As we have a 4 day break with Reunification Day and Labour Day a group of us have headed to Da Lat a city not too far from Ho Chi Minh but in land and up in the hills. Da Lat has been influenced by the French Colonial occupation and the architecture reflects this period. In later years the The rich French living in HCMC built huge villas as holiday homes here in Da Lat on the hillsides amongst the pine trees to take advantage of the cooler climate the views and the fresh air. Da Lat being almost 5000 ft above sea level. After the French left Vietnam the villas remained so are now used as resorts or holiday homes for the rich Vietnamese from Ho Cho Minh.
As Da Lat is known for it's fresh air cooler climate it has become the flower and vegetable growing centre for Sth East Asia. Yesterday I bought a kilo of strawberries for 50,000, about $ 2.60. Oh and I forgot the fabulous French bakeries.
The city is easy to navigate. There are many more cars here, although the motorbike is still king of the road. These people are more considerate drivers I'm guessing because they seldom sound their horns.
The rural areas around the city remind me of NZ. The pines the agriculture the lakes the rivers and of course the clean green environment
2 comments:
What on earth would you do with a kg of strawberries?
Eat a few.
Throw a few.
Make strawberry jam.
Decorate something.
Eat a few more....
Could make you pine for home....
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