1000 Year Celebration

Xuan and I spent 3 days in Viet Nam's capital city, Ha Noi. The city was busy with preparations for the cities 1000 year anniversary. Con đường gốm sứ (translated: pottery street) pictured bellow has a mural that stretches three kilometers celebrating art and pottery of the country. Below are pictures from Hoan Kiem lake, Ho Chi Minh's Presidential palace, tomb and home. A few random picture really, also including a night view from our hotel room. We also visited the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology - which I found to be very racist!! hehe At 9pm on the third day we boarded the Orient Express to Lao Cai province on our way to the mountain city of Sa Pa, near the Viet Nam Chinese boarder.

checking out the view from our hotel room. We stayed at the Heart Hotel and loved it. The staff was extremely friendly. They even gave me a ride to the nearest gas station to fill up my rental.

On the Bridge to the Tortoise temple in Hồ Hoàn Kiếm lake.

The temple that marks where a legendary sword is kept safe. A legend tells of a king who was gven a sword by a god to defeat his foes, provided he returned it.

Ho Chi Minh's tomb. No camera's allowed inside....

The presidential palace of Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minhs home on stilts

1000 year old university

Play that banjo baby!

I was jammin hard here, feeling the music.

Xuan's hut

Good night Ha Noi

The Larson family hosts a wedding celebration - Aug 16th, 2009

The reception started at 2pm at my uncle Steve's home in Vung Tau. Barbara, my Dad and Steve hosted everyone for BBQ and drinks and then we all met at the Bamboo Garden Seafood Restaurant (Nha Hang Vuon Bien Quan Tre).

I am a little short on photo's for the day. I am sure more exist but I have to get them from my sister, Barbara and my father. I'll update this post when I have more photo's.

Wedding banquet - August 15th, 2009

The banquet after the wedding was amazing. Xuan chose a few menu items including the giant snails. Xuan and I spent much of the banquet going from table to table so everyone could have their picture taken with the bride and groom. The live band kept the party going and just when things might have slowed down Xuan's classmates grabbed the microphone and took the party to the next level. My friends Greg and Brian Sebasatian convinced me to get up on stage to play a song with them. The party ended abruptly when our hired bus and car drivers informed us their contract was about to expire and they would head back down to Vung Tau with or without us. As a result the banquet ended on a high-point - that probably was for the best as it will be remembered as a party that never slowed down!

After the banquet all of Xuan's friends and her university teacher gathered together and held a after party going away party for Xuan.

Many mot, hai, ba yo's were had (same same as 'cheers').

I could not have been more happy with the days events. It was truly a beautiful wedding and banquet. It was difficult to chose the photo's for this blog that best represent the day.

The Wedding - August 15th, 2009

After the grooms party arrived at Xuan's parents home the ceremony begins. The groom and bride pray to the ancesters first and then pay respect to their families by offering them rice-wine. Then we moved on to a Cao Dai temple for a ceremony. Xuan's family follows the Cao Dai religious tradition.

Dinner in Dong Nai province - August 14th, 2009

Traditionally the night before a wedding the bride must pay respect to her family. August 14th was Xuan's night to do this and her father invited my family and friends to celebrate with the brides family. The food was great as always and this was my family and friends first opportunity to meet Xuan's family.