Walking through Vietnam

In December 2010, my 12-year old son Oliver and I went to Vietnam - the first outside Europe to a destination in a developing country.

The arrangements were excellent throughout and the planning nothing short of brilliant. There were no mishaps or last minute changes of plan, all eight hotels were comfortable and clean, the itinerary was varied and the places visited all fascinating.

More than that: it was very thoughtfully done, with our leader and his side-kick, Mike, giving an impression of effortless coolness that masked an awful lot of truly hard spadework. They were terrific! And they really knew their stuff…..

The Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Oliver was the youngest in the group; the oldest celebrated her 84th birthday when we were in Nha Trang. She received a cake and flowers to celebrate the event……

The group was mixed and interesting and fun to be part of; several had traveled widely, others less so. All loved Vietnam.

My generation will forever associate it with that war, but to visit this country is to understand that there is so very much more to Vietnam than its difficult history. The country looks forward not back, the people are welcoming and warm, and they seem not to harbor any grudge against their former aggressors.

My favorite parts? Well, the Mekong delta was tropical, lush and vibrant. The market in Da Lat was atmospheric and full of people buying the huge variety of fruit and vegetables. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon were a sea of motor-bikes and busy humanity. But for me the ancient city of Hoi An, with its beautiful Japanese covered bridge, Chinese trading house and medieval streets was simply divine. You could cut the history floating in the air with a knife…..

Ha Long Bay has the most spectacular natural landforms I have ever seen; my digital camera developed a stitch as I pushed it over the limit. Hanoi’s old town has a thousand years of commerce behind it, and the nearby 17th century bridge on the lake made me purr with delight. And when we retreated into the hills west of Hanoi we stayed in a hotel formerly used by the Communist Party as a thermal re-charging centre for their cadres; warm pools and spa baths everywhere……

The Huc Bridge, Vietnam

Each day was different; every restaurant unique. Each bus stop took us somewhere entirely new. And when we boarded the flight out of Hanoi on Day 20 of a packed program, I felt a twinge of sadness, mixed with a surge of warmth for a country that made us welcome, treated us royally, and forever changed my perspective of a formerly war-torn region of SE Asia.

Vietnam’s bustle and modernity and its young people with their state-of-the-art smart phones and smiling welcomes were a joy to behold; this was a truly wonderful holiday!

Source: ramblersholidays

Ready for Active Travel Indochina – Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

What could be a great option for someone have retired like you, who'd like to try something different, something more fun and exciting maybe? How about going for an active travel experience?

"Boy, when I retire, all I'm going to do is lie around in a hammock all day" – this is probably what you have said and thought about all these years while working your way through life, but now that you have retired or planning to retire, do you really find the concept that satisfying? The answer could be no.

So what could be a great option for someone like you, who'd like to try something different, something more fun and exciting maybe? How about going for an active travel experience?

Traveling in Twilight

Whoever said you need to be an on-the-go person to sign up for an active vacation after retirement could not have been more mistaken. From adventurous kayaking in Halong Bay or historical trips on Ho Chi Minh Trail and Angkor Wat explorer- there is something for everyone out there

Just that you may need to hit your nearby gym at least twice a week, or ask your yoga teacher for classes immediately.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Here are some more options to help you plan a perfect active travel vacation:

- Fitness boot camps in Luang prabang, Lao or Ha Giang, Vietnam

- Golf vacations in Vietnam & Cambodia

- Kayaking in World Heritage sites such as Halong and Nha Trang bay, Vietnam

- Cycling trips through the countryside in Mekong Delta or Hoi An of Vietnam, Luang Prabang of Laos or Angkor Wat of Cambodia

- Hiking vacations on the top of Fanispan Mountain, Vietnam

- Walking tours of various World Heritage or historic sites of the world like Angkor Wat of Cambodia

- Museum trips in Hanoi, Capital of Vietnamand especially in Phnom Penh of Cambodia

Trek Fansipan Mt, Vietnam

Travel Agencies

Travel experts prefer classifying adventure tourism in two categories- "soft" or "hard" (also called "gentle" or "demanding"); but don't get caught up in these jargons. Make up your mind as to whether you would like to go kayaking, mountain climbing, biking, motorcycling or would you prefer enjoying the blue ocean in an obscure island in Phu Quoc, Vietnam.

