just answer "vâng" or "không"...I can sort of blend in to a careless observer. :D:D

[giang]

Heheh You are funny Kha, and the photo is excellent. Now it's my turn

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/dalat.jpg

Look that the houses. They are built on a hill. The image is typically Dalat's.

[bschuess]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/row_boat.jpg
(I took this from a Flickr page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/maapu/2056677617/) but they don't make it easy to direct link)

Why do some people wear the mask over their face, and gloves with long sleeves? Is this to keep mosquitos away, or what? Do men as well as women do it?

I think the great thing here is that I could put on a Viet hat, wear a mask and some clothing like they wear and as long as I am sitting down, maybe they will not know I am not from around there. If anyone asks questions I can just answer "vâng" or "không"...I can sort of blend in to a careless observer. :D:D

Did you also notice the long gloves are fingerless?

As for your disguise, I can see you in a girl's ao dai already. Help. Police!

You know I think we could start a company to decorate the masks with smiling faces or funny teeth or something, just to make them more interesting.

http://www.outdoorkids.com/images/products/PAAAAAOBMMPBAPDP.jpg

[Khatores]

Did you also notice the long gloves are fingerless?
I wasn't sure if I could see fingers at the end or not. I'm still trying to figure out why you'd wear a mask while rowing a boat though. :confused:

[Khatores]

Look that the houses. They are built on a hill. The image is typically Dalat's.
That's interesting how some of the houses are built so high, and others are one or two stories, but they're all jumbled next to each other. Some of the high ones are so narrow, it looks kind of scary. :eek:

[giang]

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/dame.jpg

For a long period in the past, this was one of the most expensive and beautiful motorbike. It called "xe cúp 78". Photo by Giang (Da lat, 2007)

[bschuess]

No wonder. Look, there is seating for the whole family!!!!
Is that also a child seat on the front, or a basket for objects?

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/viethouse.jpg

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/aodai.jpg

[doman]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2091/1686282426_1ffaa3ab37.jpg
Guess what he's doing ? Smokes Thuốc lào !:D

[doman]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/1655657617_95fda90135.jpg
He is tired of keeping his son's luxury motobike in a corner street of Hanoi !

[doman]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2268/1565241351_353a102266.jpg

Mobi mart !

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2091/1686282426_1ffaa3ab37.jpg
Guess what he's doing ? Smokes Thuốc lào !:D

It looks like he is preparing to cook his fingertips.

[Khatores]

Guess what he's doing ? Smokes Thuốc lào !:D
Ok, I was kind of thinking "thuốc lào" might mean something else, but then I looked it up. :p

[doman]

Ok, I was kind of thinking "thuốc lào" might mean something else, but then I looked it up. :p

"Thuốc lào" means Tobaco from Laos ! Why ? I don't know too. I am not sure that in Laos they grow that kind of tobaco or they don't. But don't make mistake with "hắc lào", a skin disease. I guess it's your "something else", Khatores !:D:p

[Khatores]

"Thuốc lào" means Tobaco from Laos ! Why ? I don't know too. I am not sure that in Laos they grow that kind of tobaco or they don't. But don't make mistake with "hắc lào", a skin disease. I guess it's your "something else", Khatores !:D:p
Nope...far from it. Usually here when you see people smoking something out of a giant pipe, it's marijuana. In some places there are stores that sell "hookahs" (Middle Eastern water pipe systems) which are in fact bong shops (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bong), which is to say, they are selling the equipment to smoke pot. As long as they say they are a "hookah store" or whatever, and don't advertise that the equipment, rolling papers, measuring devices, storage boxes, etc can be used for marijuana, the police can't do anything about it. They always say "tobacco" instead...but everyone knows what it really means.

Our drug laws in the US are screwed up and totally ineffective, and some of them should probably be repealed. That's another thread, though. :)

[Khatores]

A picture of a family with their pair of oxen was posted earlier in this thread. I don't know if this is true for all oxen or not, but this particular one seems to have some interesting geometry as seen from the side. I just thought I would point this out, if no one else noticed. There is a line from the forehead to the snout, then another line made by the horns. There is yet another line made by the shoulders. Each line seems to be about 15 degrees apart.

The ox can change the angle between its horns and shoulders, probably between 0 degrees (or less) to as much as 90 degrees or more. However, the angle between the horns and the forehead-to-nose cannot change, unless the horns are removed. One could draw yet another line from the top of the tailbone to the middle of the spine (which is a more shallow angle) and probably another in the other direction.

