There were all sorts of plans, but, in the end, I got stuck in Hue for 4.5 months. And it might be I'll stay longer in Vietnam.
I don't regret that I was that long in Hue in wintertime but, if you want to travel to Central Vietnam in November - January, you'll find these months are hell from the point of weather. December was the worst. We had zero sunny days, there were drizzles of all forms without beginning or end; dark, gray, damp weather, clothes don't dry... I stay at a hostel. Travelers arrive in wet jackets and unwashed jeans, all these stink, stinky socks in the dorm from time to time... F*ck. So many travelers coughed in December - not a hostel but a hospital. I was sick too but okay.
Honestly, I am bored with this shit as hell. But in my mind I understand that this is a good time for photography, especially in January - now there are many dry days so you can walk without getting your sneakers wet.
Secondly, the body needs a break from the heat, from sweating, perhaps even the psyche of a non-tropical person needs a period of winter decline, when a certain hibernation of optimism occurs, lol.
I remember in summer 2024 my urgent need was going somewhere where my body stopped constantly being covered with the salty moisture of sweat. And today I miss the heat, miss contrast light, miss the energy of the sun. Worked up an appetite for the trip to hotter places.
I wanted to go to Northern Thailand to dive into the heat but already have no idea where I am going although I must go tomorrow. The thing is that I received a new passport already during the trip while my bank account is linked to the old passport, which is going to expire. So I need to verify my passport in a consulate and send this to my bank quite soon. What consulate and how to verify, this is what I am going to learn but it looks it's better for me to stay longer in Vietnam to solve this problem.
Maybe this is an exaggerated reaction, but I am devastated by this trouble. Again bureaucracy, again complete uncertainty. And, yes, there is a chance that I will be left without a bank account. And, again, it's Vietnam where I can survive in this mode.
But let's change the subject and talk about something more fun. For example:
Did you know that if peeing in the street was a sport, the Vietnamese men's team would beat Thailand 10:0? The most remarkable thing is that Vietnamese cities regularly have free WCs (and clean!), and everyone gets around on motorbikes so you can quickly travel to pee at the prope place. But the Vietnamese definitely prefer fresh air. This person in the helmet is peeing 20 meters away from a public bathroom.
Another one:
25 meters from a WC.
But I have no problem with that. Different country...
"What? Who's behind me?"
"Ah, it's you, good sir! Nice to meet you!"
Exploring night city...
Definitely a place to return in the afternoon.
What fantastic trees there!
Burning ritual money to help spirits - always catches the eye.
Food for the dead. Spirits will eat the spiritual part of this food. When incenses burn out, people will finish the blessed physical part of the food.
Probably, enough pictures...
It's past midnight in Vietnam, I'm sitting online with a dreary sense of uncertainty. Both backpacks are packed, I'm ready to leave for Laos and Thailand, if not for this damn problem with the bank... I think in the morning I'll tell the hostel owner that I'll go to the border with Laos to get a new stamp and come back. It will be easier to solve the problem with my bank in Vietnam. If I knew in advance... But I got SMS from my bank only today. :(
More Southeast Asian stories to come, stay tuned! Check out my previous posts on my personal Worldmappin map.
I took these images with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G on a full-frame DSLR Nikon D750 on January 13-14, 2025, in Hue, Vietnam.