Phat Diem. Important center for Catholicism during the French era. There was also a seminary here. The Bishop ruled his own private army here until 1951. The cathedral featured prominently in Graham Greene’s novel THE QUIET AMERICAN.
The 1954 division of VN caused Catholics to flee South, but it is now functional again and there are about 120,000 Catholics around here.
Vietnamese Catholics (worshipping their motorbikes, I mean)…in mass.
Covered bridge dating back to the 19th century.
As I was driving my rented motorbike back, I saw this complex behind the storefronts. A girl’s volleyball game. They were terrible. No recruiting possible. But, the rally went on forever. bump.bump.bump.set.bump.bump.bump….and when a girl finally bumped like the 324th contact into the net, everyone, including the coaches just laughed and clapped…oh, they have a lot to learn…(former player and coach, so I can judge)
Doubles. Just as bad. But great platform. Toes should be pointed inwards, though. I had to get outta there before I made everyone run laps.
JUN09. Ninh Binh, Vietnam.