Yesterday morning we taxied over to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and got in line to tour the mausoleum. The above picture was taken after the mausoleum closed for lunch but in the morning the procedure for entering was very strict. We had to line up about 300 meters away and go through a luggage checkpoint, where they took all backpacks, then go through a security checkpoint just like at an airport and then through another spot where you were supposed to leave cameras and cellphones, although many people just kept them in their pockets.
We walked slowly 2 x 2 toward the mausoleum. Everyone had to be respectfully dressed with no tank tops, shorts or other revealing clothing allowed. The guards told people to remove their sunglasses.There were many Vietnamese schoolchildren there too, in large groups. Some groups of kids all wore white shirts and others all wore little white hats.
We filed slowly and solemnly into the mausoleum past white uniformed guards about every 20 feet. Everyone was silent, as required. We walked along a red vinyl carpet and into a dimly lit hall and filed along one side, across the end and back along the other side. In the middle was a glass case where Ho Chi Minh's preserved body lay in, like in a glass coffin. It was very solemn and people were very respectful. This is probably the most sacred place in Vietnam. Despite being painted as an evil terrorist lunatic by the American government in the 70s, "Uncle Ho" as he is known here was a patriot who led his people out of over 100 years of colonial oppression by the French, Japanese (during WWII) and Americans. He is revered in Vietnam. Walking slowly past his body was a very powerful experience.
After the mausoleum we went to the Ho Chi Minh museum in the same park. There were lots of interesting artifacts, writings and pictures from his life. Sadly, he died in 1969 before he saw his country liberated from the Americans. The museum showed very little about the wars with the French and the Americans but focused instead on Ho Chi Minh's life and philosophy.
After being so solemn and respectful for the mausoleum, the school kids loosened up a little as they walked toward the museum. Lots of them said hello to us in English.
These girls are college students who had come with their class to see the mausoleum and museum. Lots of Vietnamese people come here on a kind of pilgrimage. Many times, students like to chat with us to practice their English. It's always fun. Anita asked them to pose with her. One told her she was very beautiful.
When the boys saw the picture taking, although they were very shy at first, they wanted a picture too. Anita Jolie in Vietnam.
There were lots of guards in white uniforms stationed around. They were no problem but could be quite strict with people who walked where they shouldn't.
After the museum, we walked a few blocks to the old citadel area. These are some French colonial buildings there.
This is the old citadel. There were lots of nice potted plants and bushes.
In a parking area behind the war museum were half a dozen captured American planes and helicopters. We didn't bother with the war museum since we'd seen much of that in Ho Chi Minh City.
We were tired after this busy morning so we spent the late afternoon in our room. We managed to book a flight from Hanoi to Hue next week after we get off the night train from Sapa in the northwest near the Chinese border. We also got a nice hotel in Hue for 3 nights. The business of travel.
Last night we went to a good little restaurant a few blocks from here. There are lots of very tiny restaurants around with great food. We try to watch the hygiene conditions. There are hundreds of street food vendors but we are very careful about them because you never know how long food has sat in the sun with no refrigeration and how clean the dishes are.
This morning we walked toward the French quarter past the old St Joseph's Cathedral built in the 1880s.
We walked past Hoan Kiem Lake, a small lake in Hanoi which is the centre of several Vietnamese legends.
This is the Hanoi Opera House.
As we walked past the ritzy Metropole Hotel in the French quarter, we noticed several couples posing for wedding pictures. By the time we had walked through 2 nice little parks and back to Hoan Kiem Lake, we had seen 20 couples (I counted them) with photographers and lighting assistants. We don't know if this was an auspicious day for wedding photos or if this happens every day.
Anita asked this couple if it was okay to take a picture and they smiled in agreement. The bride is more traditionally dressed. Some of the brides arrived with several changes of outfits.
Here's another couple on the bridge to the little island in Hoan Kiem Lake.
This is a big intersection near Hoan Kiem Lake where there's enough distance to get a photo of the buildings. Most streets are narrow and crowded. This at least give a bit of perspective on the city.
We ate lunch at the "Noodle and Roll" restaurant that we found on some street. It looked busy so we thought it should be good. One order of crab spring rolls with vermicelli noodles, one order of grilled beef, sauce and vermicelli noodles and one beer came to 90,000 dong ($4.50).
Tonight we'll go somewhere in the neighbourhood for a light supper. Tomorrow morning a mini bus picks us up at 8 am for the 3 hour drive to Halong Bay and our overnight cruise on the Dragon's Pearl Junk. Should be fun.
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