April 30 Da Nang

Of the things we remembered fondly from our last trip to Vietnam, were the completely different landscapes, manmade or natural. That would include the beautiful hills and the contiguous sea of motor bikes.
(Exercise equipment in the park, rather than in gyms)
The hills are still there, but there seem to be more cars in the mix, now . 
(Nobody holding this dog!)
(at least, someone's holding the baby!)

We took an excursion to see The Golden Bridge, a structure that was only completed a year after we had last been here.
The bus drive took a little more than an hour and brought us within 37km of the Laos border.
Most unfortunately, this was the second day of a 5 day holiday that celebrates the departure of the American troops,approx 50 years ago.
So whereas, our destination would normally be busy with 3 or 4000 people, today, over 22,000 would show up. 
https://photos.app.goo.gl/nkYvGHfV934ZYG3g6
To get to the bridge, you take the world's second longest (the world's longest, built by the same group, is in Hanoi) cable car (7km). Postings said 10 people per car. I think that they meant 10 Vietnamese. For us bigger foreign types, there was no effort made to pack us in.
The cable car brought us 1500 meters high, over and through jungles and cicadas, taking 17 minutes to get there and we were SO fortunate,
because we had clear views for the entire trip. Only once we reached the top, did we eventually become ensconced in pea soup fog.
(this was supposed to be the fountains of Versailles)
Consequently, on the way down, it occasionally drizzled. So today, not only do I present pictures taken through dirty windows, but also pics through rainy windows.
After we arrived at the top, and visited the bridge, and some gardens,
there was one final 2 minute ride to the peak next door, where we found ourselves in a quasi Disneyland (minus the cartoon figures). We were looking forward to taking a coaster ride, but they shut it down when the fog totally shrouded the ride. So settled in for drink and a little entertainment.
To be honest, although it was all very impressive, the fake European village that has been created, was ok, with 500 rooms in the resort,
but for me, the ultimate ride was the cable car up through the natural forest. 
On the way down the gorge, it occasionally drizzled.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3Wq4tcWrAeUEYqFn9
Continuously, while on the drive there and back, the guide would tell us all sorts of stories. The one that struck home for me, was when the entire country was locked down for 4 months. Absolutely every business was closed, including grocery stores. They weren't even allowed to go out on the sidewalk. If they didn't have even food or drugs, it was too bad. It became difficult to even have anything delivered. And of course, there wasn't any financial support.

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