Vietnam Biennial: February 23 – March 3, 2026

February 1

Welcome to the International Palm Society’s 34th biennial and our first in Vietnam. Later this month we will experience an itinerary created by Dr. Andrew Henderson, author of The palms of Vietnam.

Although we are three weeks away from embarking, I am creating this page now in hopes that many of our travelers will post pictures here.

Licuala bachmaensis in Bach Ma village. Photo by Dr. Andrew Henderson.

February 12

For those attending or reading about our trip notice another topic

February 12

Here is the Live Update Link to the Vietnam Itinerary Brochure: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lJnpjq_TKqmPs2liuA1zNABhWAXLJorU/view?usp=sharing

February 17

Members are beginning to arrive in Vietnam for the biennial. I received this photograph from longtime member and director Norman Bezona. Livistona halongesis in habitat from (where else) the limestone cliffs of Ha Long Bay

February 20

Flying over Tokyo on our way to Hanoi for the start of the 34th biennial. Now we’re really starting to get excited!

February 21

You never know who you’ll run into at an international airport before a biennial…it’s usually a bunch of IPSers. Here they are in Hong Kong in the wee hours of the early morning.

February 21

Welcome! Hope you got some sleep.

Enjoying a sumptuous buffet breakfast at the MGallery hotel in Hanoi which is where the Board meeting takes place tomorrow.

February 21

The official IPS travel begins Feb 23 but those on the Board needed to add on hotel costs to be present for the 8 am start.

Then we will move the day after to the hard to believe it even fancier hotel included in the travel cost.

Both hotels are surrounded by very fancy stores like Prada and Vuitton, but I was very happy with my USD 50 cents magnet depicting train street which was part of a city tour set up by Tracy.

And I had ice cream for lunch as one must buy something to sit next to the train and it is vacation so ice cream for lunch is totally allowed in my opinion.

I like the interesting tea cup in our room too.

February 22

Scenes from Hanoi

February 22

We typically have with us on the IPS biennial several officers from other plant societies. One of my besties is the president of the Ti Plant Society in SoCal. So this is in his honor: “Hanoi Candycane”

February 22

It is 4:33 am Monday Feb 23 and the official start of the Biennial. Some of us who needed to attend yesterday’s Board meeting will make the 2 minute walk to check in for the included stay at the historic Sofitel hotel.

There is a hall of history some of which I include here. Bomb shelters below the hotel and Jane Fonda and Joan Baez spent time here plus many famous politicians and actors.

February 22

There was an option to pay for a heritage train ride today so many of the Board members chose to add that on. I am sure more photos to follow.

We are looking forward to heading to the national parks soon although being pampered in fancy hotels helped turn down the jet lag.

Most of all I look forward to seeing friends from past adventures and meeting those I hope to count as friends by the end of our travel!

February 22

High above Hanoi: the Prince of Palms (journal), the Queen of PalmTalk and some dude.

image.jpeg.7ac07d4590574cf3a54729e4608dd990.jpeg

February 24

Mary Lock inspects the betel vendors at the Long Bien market in Hanoi. All of the betel nuts for sale were still green, which is apparently preferred over fully ripe nuts in Vietnam

This vendor peels the fruit and arranges them as if they were flowers - an edible arrangement.

These arrangements serve as gifts for your discerning betel nut chewer.

The gift package is handed over to a motorbike courier for delivery.

February 24

That last photo is the vendor explaining what chewing betel nut does to your teeth.

February 24

We had our first hike of the biennial today at Cuc Phuong National Park. The weather was cloudy and drizzling but that didn't stop us from having a great time. Here is an Arenga westerhoutii along the trail.