3x3 - Vietnam

February 27, 2019

Marigold On Tour veterans Paul Nicholas and Rosemary Shrager are joined by new recruits Syd Little and Stephanie Beacham for an adventure in the heart of Vietnam. Beginning their time in the hot and humid capital city of Hanoi, Rosemary and Stephanie explore their local neighbourhood while Syd and Wayne decide to cool off with an afternoon dip. Teaming up with a local swimming club, the pair discover that the banks of the famous Red River are a haven for locals who like to shed their clothes and make the most of the sheltered surroundings. The next day begins with a 5am wake up call as the group join hundreds of local pensioners exercising around the idyllic Hoan Kiem Lake. Reunited after their time in India, Syd and Stephanie decide to enrol in an art class which brings them face to face with a downed B-52 bomber, a stark reminder of the Vietnam War. For the second half of their stay, the group swap the heat of the city for a cooler climate in the mountainous region of Lao Cai. Teaming up with a travelling party of pensioners, Stephanie and Wayne decide to make the 180-mile journey on a coach, while Syd and Rosemary share an adventure, and a cabin, on the overnight sleeper train. Amazed by their spectacular new surroundings the group decide to end their time in Vietnam by scaling the summit of its highest mountain. After a terrifying cable car journey, the high altitude means not everyone makes it all the way to top. However, after a hectic stay in the city, the imposing mountain provides the perfect backdrop for the group to reflect on their dizzying time in Vietnam.