‘Just because something isn’t happening for you right now doesn’t mean that it will never happen.’
Flags of Hanoi, Vietnam
This week in Hanoi, Vietnam has been a real treat. We are right in the heart of the old quarter near Hoan Kiem Lake – there’s a great fable about this lake (check out the link.) Each morning they do all sorts of calisthenics around this lake and surrounding streets.
During the day time it’s a city of never-ending noise from Roosters crowing to horns honking – I love it. It has such energy and seems to be always moving – even if crossing the street can feel like mayhem on wheels. There seems to be a gentle understanding of fluidity – horns honk, but there’s no real aggression expressed – not like a New York cabbie! Just a gentle warning and then move on – swim around you. I like it, as there seems to be a good awareness. You can’t become complacent and assume you know what will happen, but need to be flexible to step aside or stop as needs be. It looks and sounds worse than it is. It’s better than in Western driving when you are always second guessing who will ‘run that traffic light’ – here they just do and you just go around it.
Crazy Streets of Hanoi
Celebrations for the Labour Day and Re-Unification of Vietnam
This has been a week of holidays – they’ve had Labour Day and Re-Unification Day, so it’s been a lot of flags
Communist flags of Vietnam
and fireworks.
Fireworks
We’ve managed to see some of the main tourist sites – Temple of Literature (1,000 years old),
Temple of Literature
the ‘Maison Centrale’ or ‘Hanoi Hilton’ or Hanoi Prison (interesting political history of Vietnam),
Hanoi Prison
Water Puppets
Night Market
Temples,
Temple
Ho Chi Minh Museum
and one-pillar pagoda,
One Legged Pagoda
Ethnology Museum (great place for cultural history of Vietnam)
Village Hut – this is a matriarchal home, with 2 entrances the one with the breasts is for ladies and guests. It’s polite to grab the breasts when you enter.
and an example of an old house in the old quarter.
Old House
Part of this we did on our own and part was with Hanoikids – a free tour guide run by local students to help them improve their conversational English. Really great opportunity to meet and talk with a local and see places you wouldn’t normally see.
John with our Hanoikid guide – Lê Phương Vũ
This is the first place we’ve been where theft, haggling and dodging cons is just a part of the tourist life. We’ve had people who try to fix our ‘broken’ shoes to taxis with quickly rising fares. So far, we’ve managed to dodge, but none of it takes away from the wonderous world that is Hanoi! Such a great place to be introduced to. What are some of your nightmare experiences with travel?
Communist freedom fighters statue
Debx