Apparently, oxen are very geometric.



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/geometric_ox_lines.jpg

[giang]

This is a really interesting thread. When I created the thread, I did not think that it will give me very enjoyful moments when seeing the posted pictures. Thanks friends.

Now it's my turn. This is what we call "than tổ ong" (beehive charcoal) made from "than bùn" (peat). People will put each piece into a "lò" (right side, orange color) for cooking. It can stand one or two hours with strong fire.

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/than.jpg

[bschuess]

Apparently, oxen are very geometric.



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/geometric_ox_lines.jpg

Khatores, have you been hitting on the old "Thuốc lào" again!!!!!

[Khatores]

Khatores, have you been hitting on the old "Thuốc lào" again!!!!!
:p:p

No, I just noticed that when the picture first went up, and ever since then, I keep looking back at it and thinking...wow...that ox's geometry looks just like a goat. We used to have goats, and they had a similar 15-degree separation at head, horns and shoulders.

Our cows don't look the same in the US. Generally the horns go out, not back and don't have the "edge" to them like this. So, it's more difficult to see.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2110/2109147079_218de1e80b_b.jpg

Charcoal is sold in other forms too. This is a charcoal seller in the market at Ha Tien. This charcoal is actually in the shape of branches and twigs. Charcoal is made by heating wood in the absence of oxygen, to remove the water. I probably couldn't do it, but I witnessed it being done in North Africa many years ago. The janitors at my school start a fire with branches and then kept shoveling sand onto it to stifle the flames, uncovering it periodically to keep enough combustion going to maintain heat.

[Khatores]

I spy what looks like a more substantial motorcycle helmet behind the head of the lady in purple. At least, it encloses the entire head...and they're fairly uncomfortable, so I don't know why anyone would wear one of those unless it were real.

[bschuess]

I spy what looks like a more substantial motorcycle helmet behind the head of the lady in purple. At least, it encloses the entire head...and they're fairly uncomfortable, so I don't know why anyone would wear one of those unless it were real.

You've got to believe us, the plastic shell is cheesy and there's literally no good padding inside. It's the old story, that the person buying it thinks it looks safe, so they put up with the discomfort, but it isn't nearly as protective as they think. I'm sure it's better than nothing however.

[Khatores]

You've got to believe us, the plastic shell is cheesy and there's literally no good padding inside. It's the old story, that the person buying it thinks it looks safe, so they put up with the discomfort, but it isn't nearly as protective as they think. I'm sure it's better than nothing however.
Is it like that for all of them? Surely there are some good helmets available in Vietnam.

Despite what I said before about not needing a $400 helmet...if I ever go, of course I'm going to completely contradict myself and go overboard on the protection. lol The downside though is that it's best to replace them every few years...so it's not like you can buy one for life or anything.

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/boat_to_mekong_small.jpg

This is a really interesting picture...it looks like there's various ages of people, all doing different things (shopping, carrying a bicycle, etc) in one boat together, going across a river. The small amount of like also makes it look kind of spooky. These passenger ferries might be very common in Vietnam, and a convenient alternative to bridges if there are none in the area.

These types of rides would probably be a lot more interesting if people would talk to strangers - there seems to be something about mass transit that causes people to be shy and quiet. I've seen videos of subways where various performers will do something...dance, do a magic show, etc. Maybe that type of thing helps to get people to be a little more friendly.

[giang]

this is the first picture on helmet campaign. Photo by Giang on December 16th, 2007 at district 1, HCM City.

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/nonbaohiem.jpg

[Khatores]

Hopefully at least some of those helmets are actually functional. I've seen some with built-in air vents and even small cooling systems...maybe that would be helpful for very warm climates.

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/movingaboat.jpg

[bschuess]

this is the first picture on helmet campaign. Photo by Giang on December 16th, 2007 at district 1, HCM City.

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/nonbaohiem.jpg
I hear that the helmet stores were very busy with people waiting in line ("on line" if you live in England) on the 15th. You know, when you visit VN, you don't really notice a major police presence, but I guess they are there and the people believed they would enforce the law.

