Remembering the first two overseas trips (Wang Shibei)

On the evening of October 20, 2018, a group of people arrived at the southernmost tip of Yunnan and entered Laos through Boten Port. That night I watched the Boten Show with great interest - a performance by a popular artist. I am over seventy years old and it is my first time to go abroad. The joy is self-evident.

In Laos, we first came to a place called Boten Ancient Village. It is said that this is a better village in the local area. However, the village here has a dilapidated appearance and rugged roads. , the primitive and simple life scenes of the Guzhai people, the poor life they lead, and the situation of the elderly and children lining up in groups to beg from passers-by, all make people feel an inexplicable sympathy and pity. Not far from the village, there is an ancient salt field with a history of 300 years. It is rich in mineral edible salt and is very famous in Laos. This huge salt field still uses the ancient craft of boiling salt using local methods. It has no modern industrial atmosphere and is completely a large workshop with a sense of vicissitudes of life.

In Laos, Chinese trucks and large machinery can be seen everywhere. Chinese engineers and technicians are enthusiastically assisting Laos in building roads, railways, railway stations, and helping them with infrastructure construction. Even the hotel we stayed in was invested, built and operated by the Chinese themselves. The Belt and Road Initiative has brought Laos not only real money, but also unprecedented opportunities and prosperity.

After breakfast on October 22, we took the tour bus towards the largest town on the China-Myanmar border. Along the way, we saw the scenery of villages where many ethnic minorities such as the Dai, Hani, and Lahu live. The land attracts the attention of every visitor. After arriving at Daluo, a national port on the China-Myanmar border, we visited there. The port buildings in Daluo are tall and majestic, novel and unique, and have a distinctive exotic style. We visited and took photos in front of the national gate and boundary posts, visited Buddhist temples and pagodas along the border, felt the Buddhist culture, and appreciated the exotic scenery. Then take a tour of China-Myanmar Street to visit and appreciate the coveted jade culture.

On the afternoon of October 24, a group of people took a train from Kunming to Hekou, a city on the border between China and Vietnam. The next day, they entered Lao Cai, an important town in northwest Vietnam, from Hekou Port. There is only a Red River between Lao Cai and China. The river is not too wide and connected by bridges. Looking across the river, you can hear the sounds of chickens and dogs. Due to long-term French colonial rule, many buildings in the old street have a strong French flavor. After getting our passports and visas, we took a bus to Hanoi, the capital. The roads in Vietnam are wide and smooth. There are not too many vehicles on the road and the traffic is smooth. On both sides of the road, there are mountains and hills as far as the eye can see. They are covered with grass and trees, and the scenery is beautiful. The bus drove at full speed and arrived in Hanoi at almost dusk. We took a tour of Hanoi's cityscape and then transferred to a French tricycle to visit the 36 ancient streets in Hanoi. The streets in Hanoi are not very wide. Locals mainly travel by motorcycles. There are few cars. Cars and motorcycles travel together. There seems to be no lane separation. By chance, the traffic is jammed during the evening rush hour. The tourist bus was traveling on the street, like a chicken standing out from the crowd. Sitting in the bus, we were worried about the slow speed of the bus, and we were even more impressed by the superb motorcycle riding skills of the locals. It would be more appropriate to describe the traffic situation in Hanoi as a motorcycle kingdom. That night, the group stayed at a hotel in Hanoi.

The next morning, we continued our tour in Hanoi. We visited Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and paid homage to Ho Chi Minh's remains, the Presidential Palace of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh's former residence, and the One Pillar Pagoda; we took a car to take a closer look at the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, etc. Ba Dinh Square is similar to Tiananmen Square. The Vietnamese National Congress, the highest authority of the People's Army and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum are all built around the square. The square is broad and spacious, surrounded by green trees and towering bamboos, and is extremely beautiful. Ho Chi Minh's body lies in the mausoleum, well preserved for people to pay their respects. His remains look like a deep sleeper, calm and peaceful. Because they are so close and so high up, they are clearly distinguishable.

