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Vietnam - Part 1

2/13/2017

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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!
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Hagia Sofia
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Blue Mosque
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The traditional way of heating charcoal for hookah
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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!
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Bun Moc in Saigon
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Jake and Brandon enjoying the craft brews at Pasteur Street
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View from our balcony apartment in D2 (District 2 where many American and French expats live)
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Sugar cane juice machine, hard at work
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Welcome to Bến Thành Market; so many deals
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Mike and Nick demonstrating the Asian squat
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Outside the Saigon Opera House; The AO show was phenomenal (similar to Cirque shows)
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Walking down an alley in the Go Vap District - the neighborhood where Kim's dad grew up
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[from R to L] Mike, Kim, Anne, and Dan handing out food to those in need in the neighborhood before the holidays.
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Anne picking out the "best" items for tonight's dinner
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Mike--the snake "charmer"; (animals were injured during this trip, as the snake was eaten moments after this photo)
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Anne and Mẹ ("mother" in Vietnamese) sharing coconut water
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[from R to L] Ly, Mẹ, Anne, and Kim outside of Notre Dame cathedral in Saigon
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Spending the afternoon in D3 (the district Mẹ grew up in)
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In front of the apartment complex Mẹ's family lived in
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The actual unit Mẹ lived in - 12 family members somehow crammed into one room!
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Buying French rolls from the smiliest bread salesmen in the world
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Dan and Mike enjoying balut - the delicacy that makes most Westerners squirm
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Jake and Kim backstage with the cast of the AO show
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Making custom suits and Ao Dai (traditional Vietnamese female formalwear); expert tailoring at low cost = real value
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Step 1) Grab a fruit | Step 2) get in the picture and smile! | At a dinner with Mẹ's family & friends
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Mekong River Delta Tour boat
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Ever had a spring roll? This is the process of making the rice paper which serves as the outside wrapping for spring rolls.
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Traditional play performed live by the people who live in the Mekong River Delta area
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Hoàn Kiếm Lake in Hanoi (the capital); it is similar to ancient Chinese traditional reflection ponds
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The night market in Hanoi
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