Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
We had a jam packed day touring the main sites of Hanoi (Ho Chi Min Mausoleum,
the Ancient Temple of literature, the Ancient French Prison which was turned
into the "Hanoi Hilton" as a joke where John McCain and other US bombing pilots
were captured and retained for 6 years, and the Women's Museum). Whew! That
alone was a lot.
We had an authentic lunch in an open court restaurant with our guide. Shared
several dishes. I wouldn't eat the squid! Then we walked the hectic streets
where thousands of motor bikes driven by young men and women sped around town.
The little boutiques, fish markets, shoe stores, fresh fruit and vegetable
vendors and you name it are jam - packed into narrow spaces on narrow streets
with families eating their meals sitting at low plastic tables on the
sidewalk. There are 7 million people and 4 million motorcycles in Hanoi!!
You take your life in your hands just crossing the street.
I rode a rickshaw back to the hotel. All 8 of us had our own rickshaws. The
guide told us to tip $1. He wanted $2....but I gave him one like she said.
We walked to a nice restaurant for dinner. The coconut ice cream was to die
for!
Janet
- comments
Karen Thanks for giving us a little window into your experience.
Richard A different version of big city life. Looking forward to hearing more about it.
Tedde It sounds like such an adventure-so different from our day to day life. Can't wait to hear more!
Alice Levine TYour description brings back the experience my husband and I had in Hanoi at the start of our three-week visit to Vietnam last December. We plunged into the colorful chaos of the city just hours after we arrived. It was exciting and exhilarating. Crossing the street was a challenge at first, but we soon became experts. We were impressed with the level of economic entrepreneurship.The mausoleum was impressive and the crowds there quite subdued.