What did Vietnam look like 20 years ago in the eyes of Western tourists?

(Dan Tri) - In 2004, Richard Seaman, a New Zealand tourist, made his first trip to Vietnam and recorded memorable moments throughout the journey.

After moving from his native New Zealand to the United States in 1997, Richard Seaman spent time in several cities including San Diego, Washington DC, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York. With a strong passion for travel, the New Zealander continued to spend time exploring the world alone. He has set foot in many lands such as Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Egypt, Fiji, Guatemala, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines and even Vietnam.

Tran Quoc Pagoda in 2004 (Photo: Richard).

The first time he came to the "S-shaped country" in 2004, he found it to be a "lovely country with hospitable people". Due to the lack of time, he decided to make the fastest trip across Vietnam. Initially, he flew to Hanoi, then continued his journey to Da Nang, Cam Ranh, and then took a car to Ho Chi Minh City. This was also Richard's last stop before taking a flight back to the US.

Chicken and duck trucks on the streets of Hanoi (Photo: Richard).

Arriving in Hanoi in December 2004, the New Zealander found the Christmas atmosphere everywhere. He spent time visiting President Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, the military museum and the air force museum in Hanoi. Another place that Richard also enjoyed during the trip was Hoa Lo Prison located on the street of the same name. Compared to 20 years ago, Hoa Lo Prison is still a "scoring" destination for domestic and foreign tourists. The destination renews itself by retelling historical stories through photos and concise information, helping visitors have an impressive experience. In recent years, this place has attracted a large number of visitors, up to 2,000 visitors per day and increasing during the Tet holiday. The most prominent is the "Sacred Night" tour, recreating meaningful stories of historical moments. Having never set foot in Hanoi, Richard initially admitted that he "didn't dare to expect much". But after the trip, he realized that this was his "favorite city in Vietnam". There were so many places to visit that he was busy for 3 or 4 days.

Natural beauty of Ha Long Bay (Photo: Richard).

Leaving the hustle and bustle of the city center, Richard continued to West Lake and visited Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the oldest and most beautiful pagodas in the capital. The New Zealander also spent time learning about this spiritual destination. Like many traditional markets in Asia, he said that he should visit the market in Hanoi to learn about the lives of local people. Many stalls selling fresh food, from fish, fresh frogs to tropical fruits, made the foreign visitor "dizzy". He also spent time in the Old Quarter, where the streets are named after the typical products sold. "The most interesting place to visit in Hanoi is probably the Temple of Literature, founded in 1070. In 1076, it became the first university in Vietnam. Many foreign visitors want to come here to learn about culture and history," he shared.

Richard recorded the image when he arrived in Hue.

When Richard arrived in Hanoi in 2004, motorbikes were the most popular means of transport on the streets of the capital. He watched the bustling traffic. Leaving Hanoi, he went to Ha Long Bay, a destination recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Cat Ba is one of the largest islands. Most of the area here is a national park with a rich flora and fauna ecosystem. He also spent a night on a boat.

Hoi An ancient town in 2004.

After that, the journey continued to Hue, Hoi An, Cam Ranh, Da Lat and his final destination was Cat Tien National Park. At the end of the trip, he returned to the US. Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/20-nam-truoc-viet-nam-trong-the-nao-trong-mat-cua-du-khach-tay-20240715102128218.htm