Hue Market

The many markets in Vietnam are still the source of food for most people in Vietnam. We went to the big supermarket in Hue the night before we visited the market, and we asked our guide if she shopped for groceries there. "Supermarkets are for looking, not for buying" was her reply. Most Vietnamese go to the supermarket to relax and enjoy the air conditioning, or go to the foodhall on the top level and drink beer with friends.

It was easier to take photos in this market compared to the many others we'd visited, because it was open and light and also the aisles were not as crowded and busy. There was a huge array of dried and fresh foods, and the air was pungent with smells familiar and unfamiliar.

Cham Textures

In the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture there are many beautiful and mysterious examples of intricate sandstone stone carving. The designs predominantly feature mythical creatures, yoni and linga (the divine union of male and female), decorations in the form of female breasts and graceful Cham dancers.

Hoi An Lanterns

A beautiful patchwork of lanterns lines the streets of Hoi An's old town.

Cyclo Ride

On a sweltering hot and humid afternoon, we took a cyclo ride around the French Quarter of Hanoi. Some of its streets are still segregated into specific tradesmen and craftsmen, including the ironmongers, bamboo crafters, and even the undertakers.

Just about every inch of the Hanoi pavement is claimed for use in everyday streetlife - for selling goods, providing services, mini cafes, washing belongings - which can make walking difficult, forcing you onto the street itself. The cyclo ride is quite an experience as you are pushed out into the street first in your carriage ahead of your cyclist. It takes a while to get used to the hair-raising traffic and the rushing of scooters and taxis all around while you are slowly cycled around at walking pace but it affords an intimate, perhaps voyeuristic view into everyday Vietnamese life in the city .

Incense Maker

One of my favourite stops in Hue, the imperial city in Central Vietnam was actually unscheduled. Our tour guide kindly looked after us until we needed to get to the airport for our flight to Hanoi. She stopped us by the roadside where an old lady and her daughter were making incense and traditional conical hats. We were running short of local currency and needed to visit the ATM; our tour guide explained to the old lady that we weren't going to buy anything, but our host still insisted on fanning me and chortled away when I took up the offer of having a go at making a stick of incense. She was very gracious and guided my hands to roll out the mixture.