Go to South Vietnam means crossing the 17th parallel, in this place was the old boundary that divided the country between North and South. Then it was a demilitarized zone, which paradoxically became one of the areas with more military presence in the world during the war that we know as "Vietnam" and here is known as "American", since it has not been only war, unfortunately, this country has suffered. crossed the frontier at night, so we did not see much of the remnants of war that remain in these latitudes. We were sleeping in one of the night buses that style here and instead of seats have three rows of bunk beds. They are quite modern and reasonably comfortable, but beds are tamanho Asian, so if I Cabia Justito I hate to imagine how he would manage the typical Australian six feet. It is clear that physical standards here are different: in elevators, for example, the little sign says maximum load 300kg, 5 people, five !!?... Although for curiosity, entertainment on board our bus, there may be something more surprising to see Rambo dubbed in Vietnamese?
Our first stop was the imperial city of Hue. From here, a whole dynasty of emperors part of the country ruled for almost a century and a half since the early nineteenth century. The old town is walled and kept palaces, royal residences and temples, although affected by the various bombings, retain some of its grandeur. not surprising that today would be elected by newly married couples to take wedding reportage (I could not help stealing this photo to the preciousness of suits). Look also in the curious decoration of walls with pieces of china, now that's recycling.
Along the Perfume River traveled several miles by bike, visiting the most remote places of the center, several tombs of emperors and the Thien Mu Pagoda here as a relic saved the car I use the monk Quan Duc Thick to go to Saigon, where in 1963, with the Fuel own car, so it caught fire in a public square to protest anti-Buddhist policies of his prime minister. Not just his protest fell on deaf ears, but he gave name to this grisly form of suicide, "burned to bonzo" ( bonze , in English, is an ancient form of Buddhist monks call). 
The day was hot and we had to make several stops to regain strength juice-based Canha coconut and sugar, it is curious to see how squeezing a Canhas can get a huge glass of that sweet juice. We were so comfortable there that we just ensenhando the clerk of the bar, Nga, chinchon playing, and not because we had been stormy throughout the afternoon.
Hue is also famous for its gastronomy. His last imperial rulers of life marked by ostentatious who liked good and varied food, has left a legacy of not only delights the palate but also to the eye. As shown, these Vietnamese spring rolls with the dramatic presentation of a peacock, or these Pequenho desserts shaped bean cake fruit (if I say what I think are plastic ornaments and do not eat them.)
A little further south is to us, the most beautiful part of the Vietnamese coast, the town of Hoi An, with its well preserved historical center and the charm of the place a bit anchored in the past. It's a real pleasure to wander among its monuments, its old houses of wealthy merchants, their market stalls along the river and craft shops.
Surprisingly, the town maintains its prestige in the textile industry since the time of the ancient maritime trade routes. Today hundreds of tailor shops line the streets where people from around the world tailor-made for affordable price. If we could not avoid it, we made a dress each. It's a feeling extranha donning a suit after so many months of comfortable clothing. But worth it in the end be something different!
In another breakaway rider went to the coast, Cua Dai Beach, which is actually a part of another huge Pequenho beach several kilometers known by American soldiers as China Beach . It seems that, in the conflict, was a place of recreation for the soldiers. He is currently a beautiful beach where, at least in daylight hours only see tourists sunbathing, fishing and fishermen Vietnamese women, with incredible persistence, trying to sell fruit, cream or candy.
Also in Hoi An we had our good dose of culinary experience. In the picture you can see the dish called white rose, which consists of about bags made from rice flour stuffed with shrimp paste. I got that name because the bags are almost translucent and appear petals of flowers. The other dish that can be enjoyed throughout the country, are a rice paper rolls uncooked self winding when eating in this case stuffed with pork and vegetables. The paper texture of uncooked rice is almost one page and if they get wet in a sauce is hard to bite, but the set is very good.
The next stop was the city of Nha Trang. The first impression we had was that of a fully Benidorm China Sea and wanted to run. Then we realized that if I chose the correct area of \u200b\u200bthe beach could have an experience authentically Vietnamese.
During the day the only local who had stood by selling food or caring for a hammock. But if you expect to 4 ½ to 5 pm, when the sun began to fall behind the trees and tourists gathered their belongings, you were suddenly, without having very clear where they had left, surrounded by hundreds of Vietnamese who were occupying the places of shade with their gadgets for cooking or lunch in a bag. Is a social event, everyone is there and many are released into the water as authentic possessed, some with banhador, most of the girls with the same clothes with which they come, and almost all life jacket Ninh. A picture is worth a thousand words. I confess I got the shirt to blend too.
And we have concluded that the Vietnamese are photophobic. Like many other Asians, their canons of beauty to the skin color are completely contrary to Westerners. While foreigners like shrimp toast on the beach, they completely cover the body (hence the masks they wear so many people on the street), use long sleeves, socks and even gloves. They love to have white skin, and the super most moisturizers are bleaching. I had to submit to a third grade assistant to make sure I was not buying anything that would annoy me the dark.
as well as here we had to try some culinary specialty, we went to a bar quite famous among locals for their grills. We got to the top of grilled shrimp for a very paltry amount of money given the quality of the animals. Here I see the embers blush caused by greedily choosing which ones will fall on my plate. Our next stop was the Ho Chi Minh City, former capital of the South, which most people in this part of the country still called Saigon. It's still bigger than Hanoi, and believe it has still more bikes. Here are anhade the excitement of the big avenues when crossing between traffic, a dangerous sport pretty cheap. Despite being a big city that still smack a town without traffic rules and Pequenho portable food stalls where people eat almost sitting on the floor.
here also, and perhaps more than elsewhere, the drivers of motorcycles and cyclos you scream from a distance for you to ride with them and taken for a ride the city (see here for making me a senha), the truth is that what we usually currar on foot or by bus. This manhana we went to Chinatown where we had a good time strolling through a market of medicinal herbs that smelled like beauty products stores. In a post we have seen some mushrooms tamanho head of John, I've put in the picture for reference.
We also visited some famous landmarks such as the Reunification Palace, former palace of the government of the Republic of Vietnam, where in 1975 the South surrender took effect at the entrance of the Northern army tanks to the very gates of the palace, behind where Juan.
We have also visited the Museum of War Remnants, which displays photographs grisly remains of weapons, tanks, planes and cell reproduction. Do not speak only of the war in Vietnam, but of other wars around the world highlighting a fact that is repeated over and over again, whatever the reason laying starts a war, all who struggle to lose out, die, kill and commit atrocities in the name of ideas that vanish after the authentic claims to power of a few that rely on the safety of their homes. When you leave one of these places, the heart has shrunk and the utopian desire to learn from our mistakes. As
not want to end up with a bad taste in mouth, or put horrible pictures of tanks and war planes, with two pictures just a little more cheerful. One is from our new friends Hugh and Adriana with which we have agreed to Hoi An and Saigon tasting local specialties. The other John with his new style "commander" who already have noticed, you do not see how heavy it gets when gives to imitate Fidel Maripi ... This time you can not complain right?
Kisses to all.
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