[bschuess]

A mosque in the Mekong delta. Islam is less common in Vietnam than in Malaysia or Indonesia, but it has a presence. One of the oft-recommended cheap meals in HCM city is a curry lunch in the mosque there.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/1843059027_1c79e7908e_b.jpg

[Khatores]

I hear that the helmet stores were very busy with people waiting in line ("on line" if you live in England) on the 15th. You know, when you visit VN, you don't really notice a major police presence, but I guess they are there and the people believed they would enforce the law.
You might not see them easily if they're on motorcycles. In the US, our motorcycle cops typically wait in the shadows until it's time to strike. They also tend to write more tickets than their counterparts in the cars. :(

A mosque in the Mekong delta. Islam is less common in Vietnam than in Malaysia or Indonesia, but it has a presence. One of the oft-recommended cheap meals in HCM city is a curry lunch in the mosque there.
Wow...talk about a change of pace. From Vietnamese to Indian food! :eek:

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/lady_of_lit.jpg


This seems to be the "temple of literature" which is an old school or library, but I don't entirely understand its history, although it seems to be very popular and is a common place to get married.

[bschuess]

This seems to be the "temple of literature" which is an old school or library, but I don't entirely understand its history, although it seems to be very popular and is a common place to get married.

Looks like a door to me.

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/1515550288_a380d1726e_o.jpg

In advance of their wedding day, couples in Vietnam put on their wedding clothes and go to a public park or garden for pictures. This couple, accompanied by a photographer and crew, were at the Ethnographic Museum in Hanoi with several other couples the day I was there. This practice is common is other Asian countries as well and I see Asian couples at the Botanic Garden in Chicago throughout the summer.

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/soldier-1.jpg

This is a soldier in the Vietnamese military. I don't know what branch or rank he might be, but it is an interesting picture as I haven't seen Viet military uniforms before.

[giang]

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/dinky.jpg

A Chinese style noodle restaurant. Photo by Giang in Dalat

[bschuess]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/soldier-1.jpg

This is a soldier in the Vietnamese military. I don't know what branch or rank he might be, but it is an interesting picture as I haven't seen Viet military uniforms before.

Here's another view. University students of both sexes are expected to complete military training for a couple weeks, usually during the summer between first and second years.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2047/2122413641_04cf50318c_o.jpg

[Khatores]

Here's another view. University students of both sexes are expected to complete military training for a couple weeks, usually during the summer between first and second years.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2047/2122413641_04cf50318c_o.jpg
Those are some very attractive soldiers. :)

Actually, I think something like this might benefit students in the US. They're way too spoiled.

[bschuess]

Communal house (nhà rông) of the người Ba Na of the Central Highlands. This replica house is on the grounds of the Ethnology Museum in Hanoi.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2140/2124192650_6432e8f4f2.jpg

[Khatores]

That's quite an impressive structure. It would be interesting to learn how they were originally able to build and set the roof at such a high angle without using a crane.

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/funny_kids.jpg

Some kids and what may be their motorcycle. The kid on the right has the slang term "hip hop" on his hat, although I have no idea why it would be on a hat.

[bschuess]

Interior view of Nhà rông (previous post).
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2117/2123418881_4c3bb1dde9.jpg

The front stairs.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2135/2124192502_7f10aed025.jpg

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/school2.jpg

[bschuess]

These souvenir plates were available for sale near Danang. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the Buddha, the Virgin Mary and Child, and Uncle Ho. The only thing missing was John F Kennedy.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2065/2128017272_9b5cbc0c8f_b.jpg

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2120/2128012080_3b88783a5f.jpg

South of Danang, on the way to Hoi An, are the "Marble mountains". The town is known for carving statuary in marble. You can climb several hundred steps for some beautiful views, a temple in a huge cave, and other worship sites. I'll post some of these on following days.

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/washingthedog.jpg

[bschuess]

The water is so silty, I am always amazed that things like dogs and motorcycles and clothes can be washed, but it really works. My only question is, in Khatores picture, is that guy cleaning his dog or preparing dinner.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2168/2129798798_2841a6e706_b.jpg

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/sapa_lady.jpg

On old lady from Sapa. This seems to be the home of many Hmong people and some of them wear black and/or dark blue clothes.

[bschuess]

A photo from Marble Mountain. Actually there are several of these outcroppings called the Marble Mountains. These rocky protrusions rising out of flat fields are typical of the "mountains" of southern Vietnam.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2405/2128012256_b47dd42e01_b.jpg

[Khatores]

What are all of those little white blocks that are on top of many of the roofs? Some are in a square around the edges, and others are arranged in grids. They look like cinderblocks or sacks of rice.

