A Trip for Mama

Mama Dulcing was turning 74 this year, so I planned a birthday celebration for her -- a trip to Hanoi, Vietnam with me. Vietnam will be her second country outside Philippines; second to Hongkong, China.

June 29 - Old Quarter and Lake
Our first day tour was within Hanoi City using the Hop On Hop Off Bus. I showed her first the Hoan Kiem Lake which we passed by from the hotel towards the pickup point. Then we got to the Temple of Literature, followed by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, the West Lake, the National Historical Museum, and the Women Museum.

At the Temple of Literature

Inside the Temple of Literature

At Nguyen Art Gallery fronting the Temple of Literature

One Pillar Pagoda

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

At the West Lake

Tran Quoc Pagoda within the West Lake

Inside the Women Museum

Along Hoan Kiem Lake

June 30 - Halong Bay
On our second day in Vietnam, I let Mama D experienced the Halong Bay Cruise with onboard lunch, spelunking at the giant cave, and bamboo boat rafting.

At the hotel lobby while waiting for the tour pickup

At the usual stopover on the way to Halong Bay which has several shops and display of stone sculptures

Cruising the Halong Bay

Inside the Hang Sung Sot Cave

Rafting as part of Halong Bay Tour

On board the bamboo raft

July 1 - Binh Din and Na Trang
On our third day, we will be both first-timers in the trip to Binh Din Temple and Na Trang boat rowing experience.

At the hotel lobby while waiting for the tour pickup

Bin Dinh Temple

Tour inside the temple with 252 lifesized buddhas

Trang An boating experience

During the boat ride in Trang An

At the set (shooting site) of the Skull Island

Mama D was full of energy. She endured the heat of the sun, walked the whole stretch, climbing up and down the temples, and took part in rowing. I was glad she enjoyed the 4-day trip.