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We took a break from the blog for a couple of months, but we're back and updating you with what we've been up to the past several weeks! We will post a few entries in the next week (fingers crossed for fast wifi) to give a peek our time in the Asia Pacific region... With the Africa part of our journey over, we headed to Vietnam to see Kim's family, who were meeting us there from the States. As part of our flight itinerary with Turkish Airlines, we had a looooong layover in Istanbul (13ish hours) flying from Tanzania to Saigon. Luckily, for passengers in this situation, Turkish Air offers either a complimentary hotel room or city tour to help kill the time between flights. Since it was Jake's first time in Istanbul, we opted for the city tour and caught sunset in Sultanahmet Square, home to the Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque. Wish we had more time to explore this beautiful, historic city, but I suppose you have to leave something for next time :) Tip: Many airlines in this region and in Asia offer complimentary hotel or city tours if you have an extra long layover. Just check their website or ask the ticket agent!  Hagia Sofia  Blue Mosque  The traditional way of heating charcoal for hookah  This trip to Vietnam is the first time Kim's family has been able to visit the country together. For the Hoang siblings, it was so special to learn more about our parents' lives before they came to the US and to meet some of their family members for the first time. We were blessed to be able to share this visit with them and make new memories with our family and friends who came along! Kim's cousin Duy compiled clips of our visit and made a great short video. Check it out below or click https://youtu.be/aZNrIAS2AzU Our time in Vietnam can be summed up in these six (in order of priority:) 1. Family 2. Food 3. Motorbikes 4. Food 5. Haggling for souvenirs 6. Food Scroll down for some photos and captions of Saigon and Hanoi! 
 Jake and Brandon enjoying the craft brews at Pasteur Street  View from our balcony apartment in D2 (District 2 where many American and French expats live)  Sugar cane juice machine, hard at work  Welcome to Bến Thành Market; so many deals  Mike and Nick demonstrating the Asian squat  Outside the Saigon Opera House; The AO show was phenomenal (similar to Cirque shows)
 Walking down an alley in the Go Vap District - the neighborhood where Kim's dad grew up  [from R to L] Mike, Kim, Anne, and Dan handing out food to those in need in the neighborhood before the holidays.  Anne picking out the "best" items for tonight's dinner  Mike--the snake "charmer"; (animals were injured during this trip, as the snake was eaten moments after this photo)    Anne and Mẹ ("mother" in Vietnamese) sharing coconut water  [from R to L] Ly, Mẹ, Anne, and Kim outside of Notre Dame cathedral in Saigon
 The actual unit Mẹ lived in - 12 family members somehow crammed into one room!
  Jake and Kim backstage with the cast of the AO show    Making custom suits and Ao Dai (traditional Vietnamese female formalwear); expert tailoring at low cost = real value  Step 1) Grab a fruit | Step 2) get in the picture and smile! | At a dinner with Mẹ's family & friends  Mekong River Delta Tour boat   Ever had a spring roll? This is the process of making the rice paper which serves as the outside wrapping for spring rolls.
    Traditional play performed live by the people who live in the Mekong River Delta area  Hoàn Kiếm Lake in Hanoi (the capital); it is similar to ancient Chinese traditional reflection ponds    The night market in Hanoi
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