Land of Enchantment!

Official trip predestined that the five days in Vietnam were tightly wrenched and overly exhausting. Anyways I tried to assimilate as much as possible from this mystical land of Enchantment.

The journey began 2nd March 2008 10 AM from Singapore on a flight destined towards Ha Noi – the capital of Vietnam with the three of us – me, Aditi(Sleeping and Snoring Piglet) and Arvind on board. The Hotel Intercontinental at Ha Noi was the next stop, nestled in the heart of the city at the banks of West Lake – a legend claims it be formed owing to trampling by a golden buffalo. The sunset at the West Lake was equally mystical.














An idyllic charm enamors your stay in Ha Noi. Onset of spring meant Ha Noi was shrouded in a weather mildly titillating and pleasurably soothing. Dotted with beautiful water bodies and small two storey colourful buildings – this place wafts innocence so pristine that you wonder if you could encase the same, wrap it tightly away from vulgar stares and carry a part of this unadulterated air.

Work took away most of the two days planned at Ha Noi but still I managed to assimilate some of this untouched air. 4th March 2008 – late evening and Ho Chi Minh City or otherwise formerly known as Saigon - beckoned. The innocence had, alas, evaporated and fallen prey to commercialization.

However, HCMC imprinted on me a sense of mélange – of an era gone by – of history, survival and of an era of change and globalization. Every nook that you glance by you shall find artists having opened shops – drawing melodies on canvases or carving wonders on wood. Perhaps the wars have cultured artists in this nation which welcomes you with a broad smile. Yes, everywhere you look – you shall be greeted with a smile, reminding you that world is a beautiful place.

Coming back to HCMC – weather though not as soothing as Ha Noi – French history of the region is etched in the architecture – especially in the area neighbouring the serpentine Saigon River.












Another factor that strikes you is that this Land of Enchantment is also a Two-Wheeler Country, where driving or riding or even walking on roads requires perhaps a special certification which is in ingrained in every Vietnamese. HCMC is also dotted variedly with cafés catering to the thirsty travelers camping here.

While I enshrine the role of a raconteur – I must touch upon a topic or experience that binds most humans and is in my opinion the only solution to peace on this planet – Food. If you are a strict disciplinarian with respect to the food you eat and refuse to eat anything non-Indian – good news beckons with Tandoor - with branches both in HCMC and Ha Noi. The other saviour for the endangered vegetarians like me was Al Fresco’s with its mouth-watering Italian and Mexican cuisines – weight watchers – leave your watches behind. Finally – such a thing as Vegetarian Vietnamese food exists (thanks largely to the Buddhist population) – even to the surprise of localites. One of the localites(client of ours) said ‘ So all you eat is vegetables?’

Anyways my tongue rolled in ecstasy as I savored joys of culinary delights including – jackfruit rice, rice pan-cakes, fried bean curd ,morning glory soup and yes lotus seed soup. The food amazingly oil free and healthy and yet seeped in joys of life.

On that note – a visit to Vietnam without a whiff of Vietnamese Coffee means having left the place and having not etched Vietnam in your heart. Not for the faint hearted though – the coffee is overly dark and thick and enlivens your senses out of slumber – for perhaps a week. A hint of milk recommended for those whose tongue is likely to burst in to hysteria at such esoteric tastes.

One other factor that surprised me - despite being classified as an economically developing country - was the distinct lack of shanties/slums. Also lacking were the footpath dwellers. May be I am wrong or may be I was presented a parochial view of Vietnam or perhaps socialism has it positives.

7th March 2008 and Singapore beckoned once again. But the Land of Enchantment stamped such unfathomable impressions that my soul yearns to be enmeshed in the pleasures of a sun-rise by the Saigon River or in the idyllic saunter through the streets of Ha Noi. The lady in this picture was too shy to pose for my camera – I shall be back – to capture that million dollar smile.