Yings do Hau Lu & Tam Coc, Vietnam

Okay this is the last post for Vietnam.  The last worthy trip to blog is our trip out of Hanoi into the mountainous area.  There were two landmarks to visit - Hau Lu, which is a temple to one of the early emperors of Vietnam and Tam Coc, which is a river through some mountains.  

It was a day trip so we boarded the bus early at 8 am and was home by 6.  It took about 2 hours each way with a 15 pee-break in the middle.  

Our pee-break.  The disabled workers stitching up some artwork
for tourists on the way to the bathroom.

The work was quite good but way overpriced.

I'm lucky I didn't get shot for this one.  There was a few VIPs
going through between these camo jeeps.

Hau Lu entrance.

Another, less-than-exciting entrance.

This was cool!  A foot-long lizard.

They were serving beer, whoopie pies, soda, fruit to the gods.
A happy bunch of gods they must be - or at least happy workers
who get to eat the god's leftovers.

Rice being dried on the street.

Tam Coc - 2-3 to a boat plus the rower.

Talented leg-rowers.  He didn't say a word so
he wasn't much of a guide...

The ladies boat.

Some temple on the mountain.

Under the rocks.

Not much clearance.

It was leaking from the ceiling.

Of course, the souvenir shop at the turn-around point.

What a tough job.  Did anyone tell him the war is over?

A abandoned house.  River access only.

Appetizing...  

An ice cream shop.  The only one we saw in town.

Drinking with the locals.  This was an alley and
I don't think that we were really welcome.  We had
our 60 cent beers and left.

A nice bike ride in the Tam Coc area.

There were people living in the area.

Watch out for the soldiers hiding in the paddies.

We rode on dikes with the farmland below us.

This was a guide, Min.

Cool country-side shot.