PORTFOLIO
HELEN ALTONN / HALTONN@STARBULLETIN.COM
People eat and socialize at outdoor tables such as this one by a vendor's stand, or at small sidewalk cafs.
|
|
Vietnam: A mix of old and new
Star-Bulletin writer Helen Altonn shares impressions and pictures
Beautiful colonial buildings and temples, enticing sidewalk cafes and welcoming people are among Vietnam's many attractions. But contrasts between old and new abound in this small country in the center of Southeast Asia: A man walks a buffalo down the street near a five-star hotel. An "Inter Net" shop is full of people using computers while a barber does business from a chair on the sidewalk. Multistoried homes make the most of limited land in residential areas but many people cook, eat and socialize on sidewalks in front of vendors' stands, shops or living quarters.
Crossing the streets takes courage and a steady walk. Traffic is crazy with streams of motorbikes and bicycles, trucks and cyclos (bicycle-powered taxis) coming at you from all directions. Bikes are a major mode of transportation with as many as four people crammed onto one. Many carry stacks of boxes, produce and other cargo.
Once you get the hang of it, it's worth the hazards to explore fascinating galleries and shops with native crafts. And yes, bargaining is part of the experience.
HELEN ALTONN / HALTONN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Colorful balloons trail from a bike in Hanoi, where traffic entails two-wheelers instead of four.
|
|
HELEN ALTONN / HALTONN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Three generations travel by motorbike. Drivers in Vietnam are adept at riding bikes while balancing goods upon their heads.
|
|
