The cruise terminal in Nha Trang is being updated, so we docked in a Vietnamese naval base in Cam Rahn – about an hour bus drive to the south. Ironically, the Silver Whisper was no less than 4-times larger than any of the surrounding VN naval craft.

We started our “Highlights” tour with a visit to a craft village. I’ve been to many of these all over the world over many years. All have been rich-western-tourist traps. However, at least this one had nice flowers amongst the traditional craft neon and blinking LED lights.

One of the craft stations were wooden pens of varying types. Very many. How do I know this? Why, the PhD diploma from “World Record University” for “Most Diverse and Numerous Pen Collection”.

To be fair, there were unique art stations compared to past craft villages. One created the classic Vietnamese conical hat – I found the ceiling more compelling.

There was a sand art station, where the artist poured colored sand between two panes of glass. I can’t even imagine how I’d get that back home to Arizona.

There was a large rattan art and furniture section. Below is a before and after of a 2-meter tall tiger.

There is even yard art for those who celebrate the holiday season where it doesn’t snow.

Thruout our tour we heard the music of the stone xylophone. This one had two levels, and some had western notes written on them.

We then visit the Cham Towers at Po Nagar. The “Champa” kingdoms existed in southeast Asia more than 1000 years ago, and construction started on these towers during the eighth century.

The site had wonderful potted flowering trees, almost bonsai-like.

We had time to also visit Long So’n Temple, known for some large Buddha statues. Half-way up the hill was a rather new reclining Buddha statue.

Now, here is where we enter the cultural classroom. Below are photos of the reclining Buddha’s feet and the hilltop Buddha from the temple grounds.

Yes, those are swastikas. People forget it was an Eurasian religious symbol long before a version was taken by a certain narrow-mustached manic. You will see them all over temples in Asia. Some say it represents the four winds, some say the Buddha’s foot prints.

We then had a Vietnamese buffet lunch. All 15 buses of cruise tourists. I admit, the guides did a good job ensuring we didn’t all arrive at the same time. The food was adequate but not amazing. They did have a “Lucky Buddha” outside.

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Side note: while the scooter traffic in Vietnam is an amazing dance of chaos, everyone wears helmets and most wear fabric masks and full-length shirts or jackets. Seems being hot is preferable to having a sun tan.

Side note 2: I’ve been on busses several days a week for almost three weeks now, and not a single one had a clock that was within four hours of the actual time.