Weather : sunny, 29o
We flew to Hanoi on a 10.30 am flight. A quick one hour flight and then we were met by our guide, John, who is as enthusiastic about his city as all the other guides. Now we are hearing the Northern Vietnamese point of view. The love of Ho Chi Minh of all the people, the importance of Hanoi as the original capital that developed the country by moving south. Whereas from the Saigon's point of view the North wanted to take advantage of all the bountiful resources of the Mekong Delta and transform their democracy to a socialist state. Then we have Mr Sam's take on Vietnam - Hue, the rightful capital, safe in the heart of the country - not to mention that it is oh, so beautiful.
Lunch at a small restaurant, 5 Spice, in a narrow street, festooned by national flags as on the 10th October it is 60 years since the liberation of Vietnam from French colonial rule.
We were then taken to the Presidential Palace precinct. In the grounds are many memorials to Ho Chi Minh, who lived and worked here until his death in 1968.
The new palace will be opened early next year. Soldiers were practising on the parade ground for the festivities on Friday.
They have even preserved Uncle Ho's cars. Note the ultimate in tourist paraphernalia - the camera attachment for 'selfies'.
The house built for Ho Chi Minh in the precinct. It is designed like a village stilt house.
Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum - unfortunately under annual maintenance.
The Temple of Literature based on the teachings of Confucius. This is Vietnam's first university, established in 1076. There are names of distinguished scholars recorded here from 1484.
At 4pm we were taken to a performance of the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Musicians accompanied traditional stories and cultural life.
Afterwards a drink at the Metropole Hotel, a historic hotel with links to colonial French era. Recommended as a must to experience. A Greene Graham martini with obligatory raspberry sorbet.
Walking back to the Old Quarter, where we are staying, we enjoyed the ambience of a lively city. The Tirant Hotel is a good 3 star hotel, extremely convenient to local markets, restaurants and major sites.
We walked around the Hoam Kiem Lake, a central focus of the area.
Dinner at a small tourist restaurant, 69.
M&M
7/10/2014
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