[bschuess]

I think they are sandbags. They are clearly sacks of something, but I doubt they would put their rice on the roof. This town is within a couple hundred meters of the sea in Central Vietnam, so I would guess keeping your roof on is an issue in typhoon season.

When you ride around the Mekong, it's not unusual to see rice spread on a tarp along the road to dry out. Closer to the sea, you'll pass 10's of thousands of tiny shrimp covering half a lane. We also rode past some plant stalks laid out on the road to be "processed" by vehicles driving over them. This may be fine for the buses, but was a little scary on a motorcycle.

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/Hmong_wedding.jpg

This is from the Wikipedia page on Hmong. This is apparently a Hmong wedding; there is a ball-throwing courtship ceremony where the other unmarried males and females in attendance choose who they want to marry. It looks like they're actually using tennis balls.

[bschuess]

Tennis balls seem appropriate. Hopefully the score is love-love.

[bschuess]

Another view in the Marble Mountains

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2222/2127235165_425b31baff_b.jpg

[Khatores]

Does anyone ever climb the Marble Mountains? I tried finding them on Wikipedia, but all that comes up is a formation in California. I wonder if these were created by sediment collecting around the marble formations and producing land, or erosion of an existing marble formation.

Hopefully they don't get many rockfalls off of these. :eek:

[Khatores]

This is a funny facial expression. "What are you looking at?" :D

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/dude_what.jpg
chrome://polarrose/content/images/rose-orange.png

[giang]

Does anyone ever climb the Marble Mountains?

Dear Khatores. Yes I climbed several times and the latest time is about 4 months ago when I was back in Hue for summer vacation. Marbles Mountains are located about 15 km from Da Nang City. It's not high at all. You can climb to its top for 30 min.

[bschuess]

Does anyone ever climb the Marble Mountains? I tried finding them on Wikipedia, but all that comes up is a formation in California. I wonder if these were created by sediment collecting around the marble formations and producing land, or erosion of an existing marble formation.

Hopefully they don't get many rockfalls off of these. :eek:

I think Giang refers to climbing the main mountain which has the stairs I mentioned in the first picture. My guide told me that the Viet Cong used one of the mountains to drop mortar shells on the US base at Danang, but I don't know which. In spite of their being called "mountains", they would be more appropriate for a rock climber.

I wish I knew more about geology, but I'm pretty sure these are not eroded from a large uniform marble formation. Marble is metamorphic limestone and as such is probably extruded in these surprisingly vertical columns or hulks. The surrounding coastal areas are so flat, I assume they are sedimentary - ancient sea bottom perhaps.

Here is the Wikipedia reference you were looking for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Mountains_(Vietnam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Mountains_%28Vietnam))

I don't know about rock slides, but I think the mountains are, or have been, mined for marble for the many
sculptors in the town. There are dozens of shops selling marble sculpture varying in size from desktop miniatures to monumental sculpture at the foot of the mountain. Here are some examples.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2075/2134199289_9075850fc5_b.jpg

[bschuess]

A giant cave inside Marble Mountain contains several temples carved from the "living rock".

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2054/2127237563_038f4d99e8.jpg

All the light inside the cave is natural, coming from openings in the roof.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2121/2135012858_89ce5d3273.jpg

[Khatores]

Dear Khatores. Yes I climbed several times and the latest time is about 4 months ago when I was back in Hue for summer vacation. Marbles Mountains are located about 15 km from Da Nang City. It's not high at all. You can climb to its top for 30 min.
I think Giang refers to climbing the main mountain which has the stairs I mentioned in the first picture.
Ah...I had rock climbing in mind, but I suppose stairs work as well. :)

[bschuess]

In another grotto on Marble Mountain, the "Lady Buddha".

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2196/2127236781_c4247a065f_b.jpg

[bschuess]

UNESCO World Heritage site - Cham ruins at My Son

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2170/2128019966_fa4b6aed45_b.jpg

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2071/2128020796_9bc8bdde4e_b.jpg
Cham art reflect Indian rather than Chinese influences.

[bschuess]

Chùa Cầu Hội An - Pagoda Bridge in Hoi An, also referred to as the Japanese Covered Bridge. This bridge was built in the late 16th century by the Japanese community in Hoi An to link it with the Chinese community across the river. At that time, Hoi An was a major port and trading center in Vietnam.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2026/2127244819_4bda6edcd6_b.jpg

[Khatores]

All of that seems to be remarkably well-preserved...I wonder how much restoration work they've done to it through the years. We have very few old things in this area, as most of it was built very recently. We would consider a house to be "old" if it were built before 1940. Of course, we do have St. Augustine near by, but the old part is very small and I rarely actually see it.