The Presidential Palace is located next to a beautiful artificial lake, across the lake from Ho Chi Minh's former residence. The Presidential Palace is magnificent and high-end. The Vietnamese tour guide told us that the Vietnamese President originally planned to meet with Chinese tourists that day, but due to the reception of foreign guests, he made a temporary change.

Whether it’s true or not, we don’t know!

Ho Chi Minh lived a simple life. He lived in a bungalow facing the lake. Although it was simple, it was very neat. During his lifetime, he always maintained a profound friendship with Chairman Mao and other older generation revolutionaries. "China and Vietnam have a deep friendship, and friends become brothers." This was a well-known saying of that era. To this day, the words are still ringing in my ears. I had the honor to visit his former residence today, and I felt very cordial! I can’t help but feel nostalgic!

After lunch, the group left Hanoi and took a bus to Halong, 180 kilometers southeast of Hanoi. That night, stay in Halong. The next day, we went to visit Halong Bay. After arriving at Thuan Chau Pier, we first watched the water puppet show, which is known as one of the quintessences of Vietnam. Then we took a Vietnamese characteristic cruise ship to go out to sea and roam and appreciate the masterpieces of nature and one of the eight wonders of the world. Halong Bay, get up close and personal with this refreshing world natural heritage.

Halong Bay is famous all over the world for its beautiful sea, secluded mountains and strange caves. When you come here, you will be surprised to see that on the sea surface of more than 1,500 square kilometers, there are more than 3,600 karst rocks of different sizes and shapes. There are so many green fairy rocks, some like swans, some like roosters, some like gauze hats, some like dragon chairs... Each one seems to be floating vividly on the endless water, like a maze wonderland. , shocking and fascinating. Unknowingly, the cruise ship approached the Surprise Cave. The Surprise Cave is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay. It covers an area of ??about 10,000 square meters and has three rooms: the outer, middle and inner rooms. The countless small nests on the top of the cave are the most amazing thing about the cave. The entrance of the Surprise Cave It's very common, but when tourists enter the cave, you will feel as if you are walking under the cloud-covered sky. The uncanny skills of the God of Creation are really amazing!

After coming out of the Surprise Cave, take a speedboat to the entrance of Moon Lake, feel the thrill of riding the wind and waves all the way, and then transfer to a small wooden boat to enter the cave. Moon Lake is a closed bay with 360-degree vertical cliffs. The surrounding stone walls are shaped like vertical barrels, which is ethereal and claustrophobic. On the cliffs, you can see naughty and cute sea monkeys playing in the mountains and by the lake. Viewed from above, the lake is as round as the full moon, and the water is so clear that you can see the bottom, so it is called Moon Lake.

After leaving Moon Lake, we went to the most romantic and beautiful Paradise Island in Vietnam. Paradise Island is the only island in Halong Bay with a beach. The golden beach and blue water make people feel like they are in a paradise. Climb onto Paradise Island and appreciate the pleasure of "being at the top of the mountain and seeing all the small mountains at a glance". Looking around, you will see green mountains and green waters with bright colors. The mountains are floating on the water and people are swimming in the paintings. The mountains and waters are beautiful and the magnanimity is extraordinary. It is like entering the paradise island. Penglai Wonderland comes to the human world.

Ha Long Bay is beautiful, full of vitality, full of poetry and painting, comparable to a landscape gallery. It is a precious treasure blessed by the Creator to the Vietnamese people. It is not an exaggeration to call it "Guilin on the Sea"!

Wang Shibei, a native of Jingyuan, Gansu Province, is a senior middle school teacher. He is fond of writing journalism, prose and poetry. He has been writing non-stop for decades. From time to time, his poems have appeared in newspapers, periodicals or radio broadcasts. He is the author of "Starlight Collection", "Time Collection", etc. He is the honorary chairman of Jingyuan County Writers Association, a director of Baiyin City Poetry and Couplets Association, and a member of Gansu Provincial Writers Association.