7th Heaven Restaurant

I forgot to get a picture other than this. Check out 7th Heaven Restaurant Dong Hoi on Facebook. It was the only place open on the Tet holiday. Good cheeseburger and fries. I spent a long time talking with the owner and his friends and the other customers. The owner is a Vietnam veteran who moved here 11 years ago. He does a lot of philanthropy and other charity work for those affected by Agent Orange and unexploded ordnance. A really nice guy. Lots of kids benefit. He walked with his wife from Saigon to Hanoi to promote the cause. By the time he got to Hanoi there were hundreds walking with him.
The other pics are the river walk at night in Dong Hoi.

Made it!

The train ride was a highlight of this trip. Even got a nap in. I'll post some video compilations next. One video I made the background music Dire Straits 'Ride Across the River'. I listened to the whole Brothers in Arms album on the trip. Appropriate.

Dong Hoi

So far this is the best town I've visited. I wish now I had stayed a full day here. The next day I'll be going up to the park to stay for 3 nights.
That's the train car I rode in all the way.
Dong Hoi is a very old town with a few relics still preserved. It was a major staging area for the NVA during the war. It's now very thriving. The air is clean and it's quieter than the other places I've been to. That's a picture of my hotel and out my window.

Video-Ben Hai River to Dong Hoi train ride

Great song, click to view video:

https://youtu.be/GZJqGZo_AHo

AJ

The Ben Hai river

This was the old border between the North and the South.

The Ben Hai River

Train video Da Nang up to Dong Ha--just short of the old DMZ

A glimpse of what the train is like. Pretty cool.

http://youtu.be/zVVSM1o5DuI


AJ

Quang Tri, then the Dong Ha train station near the old DMZ

More train food

I didn't know what these packets were for. This is a bowl of ramen. The train has hot water on board to make this for.
Turns out, one packet was herbs, another was oil/grease with flavor, and the other was chili paste. It even came with a fork! I'm pretty sure they sell this in the States at the grocery store. It's way better than cup o noodle.

Train station in Hue, then beyond

...continued

...pics continued...

...and more train pics

...more train pics

Train ride pics

>
> I just took a bunch of pictures and screenshots of google maps to show where they were taken.
> Highlights:
> I'm glad I brought my own drinks
> Train food isn't bad. Got a hot dog on a stick for 45cents
> The toilets were NOT very clean--and hard to close the door. At least people used them though.
> People are very friendly but only if you initiate a conversation with a Hello or something. One young guy offered me stick of gum. I shared my Oreos with him. People who speak a little English like to practice on you. It's especially fun when their friends try to help out.
> The last picture is the 15 minute stop in Hue (pronounced Huway). A very important and historic town for Vietnam.
> I never had to change trains.
>