Hanoi, Vietnam

Tues. March 26

Lauren on the streets of Hanoi

Departed Changi at 8 am and landed in Hanoi 10:30 am (Vietnam time... 3hours later).  Driver was there to take us to our hotel - Hanoi Elegance Diamond Hotel right near the Haon Kiem Lake.

Nice room - 2 double beds.. even has a laptop.  Bottled water is about 80 cents for a small or $1 for a large.  A can of beer... $1.80.
We had lunch at their rooftop cafe - me I had a 3 course meal of spring rolls, Pho - their well-known chicken noodle soup and some ice cream and a drink... all for $12.

on the Sunbeam Bridge, Hoan Kiem Lake

 Then we went walking around the area.  Now we had heard it was quite difficult or a skill to cross the roads as there are no traffic lights and pedestrians don't have any rights, so the receptionist gave us this advice....don't step back, don't look left or right, and go at a slow pace.  OMG its like frogger but miraculously they all just go around you.  motorbikes everywhere and honking, honking, honking.

Since the lake is so close to us, we went there first, walked over the famous red bridge to the temple on the island on the other side.  It was said that a large tortoise appeared from the water having a magical sword on it's back that this emperor took to ward out the Chinese from the lands of Vietnam.  So one is always on the lookout for another tortoise in the waters.

The sidewalks are really not for us to walk on it, it's more for the motorbikes to park on so most of the time people are walking on the roads.  Each street is sort of for a different speciality.  We went down a street that sold seamstress supplies, buttons, ribbons, yarn, batting, material, etc.  Then another street had all kids things - strollers, toys, clothes.  Then another one had all automotive "garage" stuff.

We found St. Joseph's Cathedral and went in for some peace, cooling and reflection.  Since the French were here for a long time, thus the cathedral.
Continued on and found a spa which we took upon us that we needed a $14    1.5hr. pedicure and leg/foot massage.  Then went out for a relatively late dinner.  Chatted with 2 Aussies whom just had been to Saigon and Hoi An and low and behold, they stayed in the same 8-room boutique hotel that we will be staying in while we are in Hoi An. 

Wed. March 27
We walked down to see the Opera House and on the way found the "Orchard St" or "5th Avenue" of Hanoi.  I bought a Pandora camera charm and then saw the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel.

Then we continued and went to the Women's Museum (with the entrance of a whooping $1.42 fee).  The Vietnamese women are strong not only physically but mentally.  They are the ones carrying the poles with baskets on either end selling stuff on the road, as well as bicycles full of stuff to sell.  During all the wartime times they were not only tending to the children, rearing them and educating; they were also planting and harvesting rice (we know how back-breaking that is); as well as they in the production of needed wartime things; and were part of armies.
As we were leaving the museum we noticed a Japanese doll exhibition and so went in.  We could try on kimonos - so we did!

Next stop the "Hanoi Hilton" - prison Hoa Lo Prison Museum.  Vietnam's take on how the Americans were treated seemed 'a little different' than John McCain's version.  He was there for 5.5 years; 2 years in total confinement.  
After a lot of walking and somewhat depressing visits, we had lunch and then walked back to our area and got 1.5 hour massages for only $58! 
Dinner we went to fantastic place called Green Mango.  I had a glass of red wine, a delicious stir-fry chicken and cashew nut dinner and split the apple crumble with Lauren all for $12.  There was an event going to raise money for a girls' orphanage in  Vietnam at the back of the restaurant with a live band, so we checked it out for a while and then headed home.  (And of course because I changed purses and had been carrying my umbrella around all day, and now didn't have it - it rained!

Thurs. March 28

Breakfast with a nice couple from Australia who gave us some good advice for the day - though the masoleum line is extremely long, the line does move quickly.  And recommended a restaurant which we end up going to for dinner tonight - Green Tangerine.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The line to enter the mausoleum was quite long but it was under cover and did keep moving along.  You were not to have any drinks and you were to turn in your cameras before entering but I just kept mine in my purse.  I thought I would use my time wisely and read while I was in line but I was told by a guard that that was not allowed. 
So Ho Chi Minh had instructed in his will to be cremated but when he did the government over ruled this will and didn't cremate him, so now everyone can view hi as he was embalmed.  He is in a large pillared marble buiding  with 4 guards that stand around him.
We then tour the grounds of the President's Palace and then saw the one-pillar pagoda.  

Then we got in a taxi and went to visit the Temple of Literature.  This was built in 1070 during the Ly Dynasty (1009-1225).  Founded in honor of the Chinese philospher Confucius.  There were school children there and some high school graduates getting their pics taken.  The set up reminded me (thought on a much smaller scale) of the Forbidden City as there buildings were similar and you walk out one building to another courtyard with more buildings around it.
Then we hailed another taxi which brought us back into town near St. Josephi's Cathedral to have lunch (at La Place) and begin our shopping.  We bought Longchomp bags and browsed around at the heaps and heaps of things to buy.

Water Puppet Show

  Then we headed back to ur hotel for a shower and rest.  Next we went to the famous  Thang Long Water Puppet show at 3:30.  I had heard good reviews of it and we had just about front row seats.  The puppets are all in the water like marionettes but now on strings moved by poles and things underwater. The puppeteers are behind some bamboo walls and the  choreography and talent is really impressive.  Afterwards we continued our shopping for sunglasses, more dresses/skirts and such.  I got a beautiful silk skirt that the lady altered for me while I was at dinner.  And then I got a fun, colorful wrap skirt. Early to bed as we had rise early to head to Halong Bay.