Winter Holiday train Adventures!

For our 3-week winter holiday Jonathan and I decided to take a train trip...then entire length of Vietnam! We started in Saigon and traveled on an overnight train to DaNang, where we stayed on the beach near Marble Mountain for a couple of days. We got to catch up with friends, venture into the woods of Son Tra reserve, and wander the old city of HoiAn.
Getting tucked in on the train.
J on the train.
Beautiful tree root in Son Tra.
One of the many Buddhas inside the cave system at Marble Mountain.
View from the top of Marble Mountain.

From there, we took the train over Hai Van pass to Hanoi, where we again caught up with friends, got to experience the cooler hazier weather of the north, and do lots of walking.
Possibly one of the most beautiful roads in Vietnam..Hai Van Pass, from the train.
More of Hai Van Pass.
...and yet again...
The train crossing a bridge somewhere on the way to Hue.
Rice paddies and mountainous terrain somewhere between DaNang and Hue.
We had booked a trip to Sapa through a travel group called Handspan. What a great time we had! Again, another overnight train ride up to the frigid north where we did some trekking into the valley, did a homestay for Christmas eve, returned to the town of Sapa for Chirstmas, and then a long bus-ride out to the largest market in the north. We made a quick stop-over at the Vietnam-China border before making our way back to Hanoi by overnight train.
The view of the mountains and clouds in the valley below Sapa in the early morning.
Hiking in the valley.
Some of the Hmong children at a refreshment stand along the hike. The young girl on the left is carrying a baby under the blanket.
Terraced hillsides along the valley.
Hiking through the muddy hills. The woman with me was one of three who accompanied us on the hike, holding my hand anytime the trail became too slippery. Once we arrived at our destination they unloaded lots of embroidered handicrafts from their baskets that were available for purchase.
Our "room" at the homestay in the valley. The room was big enough to sleep at least 10 people!
Setting up for dessert on Christmas Eve-getting ready for cake, red wine, and fruit.

The river in the valley on our hike the next morning.
An image from the market the following day.
From Hanoi, we flew to Laos and spent a week with friends in beautiful Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Laos is beautiful and quiet, a wonderful respite from the bustling honking streets of Hanoi or Saigon. We enjoyed catching up with good friends and spending time in lovely places in a more "local" way.
Jonathan crossing the bamboo bridge that we had to cross every day to get to the old town of Luang Prabang. It was dry season so the bridge is there. In the wet season the river gets high enough and strong enough to wipe the bridge out!
Wats and tuk-tuks. What's not to love about Luang Prabang?
A boy playing in the river at the bridge.
Monks out for their daily collection of food from the citizens of LP. Serving in a monastery for at least 10 days is mandatory for all males. The monks only eat what they collect in the town each day. It makes you wonder how the mandatory service would affect the population-any difference if it were mandatory military service?

Sunset on the Mekong river in Luang Prabang.