On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
UncleEbeneezer
After the War Remnants Museum, the tour seemed to cash in on our collective guilt by taking us to a Lacquer Factory where victims of Agent Orange make beautiful works that you can buy to help support them. We bought a charming little vase that we still use.
Pretty mural on the way into the factory.
Here you can see some of the beautiful lacquer-work that uses egg shells.
After trying to spend away some of our White Guilt, the tour took us next to the Jade Emperor Pagoda. Lonelyplanet writes:
Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Taoist god (the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang), this is one of the most atmospheric temples in Ho Chi Minh City, stuffed with statues of phantasmal divinities and grotesque heroes.
The pungent smoke of incense (huong) fills the air, obscuring the exquisite woodcarvings. Its roof is encrusted with elaborate tile work, and the temple’s statues, depicting characters from both Buddhist and Taoist lore, are made from reinforced papier mâché.
The multifaith nature of the temple is echoed in the shrine’s alternative name Phuoc Hai Tu (福海寺; Sea of Blessing Temple), whose message is clearly Buddhist. Similarly, the Chinese characters (佛光普照; Phat Quang Pho Chieu) in the main temple hall mean ‘The light of Buddha shines on all’.
Here is an ancient banyan tree with Lunar New Year decorations. We didn’t know at the time, but just a few months later one President Barrack Obama would visit this very same temple on his diplomatic visit to Vietnam!
Here is the impressive entrance to the pagoda.
There is a pool in the courtyard with a bunch of turtles.
Very cool, window design detail. I can’t remember the story that it told, but (as with most in Vietnam) it definitely had one.
The General who defeated the Green Dragon! I would NOT mess around with this guy!
Another cool window. Vietnam/SE Asia really had some of the neatest architectural elements and details that we have ever seen.
A very colorful altar.
And finally a neat/creepy gargoyle.
John Revolta
Very cool.
raven
Fu Dog, I once got married in the Fu Dog Garden in Allerton Park near Monticello, Illinois.
UncleEbeneezer
@raven: Cool. That’s more or less what I figured they were. The tour guide probably told us as much but by that time we were pretty burned out from so many sights and so much sun. Plus my memory has likely faded.
raven
@UncleEbeneezer: I bet! I have a nice tapestry, a brass gong with a dragon carved frame and a “tra co” (little girl) boat that I see every day.
Betty
Thanks for sharing a bit of Vietnamese culture. The windows are lovely.
Elma
We were told, in China, that you could tell whether the Fu Dog was male or female by what it had under its paw. A female would have an infant Fu Dog and a male would have a globe. I can’t identify what is under this one’s paw.
UncleEbeneezer
@Betty: You’re very welcome. Glad you liked them. Next we will be headed to Siem Reap, Cambodia!
Benw
Really cool pictures, thanks! I had a great trip to Quy Nhon, but didn’t get to explore elsewhere in Vietnam.
J R in WV
A lovely photo thread, thanks so much!!
Looking forward to Cambodia. Vietnam would be on the bucket list if they had a cool dry season, I seriously doubt that is possible so near the equator. Heat wears me out so fast! Can’t believe I worked in a shipyard long hours back in 1972. Salt tablets and fluids on the hour… spoiled me for summer heat…
UncleEbeneezer
@J R in WV: I think fall in Hanoi might be the closest you can get. Fairly cool, but still 60+% humidity, so not very dry.