Once you've made your choice, you can begin your research by browsing through websites and on-line travel agencies that will help you pick the right tour package.

Here are some of the names you might find handy

ActiveTravel Asia

Walking the World

50plus Expeditions

SeniorsSearch

Seniors Go Travel

Forty Plus Adventure

ActiveTravel Asia is one of names that has been organized more adventure trips for American Veterans travel to Vietnam war in the past from 2006. From motorcycling tours on Ho Chi Minh Trail to trekking trips in some ethnic villages of Sapa, Vietnam, they offer tour packages in Indochina.

Ready to Leave?

Here are some tips to help you organize your trip:

Confirm the legitimacy of your travel agency with associations like-American Society Of Travel Agents (ASTA) and United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA)

Check if they can customize your tour per your requirements

Find out whether your budget covers all the expenses

Remember to carry your travel and health insurance papers with the other entire document

A Few Words on Outdoor Safety

Find out as much as you can about the place you are traveling to Carry things like waterproof reflective survival blanket, Global Positioning System (GPS) units and mobile phones Check if your medical kit is well stocked with all the necessary drugs and first-aid supplies

For more tips on how to stay fit on the move, you can browse through the TravMed website

Be a Fit and Healthy Globe Trotter

There is nothing like traveling with an agile body and mind. To ensure this:

Eat healthy and drink plenty of water

Carry ginger pills to abate motion sickness

Stop and stretch every alternative hour while driving for long hours

ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA focus on promoting Active Travel in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in 2011

Active travel refers to an approach to travel and transport that focuses on physical activity (walking and cycling) as opposed to motorized and carbon-dependent means. Doing so would have the multiple benefits of increasing levels of physical fitness and reducing rates of overweight and obesity, whilst reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and consequent Carbon emissions.

Why ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA) focuses on active travel? Global climate change due to fossil fuel usage and the continued increase in obesity and overweight are amongst the most serious health and environmental problems the world is currently facing. A shift towards active travel is being increasingly presented as an effective approach to tackling both these challenges. ATA makes strong recommendations that promoting and facilitating cycling, walking, trekking and kayaking should become key components of an integrated anti-obesity strategy, as this would represent "...physical activity incorporated into the fabric of everyday life."

Sapa Terrace Field Vietnam

Studies have shown that the recent global increase in levels of overweight and obesity are in large part due to the decrease in physical activity by children and adults. Partly this is explicable through an increase in more sedentary forms of leisure (TV, video games) but to a large extent low levels of walking, cycling, trekking and kayaking are also implicated.

In response to this, in UK, Public Health and environmental had campaigns to advocate for stronger policies and practices that promote active travel, and make cycling and walking safer and more attractive. The intention being that these modes could in many instances replace car usage for everyday journeys to school, shops, public services etc. To facilitate this would require local planning and highway authorities to invest in ensuring safe routes are available to these destinations especially in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (danger from other road traffic is frequently cited as the primary reason for not cycling.) In many areas in Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia, the current focus of development for cycle, trek and kayak provision are on isolated leisure trails, resulting in highly fragmented cycle routes and pavements/sidewalks, which do not link effectively to everyday destinations.

Actions on Active Travel
ATA have studied the itineraries in local areas for Active Travel which helps travelers have habits to increase in walking and cycling after holidays as well as effective response to the steadily increasing problem of overweight and obesity, and also help reduce carbon emissions.

Recommend some itineraries

Vietnam
- Sapa trekking & homestay
- West to East biking exploration
- Kayaking Halong bay

Cambodia

- Cycling Angkor Wat
- Trek Angkor Wat

Laos

- Trek Luang Prabang
- Trek Luang Namtha