Joined: May 18, 2009 Posts: 364 Location: Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
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Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 1:55 pm Post subject: Back from Nam
We went there just in time for their Tet New Year Celebration, like Christmas in Manila, it was crazy with traffic everywhere. You will see Nam flags all over the place as it is their custom.
A very early morning departure from Kaohsiung International Airport. Check-in and passing thru x-ray, detectors was fast as usual.
Long wait to claim luggages with old style conveyor, but passing thru custom is without a hitch as some custom officers were not even there and you can go out freely. It would be nice if NAIA were like that for a change.
Joined: May 13, 2009 Posts: 382 Location: Southen California DFAC
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Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:57 pm Post subject: Re: Back from Nam
Nice pics! I wish I had the time or money to travel...
When an old teammate of mine went to Vietnam (he's Vietnamese) they went in one of those restaurants where they pick out the cobra itself, then cut out the heart while its still alive and serve it to you.
Joined: May 18, 2009 Posts: 364 Location: Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
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Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 6:49 pm Post subject: Re: Back from Nam
They serve all kinds of lizards and snakes. Yuk. China, Hong Kong and likewise here in Taiwan serve snakes in the same manner.
I was disappointed as I wanted to visit "Hanoi Hilton" but because of wrong timing, all gov't offices including the museums were closed for the duration of our stay there because of their Tet Holidays.
We were supposed to go to Siem Reap Angkor Wat, Cambodia but visas are needed. So we changed direction and went to North Vietnam instead as visas are not required for Filipinos who will not stay for more than 60 days. Maybe to Cambodia next trip when we have more time to get a visa.
VC helmets, diff kinds of caps, uniforms that wouldn't fit us and VC boots. Don't know how to get to the surplus shops but I heard there are collectibles there including GI left-overs. The tour is on a tight sched so I didn't have the opportunity to run around @ wasted a lot of time visiting pottery factories and Gemstone shops.
Was only able to buy this plastic thing and it's a fake but cost only half of the original which I think is made of thin fiber-glass. The fake looked better though, for outdoor use and gaming purposes it'll do.
Joined: May 18, 2009 Posts: 364 Location: Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: Back from Nam
Airsoft is very new in Vietnam and due to some sensitive issue; this sport is only for available for friends or family members of current players. Who knows someday they will be able to have their own club and games are open to public. They are working toward this direction and try to make this sport be accepted by the local authorities.
Airsoft Hobby and Sport Exists in:
United States - Legal
United Kindom - Legal
Hong Kong - Legal. < 2 Joules
Norway - Above 18 to play / buy airosft | 16 with permission from the local police.
Hungary - Legal
Croatia - Legal
Germany - Legal. Need a proof sign of a local authority, semi-auto only and < 7.5 Joule.
Poland - Legal and above 18
Finland - Legal
Slovenia - Legal
Switzerland - Legal
France - Legal
New Zealand - Legal for semi-auto airsoft gun. Above 18 or 16 with firearm license
Japan - Legal
Indonesia - Airsoft exist
Philippines - Airsoft exist
Taiwan - Legal. Airsoft gun impact energy below 20 Joules/cm2
Joined: May 13, 2009 Posts: 382 Location: Southen California DFAC
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Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:10 am Post subject: Re: Back from Nam
I know Evike himself, been shopping from him for a couple of years now since his very small beginnings. And since the Hagibis team inception he has been very supportive. Evike has a huge selection of AEGS from the high end stuff to the Chinese made clones. His shop is only 15-20 mins away from my house, if any of you guys come over here I'll gladly take you there and the other airsoft shops as well.
Airsoft is not legal everywhere, AFAIK airsoft is not legal in NYC or in NY itself. I believe players travel to New Jersey to play. Some states airsoft is still not heard off due to a strong paintball influence.
I'll even take you to the surplus shops I go to so you can get your purchase on! I'll even take you to a game--I have enough guns and gear for that.
Jolly good, Patrick. Now, if only I could get that visa approved.
But not within the year cause have to head back to RP, my bro-in-law is gettin' married this July and my nephew too but no date yet. Is Hayward near your place?
Hayward is 600+ miles or roughly 7+ hours away. Hayward is in Northern California.
hmmm..... I would practically waste one whole day just to drive to you, considering I don't get lost in the freeways and another day just to go back. Ouch! Maybe Scotty can beam me there if Kirk would allow it but then Spock would think it illogical. HaHaHa
So you went directly to Hanoi. What other places did you visit? Ho Chi Min City?
Did the stores have any US GI stuff?
We landed in Hanoi Int'l, the guide took us to some tourist spots then towards Ha-Long Bay riding in those sampans visiting the many islands. The military shops are along the way back to Hanoi, but nothing of our interest. It,s the surplus military shops you should remember to look for, they have the things we need.
Ho-Chi-Minh City or Saigon is down south, no we didn't go there. Maybe next trip. Many nice locations we haven't visited, what a waste of time and money. You should have your own itinerary like the caucasian backpackers. The places we wanna go to are only included in the north American tour packages for westerners, maybe Pinas have a better and diff tour package all together. And we went there in such bad timing, I forgot it was their Tet Holidays so Hanoi Hilton was closed. Just my luck I guess. Except for the fake NVA Regular Army Pith Helmet, didn't bring anything home.
Check this site out for more info on the pith helmet:
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