Category: vietnam

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Exploring the neighborhood, Family, vietnam

3 day family trip away from Hanoi: in the jungle and the caves of Phong Nha

Hardly 1h flight from the capital and 30mn car trip lies an incredible gem: Welcome to Phong Nha! Phong Nha is a very interesting place for its particular history: the Ho Chi Minh trail was a military supply route running from Northern Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia to the South Vietnam. The route sent weapons, manpower, ammunition and other supplies from communist-led North Vietnam to their supporters in South Vietnam during … Continue reading 3 day family trip away from Hanoi: in the jungle and the caves of Phong Nha

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covid, Expat, expatriation, hanoi, Inspiration, vietnam, yoga

Spring, finally !!! (with a little present for you)

Do you feel the energy of Spring ? The light and the warmth inviting us to leave the cave we’ve have been hibernating in all those weeks? Do you see the light at the end of the tunnel? The vaccines are finally coming, the season of hugs is about to start !!! I love the (selected) headlines those days, vaccinated people gathering, public spaces slowly … Continue reading Spring, finally !!! (with a little present for you)

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covid, Expat, hanoi, vietnam

Healthy and Prosperous Chinese New Year! (this time for real)

An unusual Tet The Lunar New Year is the most important celebration in Vietnam. Cities turns red and gold, streets are packed with shoppers and the air is filled with joy and excitement. For a week, Vietnamese will express their respects for ancestors as well as welcoming the New Year with family members. It always feels like Hanoi is suddenly depleted of all its vibrant … Continue reading Healthy and Prosperous Chinese New Year! (this time for real)

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expatriation, Family, hanoi, Spread the word, vietnam

Deconfined in Hanoi : back to school !

And finally the day came: for the first time of the year, the kids are finally waiting for the bus to take them to school! The bus monitor is wearing a mask as well, like all the other kids and the driver, and she religiously washes my children hands. Set for the day ! Of course I am having mixed feelings, but they are so … Continue reading Deconfined in Hanoi : back to school !

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Family, hanoi, vietnam, You know you're in VN

Lockdown is over in Hanoi ! A note to my fellow Frenchies

  To celebrate our 11th week of e-learning, the Government announced that the lockdown was finally over in Hanoi. We are beyond thankful to the Government for his management of Covid19. Our expat family has always feel safer in Vietnam than back home, because we knew there would be no discussion of the Government decisions. Collective interest always primes over the individual. People are not … Continue reading Lockdown is over in Hanoi ! A note to my fellow Frenchies

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Family, hanoi, Positive attitude, vietnam

Discover prompts, day 8: Curve

In those confinment days, we still have the luxury to order from our favorite Chocolatier in Vietnam, Maison Marou. The delivery came with a lovely note on a complimentary chocolate bar. Some people might see upcoming curves. The only ones that matter to me are the big ones that appeared on my kids’ faces when they opened the boxes with their “special gouter”. Bon Appetit … Continue reading Discover prompts, day 8: Curve

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Expat, Family, hanoi, My 2 cents worth, vietnam, yoga

Corona Virus in Vietnam: keep your sanity with 2 wolves and a few cartoons

We have entered our third month of homeschooling and I don’t expect the schools to open anytime soon anymore. We are practicing non attachement to whatever our normal routine used to be. Kids will remain at home for a while, and we won’t move out of Hanoi, even for a few days. The tension is palpable. Fear and mistrust weight very heavy those days. I … Continue reading Corona Virus in Vietnam: keep your sanity with 2 wolves and a few cartoons

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Family, hanoi, Parenting, vietnam

Corona Virus: my current life in pictures

There’s not much left of Hanoi anymore. The usually busy streets are worringly quiet. People are all wearing masks and the cafes are desert. If you want to make money, sell hand sanitizers. They became the most sought item and all the pharmacies are “out of stock”. For the last 2 weeks, all planes from China are banned to enter the country. We are living … Continue reading Corona Virus: my current life in pictures

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Culture shock, expatriation, hanoi, My 2 cents worth, Parenting, Spread the word, vietnam

How do you say Greta in Vietnamese?

The new riches in town are selling air imported from Canada, Norway and Switzerland. You can buy your life saving kit on Facebook obviously and in almost every Embassy and International hospital. If only! The situation in Hanoi is getting worse by the week. This morning the AQI was on “dangereux” meaning “hazardous”. Everyone may experience serious health effect and we should all avoir being … Continue reading How do you say Greta in Vietnamese?

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