Category Archives: Daily Life

Hanoi Miscellany

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Matthew Masur

The posted rules at Hoa Lo prison (the “Hanoi Hilton”).  Notice #3. Two gentlemen having a smoke in the Ho Chi Minh Museum.  Notice the sign on the wall. Getting my haircut on the street.  You can see the traffic … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily Life, History | Leave a comment

Historic Sites in Hanoi

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Matthew Masur

During our tour of Hanoi we visited Hoa Lo Prison, better known as the “Hanoi Hilton,” that held American POWs during the Vietnam War.  Before the Vietnam War, the French had used the same facility for incarcerating Vietnamese dissidents. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily Life, Historic sites, History | Leave a comment

Motorbikes

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Matthew Masur

The streets of Vietnam are filled with motorbikes, cars, buses, bicycles, and pedestrians.  The traffic can be very, very intimidating for visitors.  Often the only way to cross a street is to wade into the mass of vehicles and let … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily Life, Transportation | Leave a comment

The Electrical Grid

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Matthew Masur

I’m fascinated by the power lines that run through Vietnam’s cities.  At busy intersections in Ho Chi Minh City the cables form a tangled web. And electrical workers (or perhaps just neighborhood residents) seem perfectly comfortable to climb up the … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily Life | 1 Comment

Chilly in Hanoi

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Matthew Masur

We arrived in Hanoi on Wednesday.  It is cold here, but unlike most of the United States there is no snow.  Everyone is wearing heavy winter clothing: jackets, gloves, earmuffs, hats.

Posted in Daily Life | Leave a comment

Around Hoi An

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Matthew Masur

Cloth lanterns. The town is also subject to flooding.  The chalk marks in this house show the height of the water in 2009 and 2007.  They moved their furniture to the first floor using pulleys. House for sale.  

Posted in Daily Life, History | Leave a comment

Hue

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Matthew Masur

Hue from the airplane The contrast between Saigon and Hue is striking.  In Saigon we had a brief rain shower one evening.  In Hue it was overcast and it rained for much of the day.  It was also quite cold … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily Life, Historic sites, History | 1 Comment

Scenes from Saigon

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Matthew Masur

People’s Committee Building (left) and new office building Downtown street at night Near the city center.  That’s a statue of Ho Chi Minh (from behind) right at the center of the photo.

Posted in Daily Life | 1 Comment

The Can Tho Floating Market

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Matthew Masur

The produce of the Delta were on full display during our boat trip to the floating market.  These boats would pull up right beside us offering fruits, vegetables, and cold drinks.

Posted in Daily Life, Food, Landscape | 1 Comment

Agriculture and Industry in the Mekong Delta

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Matthew Masur

The Mekong Delta is one of the leading rice-producing regions in the world.  Fishing and aquaculture provide a steady supply of fish, snails, shrimp, crabs, and frogs, both for domestic consumption and for export.  And the Delta produces an incredible … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily Life, Landscape | 2 Comments