[bschuess]

There has been a fair amount of restoration by Europeans. The U.S. bombed the area during the war.

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/row_your_boat.jpg

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2226/2127245691_094a3883cf_m.jpg

I am told that the dragon is an important symbol in Chinese Buddhism as exemplified by this sculpture from a temple in Hoi An......

But that in the Khmer branch, this symbol is replaced by the cobra, as seen in this Mekong pagoda.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2190/1628676259_bc01b583cf_m.jpg

[Khatores]

Interesting...why a cobra? I wonder what the symbolic significance is.

[Khatores]

Speaking of Buddhism...this seems to be a monk.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/monk.jpg

[giang]

Yes,he is. He is a dreaming monk.

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/mekong_delta_lady.jpg

[Khatores]

This is apparently a well-known stained-glass window which depicts VC/NVA efforts during the war. Note the branches and leaves in the clothing, used for camouflage and the way that some of the people resemble peasants rather than soldiers, which was a successful tactic when waging a guerrilla war.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/windowinthewar.jpg

[Khatores]

For New Year's Eve, I'm posting all of the remaining Hmong pictures I have around. :) For some reason, people seem to only take pictures of the women. Maybe the men don't go out much, or their clothing is not as colorful.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/tribewoman.jpg


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/Sapa_umbrella.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/sister_shh.jpg


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/umbrellagirls.jpg


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/hmongwoman_andkid.jpg


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/hmong_flowers.jpg

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/ox.jpg


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/Black_hmong_women_sapa_vietnam_1999.jpg


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/hmong_kids.jpg


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/viet_christmas2-1.jpg

[bschuess]

Today the women of each subgroup wear distinctive traditional clothing. White Hmong women wear plain, white skirts. The skirts of Blue or Green Hmong women are highly decorated with needlework (http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761565587/Needlework.html). Striped Hmong women wear shirts with blue and black stripes encircling their long sleeves. Differences in men’s clothing are less notable. The traditional Hmong men’s costume consists of a black tunic and black wide-legged trousers. However, many Hmong men have now adopted Western clothing styles. Prior to the 20th century, Asian Hmong women made most of the clothing for their families from hemp (http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761575797/Hemp.html). They made their own dyes from vegetables and other plants and learned numerous needlework techniques to create paj ntaub (flower cloth). http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761587485/Hmong.html

Also, most tourists see Viet minorities in the markets and if the minority markets are anything like the urban markets, most of the participants are women.

These pics are from Hmong festivals in California.

http://www.geocities.com/kaoly_y/picture/Men/groupmen1.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/kaoly_y/picture/Men/men8.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/kaoly_y/picture/Men/men1.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/kaoly_y/picture/Men/men10.jpg

The costumes all seem to emphasize sashes and other adornments that protect what Dave Berry refers to as the crotchular region.

Actually this is a pretty interesting website with lots of pics of Hmong kieu.

http://www.geocities.com/kaoly_y/picture/BeautyMissHmongFresno2007.html

[Khatores]

Thanks! I haven't seen the male Hmong clothing before. The lady at the bottom has an interesting hat on...and an interesting expression.

[Khatores]

HAPPY NEW YEAR! :D

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/viet_sparky_kid.png

[bschuess]

Thanks! I haven't seen the male Hmong clothing before. The lady at the bottom has an interesting hat on...and an interesting expression.

To me the biggest difference between these Hmong kieu and the ones in your pictures is footwear and cool shades.

[Khatores]

To me the biggest difference between these Hmong kieu and the ones in your pictures is footwear and cool shades.
Well...sort of. I was reading some about their clothing and it seems that the ones here often get their fabric from Walmart and glue the hats together. The Hmong in their native country use thick, sturdy fabric and everything, including the headgear, is more wrapped and tied, rather than pinned into place, because they actually wear it on a regular basis.

[Khatores]

Here is a lady eating at a road cafe. I am curious about the keys on the hook in the bottom right-hand corner.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/road_cafe.jpg

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/childvendor.jpg

This kid is apparently working at his parents' vendor stand while they are gone, or he is a very small guy.

