I've been told Hanoi is a charming colonial city with not much nightlife, which is convenient as being alone I'm not to keen on hitting the bars and that the sight I should absolutely not miss is an embalmed Tortoise. Now, obviously creeped out by this suggestion ( which came to me in Italian as 'vai a vedere la tartaruga secca', literally 'go see the dried up tortoise' hmmm endearing) I googled it. Apparently the locals fought off the Chinese invaders with a sword which was then stolen by a golden tortoise who rose from the waters of the lake where the temple of the turtle stands. The golden tortoise then had a change of heart and gave the sword back. The lake is now know as the 'rendered sword' and it bares a temple with the previously mentioned dried up turtle residing in it.

I wonder whether it is a turtle or tortoise actually.. whats the difference anyways?? whatever

Keep you posted!!

xx