Young people travelling today will call this a rant from a grumpy, old man but what do they know? They never saw the cool stuff or the

crazy things that gave a city its unique character. These people would be helpless without Starbucks, wifi and trip advisor, etc. etc etc. Bah, humbug.

As someone who has come to embrace WiFi and having to book online (but luckily not Star bucks as it is dish water pretending to be Coffee) over 20 years of travel, overall I agree. The - "it was better 10 years ago" thing is often mocked but it often has truth in it. It usually becomes far more expensive, far more developed, far more noisy and commercially minded. Few places go in the reverse direction, unless it is Kabul or Aleppo. On the other hand, ignorance is bliss and I've come to understand that too when somebody is a newbie to an area, has nothing to compare to and is enjoying every moment of their time in a place that we may believe is ruined now. We were all first time visitors at some point.

Interesting photos and memorabilia there AssuranceTourix. Items like the phone card are things that I also retain now. For years I used to just throw things like hotel cards, ferry tickets, train tickets and site entrance tickets away after use. One day I suddenly realised the curio element for years later. Now I've got hotel cards of places that have shut down, and in the case of one card, the card of a hotel which collapsed to the ground after a major earthquake (luckily, some years after my visit). As with visa stickers and changes in design, all these will become more and more interesting as each year passes.

I really like the"money" shots. There's a tale in there...many tales actually...

I came back to Vietnam in 2007 with my thai wife ;

so I shall make another post about that little journey , about 12 days if I remember ;

We took an Air Asia plane at Souvanaphum for Hanoi ;

stay about 5 or 6 days in Hanoi and Halong bay ;

after we went to Hue city by train and stay there about 5 days;

coming back to Hanoi by train and leaving Vietnam for Thailand...by Air Asia return ticket .

Sorry, blurred shot

OP, Great pics, thanks for posting. Not trying to hijack your post but here are a few pics from when I was working in Vietnam from 1969 -71. These were all taken in Nha Trang. If any interest I'll post others later.

Very nice. Looking forward to spending a month exploring the country next year. Thanks!

Thank you for your photos from Nha Trang , khun Spaniel

I found a few more photos from the same town - Nha_Trang - ; year 1994 when I went there with my friends and our MTB

I'm still looking here, have some more, Troubadix?

Hi Chon from Buriram, I suppose ?

I have finish to upload what I have saved from my argentic photos ;

I have began another post about my journey in the same country in may 2007 with my wife;

but during every WE my internet connexion is very slow so I shall continue in the next week .

beautiful physical country, very nice people, questionable government. That has deterred me from visiting. I have been to Asia 14 times now I think. I work with many Vietnamese people here in the USA in the aerospace industry. Maybe one of them will convince me to go and meet up with my future ex-wife!

Hi Chon from Buriram, I suppose ?

I have finish to upload what I have saved from my argentic photos ;

I have began another post about my journey in the same country in may 2007 with my wife;

but during every WE my internet connexion is very slow so I shall continue in the next week .

Dont worry about your connection... many other things to do, than be "online".

Looking forward seeing your new additions here and in the Photoforum.

My TVF- handle is a mix of Chonburi and Buriram, thought it was kind of funny...

We live in Chonburi Province but also have a place in Buriram were we have to look after, incl. my wifes mother.