This photojourney covers a Sierra Club trip I made in the fall of 2017 to North Vietnam, that involved hiking, biking, and kayaking.I found Vietnam and its people to be beautiful and welcoming. The trip certainly had contrasts – busy, chaotic Hanoi and the stunning serenity of ethnic minority villages in the northern mountains. Well-appointed Hanoi hotel to a rustic hotel in a small farming village. Careening down a mountain pass by bicycle, to a walk on a buffalo trail and then paddling through the karst landscape of Ha Long Bay.
Quick Trip itinerary:
1. Three days exploring history, culture, food, and street scenes in Hanoi
2. Four days hiking and biking near Sa Pa, in the Hoàng Liên Son Mountains of northwestern Vietnam. The local population is dominated by Hill tribes, such as the Hmong, Tay and Dao.
3. Six days in the Cat Ba Archipelago, in Ha Long Bay (a UNESCO World Heritage site), filled with limestone karsts, tropical limestone forests, coral reefs, mangrove and sea grass beds, lagoons, beaches, and caves.
1. Three days exploring history, culture, food, and street scenes in Hanoi
2. Four days hiking and biking near Sa Pa, in the Hoàng Liên Son Mountains of northwestern Vietnam. The local population is dominated by Hill tribes, such as the Hmong, Tay and Dao.
3. Six days in the Cat Ba Archipelago, in Ha Long Bay (a UNESCO World Heritage site), filled with limestone karsts, tropical limestone forests, coral reefs, mangrove and sea grass beds, lagoons, beaches, and caves.
Gracious thanks to Francy Rubin, the Sierra Club leader and organizer of this adventure, and Mr. Thang from Win-An Tours who led our local guides.
The gallery is broken into four segments.