A Rare Opportunity...

Inside Ceiling of the Vinh's Home

DAY 2 - Into the Villages

We landed in Hanoi Friday night around 10:00 p.m. We then navigated our way through various checkpoints for VISA, passport and immigrations. After locating our luggage and crossing the security clearance, we stepped out into the humid, tropical mayhem of taxi's, minibuses and shuttles all wanting to help two travel-worn Westerners.  Soon we found our blonde-haired, fair complexioned family and traveled to our Hanoi home. After catching up and breaking open our "American snack box", we all headed to bed. Unfortunately sleep did not come quickly or easily...

Our first Asian Adventure began with an early wake-up at 6:00 AM on Saturday morning. It was a difficult morning routine being that I had not slept more than 2 hours and neither my brain nor my suitcase were unpacked and organized. My brain and my body were still in the US and I was struggling to find it and keep it all together....

You must be wondering,..why would anyone plan an adventure immediately following 27+ hours of overseas travel? We must be crazy..YES, we are. About a month ago Michelle contacted me to see if we might be interested in pursuing an special opportunity to experience a side of Vietnam very few tourists get to see. Of course, I said "yes". She signed us up for a day long excursion with Bloom Microventures. http://www.bloom-microventures.org/vietnam/  Check it out, it's an awesome program...

We met our taxis at 7:30. Michelle gave them the address and away we went into the Hanoi Saturday morning traffic. Oh what a ride...! (more about that later...) After a few miles (kilometers) the taxi in the front pulled up to an address and began to unload. Our taxi driver (#2 taxi) began to shake his head and speak emphatically in Vietnemese. After a short confusing attempt at conversation, Michelle realized taxi cab driver #1 didn't know where he was going and dropped his passengers at the wrong stop. So, he motioned for them to climb in with us...Michelle was hesitant but he insisted. So 4 of us were crammed into the back seat of a little bitty taxi...SMUSHED.

Thankfully he dropped us at our destination, the Hanoi Opera House. There we met up with 2 girls from Germany and our Bloom guide. Soon our transportation arrived and off we went into the Hanoi morning traffic.

Hanoi Opera House

Our destination - the rural mountains in the Hoa Binh province 70 km west of Hanoi (approximately an hour and half ride). Boy, what a ride. the first half of our journey was congested Hanoi traffic and lots of if. Once we finally got away from the city, the scenery changed.  Beautiful mountains, rice paddies and interesting architecture. I had remembered reading about the Vietnamese countryside in articles/stories about the war. But i was not prepared for it's pastoral beauty.

As we moved out of the countryside and ventured into the mountains, the ride became bumpy,...really bumpy. The bus turned onto a narrow dirt road, where there were small houses or dwellings perched along each side. Villagers were moving about riding scooters, pushing carts or walking along side of the road often requiring the driver to slow or stop to allow one to pass. As the bus pulled to a stop, it was evident, the eyes of the village were on us. Peering out of doorways, stopping alongside of the road, talking to their neighbor,..they had seen this bus before, they knew why we were there and they were curious. 

The first woman we met, Nguyen Vinh is currently participating the Bloom microventures project. She sustained a leg injury while trying to make a minor repair on the roof of her family's home. Her injury prevents her from working in the rice fields, in addition to raising other perennial crops; therefore, reducing her contribution to the family's income. By participating in the Bloom program, she would receive a small loan (a portion of our tour fee) which would enable her to invest in livestock (ducks and chickens) and enhance her family's livelihood. 

This family was very gracious, inviting us into their home, offering us tea and answering any questions with the help of the translator. The husband stopped his work of separating the rice to join us for conversation. Their small home was busy with activity. Because she is unable to work in the rice fields, she was keeping her grandchildren, so the parents could work in the fields. The extended family also consisted of his mother. Evidently it is Vietnamese custom, when you marry, you live with your husband's parents...  

Our translator 

Jordan and Brooks enjoying tea

Husband separating the rice

Drying Rice & Rice ready to be separated.

Saying Goodbye to the Vinh's

That's not all,..there's more. I'll continue our adventures up in the Hoa Binh Province tomorrow,..I hope.

Did I mention that's it's HOT,..real HOT and HUMID? Heat index was over 100 degrees F up in the mountains with no breeze. Until tomorrow.

Blessings.