Travel nostalgia - there are few more predictable conditions afflicting ageing travellers. Everywhere was so much better before. Right? In this little video, I take a look at nostalgia. I feel it in Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia and elsewhere. Over on the blog at Rusty Compass I take a deeper look and wonder whether we nostalgic folk are missing something?
#travel #nostalgia #vietnam #history #people
A serendipitous expedition to a Viet Minh cave used in the 1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu. The Viet Minh were Ho Chi Minh's Communists and allies in the 1950s. Ho's historic victory in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu brought an end to France's Indochina empire - but was not enough to deter deeper US meddling that killed millions before the end of the war in 1975.
I was researching our Vietnam by the Book tour last year and this little expedition was made possible by the spontaneous generosity of a local. Such acts of kindness are normal in Vietnam when you show a little respect and travel off the path of Instagram, Google listicles and TikTok.
Check our Vietnam by the Book here -
https://oldcompasstravel.com/tours/vietnam-journeys/vietnam-by-the-book/
View the full video and read the blog here -
https://www.rustycompass.com/blog/nostalgia-and-vietnams-travel-superpower-video-339
#history #cave #dienbienphu #warhistory #vietnam #serendipity #kindness
"For as long as I've been a traveller, books have been the essential travel accessory"
Books, curiosity, chats with locals and other travellers, guided us for decades on the road. Now travel is increasingly shaped by digital giants in Silicon Valley and China - I doubt we're better for that.
For the full video, head over to
www.rustycompass.com
#books #travel #halongbay #HoiAn #Vietnam1993 #cycling
https://oldcompasstravel.com/tours/vietnam-journeys/vietnam-by-the-book/
The transformation of Highway 1 over three decades has been phenomenal. Here it is back in 1993. The road improvements have been welcome. Less positive have been the massive changes in places like Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay, where tourism has landed very very hard.
#vietnam #1993 #travel #tourism #highway1
The curse of unexploded ordnance continues to kill and maim long after the fighting stops. In Vietnam, we had a presentation from the heroic people of Project RENEW in the old DMZ area on our recent Vietnam by the Book Tour. They shared the terrible legacy of both unexploded ordnance and chemicals like Agent Orange. They also described the arduous, dangerous process of cleaning up after war - something they are still engaged with.
Thirty years ago, we encountered kids digging for unexploded bombs on the Hai Van Pass - a sign of the poverty and desperation of those years. The situation is far better now, but nearly 50 years on, UXO continues to trouble the people of the old border area - a sobering thought considering conflict .
For the full video, thinking about three decades of travel head over to
www.rustycompass.com
@renewvietnam
So much has changed in Vietnam in three decades - an economic miracle has improved lives immeasurably and changed the landscape too. There's a sense a new time, with new challenges, lies ahead. Check the full video and blog over at Rusty Compass
https://www.rustycompass.com/blog/lessons-from-decades-exploring-vietnam-337
"Out on the road with our travellers this year on our Vietnam by the Book tour, I was struck by the enduring power of Vietnam’s stories - despite huge changes across the country. Our travellers immersed themselves in the books recommended for the tour - and many more. They found Vietnam fascinating and beautiful and they were besotted with the people. The personal stories of Duong Mai Elliott's Sacred Willow and Nguyen Qui Duc's Where the Ashes Are, gave our travellers insights into Vietnamese lives and traditions. The power of books to add meaning to travel was reaffirmed."
Check out Vietnam by the Book
https://oldcompasstravel.com/tours/vietnam-journeys/vietnam-by-the-book/
#vietnam #saigon #1990s #change #dongkhoi #history
Two months in Vietnam sped by. Great times - much of it research and final curation for our Vietnam by the Book tour. Then I headed out with our group and it all came together Very satisfying. Thanks to all who made it such a success! Our little cycling moments were part of the joy!
Now focused on our tours in 2025. If travelling around three books sounds interesting, join us!
https://oldcompasstravel.com/tours/vietnam-journeys/vietnam-by-the-book/
#vietnam #cycling #travel #vietnambythebook #history #people
Architectural delight in Cholon, Saigon's Chinatown.
For walks of architecture and history in Saigon, head over to
www.oldcompasstravel.com
#saigon #vietnam #architecture #modernism #shophouse #cholon #chinatown
Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Viet Minh victory over French colonial forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. The battle brought an end to French colonial rule in Indochina. It was one of the most important events in anti-colonial twentieth century history - and its strategic lessons continue to be taught in military colleges.
I shot this video 10 years ago. It gives an idea of the spectacular setting that was destined to become known for a battle. By 1954, with Cold War tensions rising, the United States was largely funding France's doomed campaign to hold on to its imperial possessions. The Chinese were increasingly invested in Ho Chi Minh's campaign. The "domino theory" began to define US policy. Dien Bien Phu was a terrible foretaste of the catastrophe that rolled on till 1975.
I shot this Dien Bien Phu guide a decade ago and have continued to visit often - most recently on our Vietnam by the Book tour a few weeks ago. Vietnam by the Book is a 16 day tour of Vietnam focused around 3 books. For more, head over to https://lnkd.in/dzYEYhHz
#history #travel #books #Vietnam #dienbienphu #oldcompasstravel
49 years ago, this Saigon rooftop became the focus of world attention as one of the great David and Goliath stories of modern history drew to a close. The scene of a dramatic helicopter evacuation, it was often wrongly captioned as the US Embassy. In fact it was a CIA apartment building in the heart of Saigon.
A few weeks ago we managed for make it up here again on Vietnam by the Book with Old Compass Travel - always a profound experience for everyone - as it was for author and historian Larry Berman when this video was shot. For the full video, head over to the homepage at www.rustycompass.com
Next year's 50th anniversary promises to be a time of some contemplation in Saigon and Vietnam. Vietnam's decades-long economic miracle and stability story has been shaken of late. Hoping for better things between now and April 30 2025!
For history and fascinating places, head over to www.oldcompasstravel.com
#history #30April1975 #Saigon #rooftop #vietnamwar
A crumbling villa in Saigon's Chinatown, Cho Lon, illustrates the city's failure to recognise the cultural and economic significance of its built heritage - there's tons of it. Singapore has put its shophouse heritage at the centre of its identity with great success.
#saigon #singapore #vietnam #heritage #shophouses #cholon
Creating and curating special experiences is what we do over at Old Compass Travel - this is a little tale of research for Vietnam by the Book at Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam's north. Was such a buzz taking our visitors there a few weeks ago after a couple of wonderful research expeditions.
#artoftravel #curation #travel #walk #walks #tours #vietnam #mountains #taybac
We focus a lot on Hue's contribution to Vietnamese history and culture over the centuries. The beautiful old capital is also the country's culinary powerhouse!
Join us on our Vietnam by the Book tours of history, culture and food - as well as loads of stunning places!
https://oldcompasstravel.com/tours/vietnam-journeys/vietnam-by-the-book/
#hue #food #vietnam #vietnamesefood #royalcuisine #streetfood #travel #culturaltravel
