I visited in Cao Bang Province in 2017 and it could have killed me. You can read about the whys and wherefores here. Needless to say, it was pretty scary and a solid reminder that press trips are often not what they’re cracked up to be. And because I couldn’t write a glowing review, I submitted my pictures… which were never published. Talk about adding insult to injury!
Having said that, I met some cool people and it was special being the only foreigner on the trip. I discovered that my Vietnamese was better than beginner, that 2 minute noodles are a welcome respite after three days of eggs (what people give you if they find out you are vegetarian and are unprepared), and that the Americans and Australians lost the war because there was no way they could have trained and been sufficiently prepared for the conditions. Even my Vietnamese companions said they found the going tough — and dangerous.
Over the course of two days, I managed to get some fabulous photos recording Cao Bang, which is still rural and only just opening up to tourists…
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