[bschuess]

Traditional Vietnamese water puppets.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2173/1515540700_ce0b4b34c1.jpg

The band and singers who accompany the puppet show.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2237/1515535452_9a50ba39e4.jpg

[Khatores]

That water puppet thing is pretty cool. Here's a video (http://youtube.com/watch?v=AftYN3-dbtg)...according to Wikipedia, it's all done with bamboo rods and string, but I'd be really interested to see the mechanisms that are used. The puppets move around pretty quickly; it seems like they would get tangled up easily.

[bschuess]

Here are the puppeteers. It doesn't appear that they wear waders. I hope the water is warm.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/1515542664_867b375da0.jpg

P.S. It's a little interesting for a while but it does drag on.

[Khatores]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/vietgirl_withnonla.jpg

[khiflo]

rạch Hà Nội
mùa thu năm 2003
http://khiflo.free.fr//share/imgforum/1ngay1photo/FloVN_0122c.jpg

[Khatores]

It appears that these bicycles have some sort of sidecar attached to them. Maybe this is an older form of public transportation in Vietnam before there were so many motorcycles everywhere.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/khatores/vietnam/bicycle_sidecar.jpg

[bschuess]

Khatores, these are the famous "cyclo". It is still a very common form of conveyance along with xe om and taxis. If you go for a walk in a major city in Vietnam, you will be constantly pestered by cyclo drivers wanting to return you to your hotel and give you a tour. When I was staying in the old quarter in Hanoi, on more than one occasion a long line of cyclos (20 to 30) on an organized expedition from one of the hotels passed me by, each laden with a tourist snapping pictures of the shops and people.

A couple of good Vietnamese movies you can watch that focus on the lives of cyclo drivers are:

"Cyclo" and "Tres Estaciones" or "The Three Seasons".

[bschuess]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2106/1628731853_8d47c6d269_b.jpg
This cook (mẹ vợ Giang) is preparing bánh xèo for breakfast. Bánh xèo is like a cross between an omelette and a crepe, but based on rice and ground mung beans rather than eggs. The filling may include pork, shrimp, bean sprouts, onion, and mushroom.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2009/1628722907_6720a42ddc_b.jpg

[Khatores]

I really like bánh xèo with shrimp. :D

[bschuess]

The butcher's cart in a small Vietnamese village.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2403/1628738015_adc287d7f7_b.jpg

[bschuess]

The night market in the old quarter of Hanoi involves blocking the street for several blocks and setting up stalls on the pavement. In addition to selling trinkets, clothing, CD's and DVD's, food, etc., other stalls offer diversions. One popular one provides little plaster of Paris figurines and bowls of paint in many colors. This seemed very popular when I visited.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2420/1514428931_96ee5f4f44_o.jpg

[giang]

PAGODA PROTECTOR

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/ongthan.JPG


MEAN OF TRANSPORTATION TO THE SKY
http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/lyon.JPG

[giang]

A CATHOLIC CHURCH NEAR CHAU DOC

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/church.JPG

A STATUE OF BOUDDHA
http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/budhha.JPG

[hieuphan91]

Located next to a hanging bridge that crosses the Chay River, with its romantic landscape Coc Ly is not a normal market but a place for cultural and spiritual activities of local ethnic minority groups as well as a popular tourist attraction.



Like other kermises, Coc Ly market has both local products and those from the plains and China. The market has different areas for selling buffaloes, horses, fruits, house wares and food as well as modern products like photo and dental supplies and services.



In the next several years, Coc Ly market will be only a memory because the current Coc Ly will be inside the Coc Ly reservoir of the Coc Ly hydro-power plant.



VietNamNet’s photographer Le Anh Dung visited the last market-day before Tet of the Coc Ly kermis and capture in photos the finals breaths of this cultural and spiritual tradition.


http://english.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/200801/original/images1488255_1.jpg
On the way to Coc Ly fair



http://english.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/200801/original/images1488257_2.jpg
The hanging bridge next to Coc Ly market


http://english.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/200801/original/images1488259_3.jpg
Colourful cloths - H’Mong girls’ taste



http://english.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/200801/original/images1488267_6.jpg
Photo service


http://english.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/200801/original/images1488269_7.jpg
Girls make up before taking photo


http://english.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/200801/original/images1488281_13.jpg
A pair of glasses priced at VND15,000


[See more here] (http://english.vietnamnet.vn/photogal/2008/01/765832/)

[grubaberta]

ban gai toi me cung la nguoi H'mong.:rolleyes:

[giang]

HEY LET"S POST SOME PICTURES ABOUT TET IN VIETNAM.

