November 9, 2008

 

Today we flew to Hanoi, Vietnam.  We went to the luggage area and I got my
 luggage right away, but the other 4 people had to wait almost an hour and
 a half for theirs.  We never found out what happened, but were happy they
 all finally got their luggage.

 

We met our tour guide Tuan who was about 4’10”. After we settled in our
 rooms, we were ready for a walking tour around Hanoi. Hanoi doesn’t have
 any traffic lights, so the only way to cross the street is to put your
 hand above your head and start walking and praying!!!  I was a little
 worried since Tuan is so short, I was afraid that the four and a half
 million people riding on two million motor scooters and motorcycles
 wouldn’t see us.  Somehow we were able to cross the streets without any
 problems I guess….I had my eyes closed most of the time!!

 

We had a delicious dinner at the Bro and Sis Hotel. In Vietnam they use
 knives.

 

 

November 10, 2008

 

After breakfast we took an hour cyclo or pedi cab tour to the Hanoi Old
 Quarter.  As we rode down the streets, we noticed masses of electrical
 wires running together (as bad as Morocco) resembling monster spider
 webs!!!  We went to the HO Chi Minh Mausoleum and watched the changing of
 the guards.  The next stop was the Presidential palace, Ho Chi Minh House
 on stilts and his One Pillar Pagoda. It was a beautiful day (not raining
 and it was a little cooler than Thailand) and the grounds were
 impeccable!!!  There were Buddha Trees there which had the most
 interesting root system.  They came up out of the ground and looked like
 miniature Buddha’s.

 

We passed through some craft huts and found great bags!!!  Next we went to
 the Temple of Literature, the oldest school in Vietnam.  Many Confucius
 sayings and teachings can be found there. 

 

 

Because the city was isolated from Western development after 1954, it has
 uniquely preserved concentrations of French and Chinese colonial-era architecture.

 

After lunch at the Seafood House Restaurant, we visited the Ho Lo Prison
 or better known as the Hanoi Hilton.  This is where many American POW’s,
 including John McCain, were held during the Vietnam War.  We then
traveled by rickshaw through Hanoi’s old city.  Again, there are no
 traffic lights and all we saw were motor scooters and motorcycles
 whizzing all around us while we prayed to survive!!!!

 

This afternoon we went to see a Water Puppet Show.  Here the puppets are
 suspended over water on long poles from under the water, directed by
 puppet masters who must sit semi-submerged for hours at a time.  There
 was also music played by beautiful sounding instruments that I have never
 seen before.  One was called the Dan Bau which was my favorite!! The show
 was very interesting and unique to Vietnam

 

After dinner at a local restaurant, we went to bed.