November 19, 2010

Today, we did the whole tourist-thing and spent the day wandering from site to site in Hanoi.

First, we visited the Ho Chi Minh Museum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh_Museum):

Ho Chi Minh Museum

Next, was the One Pillar Pagoda (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Pillar_Pagoda):

One Pillar Pagoda

Then, it was on to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh_Mausoleum). Our timing was lucky; we got there just in time for the changing-of-the-guard ceremony.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Changing-of-the-guard Ceremony at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Of course we couldn’t go too long without another Vietnamese Coffee…

Vietnamese Coffees with a view of Hoan Kiem Lake.

Now, thoroughly refreshed, it was on to the Temple of Literature (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Literature,_Hanoi):

Shrine at the Temple of Literature.

Incense coil at Shrine.

Another Shrine at the Temple of Literature.

Gateway at the Temple of Literature.

Inscribed Stones at the Temple of Literature.

Wandering through parts of the city…

Homes close to the tracks.

More homes close to the tracks.

Gold Malt microbrewery.

Next, we came to that Hanoi must-visit; the Maison Centrale  –  the Hoa Lo Prison… more infamously known as, the Hanoi Hilton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%E1%BB%8Fa_L%C3%B2_Prison).

Outside the walls of the infamous Hanoi Hilton.

Main entrance to the Hanoi Hilton.

Hanoi Hilton – Hoa Lo Prison, Hanoi.

All that remains of the Hanoi Hilton.

Glass shard-topped walls at the Hanoi Hilton.

A little left-over from the French Colonial-times.

Finally, our tourist-day comes to an end. As we head back to our hotel and then dinner… dusk comes, but the pace of life in Hanoi never seems to slacken.

The pace of Hanoi-life.

November 20, 2010

Per usual, this morning we were awakened by the “dulcet-toned” voice of the woman Eron and I nicknamed, Hanoi Helen. She obviously works for the Ministry of Extolling Workers’ Virtues (or whatever…) and her voice came blasting out of speakers mounted on telephone poles early every morning. She would spend about 10 minutes pumping up the worker-masses for another day of toiling for the betterment of the state accompanied by cheesy patriotic back-ground music… it was surreal – something straight out of old communist propaganda films…

One of Hanoi Helen’s many speakers.

Morning view of Hang Manh Street, Hanoi

Another look at Hang Manh Street, Hanoi.

Breakfast-time on Hang Manh Street, Hanoi.

Setting up for the day.

We spent the morning wandering about…

Can you remember where you parked?

Business happens everywhere in Hanoi.

One of many Christmas-themed stores we encountered.

And of course, almost everywhere we’ve been in our travels, we find at least one of these…

Finnegan’s Irish Pub, Hanoi.

In the afternoon, we made the trek over to the Vietnam Military History Museum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Military_History_Museum):

Entrance to the Vietnam Military History Museum, Hanoi.

Part of the old fortifications at the Vietnam Military History Museum.

Macabre sculpture made of parts from downed US aircraft.

The main VC “truck” – a payload of over 350 kg.

Part of a downed US B-52.

After an early dinner, we check out of our hotel and head south for the next destination in our journey; the city of Hue. This involved an overnight trip (incarceration?) on the “Gulag Train”. This was in an old-school Soviet-style luxury train car. It was decorated in various shades of scuffed stainless steel, institutional green, and (of course) Soviet-gray. However, due to it being a luxury tourist-car; our train car did feature air-conditioning. Unfortunately, the air-conditioner cooled the air WITHOUT dehumidifying it at all! So, for the next 10 hours or so, we sat in our sleeper compartment surrounded by cool, clammy air – about 18 degrees Celsius with a humidity of over 95%. Blech! I still get the chills thinking about it now.

At the Train Station, Hanoi.

Soviet-style luxury train sleeper compartment.

Soviet-style luxury train.