Now i am in Hue. I will take pictures of Tet in Hue. How about others: in Ha Noi, in Sai Gon, Da Nang, Can Tho, An Giang ....
Giang

[hieuphan91]

I don't have pictures of Tết in the places you mentioned, Giang. But I have my small city's ones.
Here we go!!!!!!!!! Tết in Hải Dương:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2052/2241219563_40a6a25ac8.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2141/2241219553_717d75e254.jpg
Flower Market in front of Haiduong Trade Centre

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2094/2241219565_10344a54b1.jpg
Tube wine sold in Haiduong

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2215/2241219561_f81d3eb087.jpg
Various households made from porcelain

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2104/2241210777_ce68518fce.jpg
A apricot tree vendor

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2204/2241210781_8231935e1a.jpg
A schoolgirl wearing uniform is helping her mother.
We're still happier than many people :)

[hieuphan91]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2254568348_ea85b97242.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/2254568346_5c3791e233.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2172/2254568344_20086a4c79.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2107/2254568356_def1abb11c.jpg

Tết hết mất rồi :(

[giang]

http://www.vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/bankemdao.png

[hieuphan91]

http://www.vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/bankemdao.png
I'm longing for an ice-cream now :D

In Hải Dương, there are "Bánh mì Sài Gòn - một ngàn một ổ - đặc biệt thơm ngon"!

[giang]

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/bien1.jpg

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/bien2.jpg

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/bien3.jpg

[giang]

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/chotraicay.jpg

Fruit market where you can buy a bunch of tropical fruits. Ask Bob! he will tell you how he enjoyed those fruits. :)

[giang]

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/calon.jpg

A big fish in a fish case in Mekong Delta.

http://vietcourses.net/vietnameseonline/traibau.jpg

A fruit/salad called bầu in Mekong Delta.

[kuuan]

Why do some people wear the mask over their face, and gloves with long sleeves? Is this to keep mosquitos away, or what? Do men as well as women do it?....

It is my first time I am in this beautiful country and I like photography.
So it happened that I uploaded a photo with a Vietnamese lady wearing a face mask, this photo of a woman selling roses on Long Bien bridge in Ha Noi:
h.ttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/2679954372_a4eab33238.jpg
in a photography forum, see: h.ttp://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1024&message=28609430

( since I'd need 30 posts to add links or photos to my post I added a . after the h in the htt...., please remove it to make the address correct and to view )


There i was asked why she wore the mask. I had responded that I believe it is because of pollution, I believe another reason could be protecting the skin against the sun, but I had not given that reason in my answer in the forum.

Now another member there say, quote:
"In regards to the "mask". I was amazed to discover when I was in Asia that due to the close proximity of people living virtually on top of one another they wear these masks basically NOT to protect themselves but do so to not subject their fellow citizens to their germs when they have a cold or some other respiratory ailment. No place else in the world have I encountered the respect for their fellow man like the Orient. Here and most other Western countries it's every man for himself."

Hm..though I am very much pleased to see him having a very high opinion of 'Asia'..I would think that..he has it wrong.

Please be so kind and tell me your view,
unveil the mask...

thank you very much for any input,
Andreas

[admin]

Oh yes. I will help with the picture.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/2679954372_a4eab33238.jpg

[kuuan]

thank admin you for letting show my photo!

[mandyloi]

Well , I'm a Vietnamese actually . But I haven't gone far from my city . It was so cool and kind of you to show us many cute , lovely pics like those . Thanks so much

[kuuan]

I'd love to add more, but I do not have the right to yet.
But you could see some at my flickt page: ( I do not have the right to post a real link either, but I hope the following will suffice to find the page )
flickr.com/photos/kuuan/collections/72157606083073756/

have a joyful day,
kuuan

[mandyloi]

Oh Thanks so much . I saw it really slowly and by you I can know more about my country. Oh I see you very love Vietnam right ? I'm so sad that I can know more about its beautiful views

[Khatores]

I would think the purpose of the face mask is more closely related to the pollution issues and not as a barrier against spreading germs, unless one is actually sick or working around people with weakened immune systems.

[vladokan]

A lot of photos in the gallery. LOL

[Dandor]

How to format nokia 5610 xpress music while code and pressing tech is also not working?
youtube com/watch?v=pqtVpplUYLQ]unlock iphone 3g