Constructed in 1070, the well-preserved Temple of Literature is dedicated to Confucius and is a fine example of traditional Vietnamese architecture. The first national university was established at the temple in 1076 and a curriculum of Confucian principles, literature and poetry would be taught there for the next 800 years. Originally open just to children […]
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Capturing the Energy of Hanoi’s Old Quarter
We spent most of our time in Hanoi wandering around the narrow alleys of the historic and chaotic Old Quarter. Pulsating with life, this district has been the commercial center of the city for centuries, and today it is a captivating mix of ancient and modern. Bikes zip by in all directions and a steady […]
Hanoi’s Temple of the Lake
Ngoc Son Temple (Jade Mountain Temple) sits on an island in Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of old Hanoi. Built in the 18th century and reached via a red bridge lined with colorful flags, the temple is dedicated to General Tran Hung Dao who defeated the Mongols in the 13th century. Other figures honored […]
Going Inside Vietnam’s Cu Chi Tunnels
One of Ho Chi Minh City’s most famous sights is the Cu Chi Tunnels. First dug in the 1940s to help the local Vietnamese fight French forces, the tunnels played a pivotal role in the Viet Cong (VC) defeat of US and allied troops during the Vietnam-American War in the 1960s. When we arrived at […]
Making Friends Over Vietnamese Crepes
While in Ho Chi Minh City, I had the pleasure of meeting up with another blogger friend, James of fly, Icarus, fly. Knowing my love of food, he suggested we meet for dinner and listed several restaurants that all sounded great. But as soon as he said “sizzling crepes,” I knew that was the place […]