Wonders Of Vietnam

Exciting adventures and unearthing history.

- Amrinder Kaur Bajaj

Middle of Vietnam 

Da Nang

Soon we were aboard a plane bound for Da Nang and reached our destination in 90 minutes. Little did we know the wonderland that awaited us here. Our bus drove over the six-laned, 666m long, 37.5m wide, Dragon Bridge over the river Han to stop at a very happening place by its side, from where we could see this wonder in its entirety. It was said to breathe fire and water at 9 pm on weekends but we had arrived on the wrong day. Overcoming this disappointment, we walked past a huge statue of a dragon to the Love Lock Bridge, so called because couples lock padlocks (with their names engraved on it) to its railing as a sign of eternal commitment to each other. When I teasingly asked a friend if she put a lock on the railing with the name of a secret lover engraved on it, she replied, "I have come to unlock mine because he did not prove worthy of it." At which we both laughed uproariously for this was the first time we had come here.

After seeing the natural wonder of a glorious sunset over the river, we turned to the man-made fairyland on its bank. This happening place with a large white statue of a dragon, its colourful, changing lights, its restaurants, shops, a bench with a heart-shaped frame where we sat to click pictures, street hawkers from whom we bought peeled and sliced exotic fruits, was a popular night spot. We enjoyed watching people laugh, sing, dance, play the guitar and make merry under red street lamps.

The Sea

The sea was ubiquitous on this tiny island, and irresistible was its pull. In the falling dusk, we went to a cool clean beach where the sea, silvered with moonlight, rushed towards shore to wash our feet and murmur sweet nothings in our ears while the statue of Lady Buddha shone like a beacon light from a distance.