This was the last day of my trip. The next morning is a flight to Vancouver via Hong Kong.
It was very hot in the morning, but I walked to the area that has the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, the grounds with the house where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked, and the Ho Chi Minh museum.
Not sure what to think, really. The image that is portrayed is that of a father figure with a passion for his country, who is highly revered. It is easy to believe he had a passion for his country, and one way or another he was instrumental in liberating Vietnam from the brutal French control, and he was able to inspire people to fight for his cause. On the other hand it was still a one party totalitarian state with everything that that entails. Complicated.
When I left the museum, it was still very very hot, so when I saw something like a tuk-tuk I got a ride to the hotel. Tuk-tuks are rare here. It's either taxis or people sitting on motorbikes offering a ride. However the internet is full of warnings about taxi scams, so I'm hesitant to take one unless the hotel has called for me.
Back at the hotel they were performing a ritual, to get blessings after a recent rennovation. There was a lot of food as offering, and someone came to do a chant. Afterward they burned the paper offerings outside.
After resting at the hotel for a bit, I ventured out again. I went to Hoan Kiem Lake, which the centre of Hanoi and not far from my hotel. There is a legend that a king from the 1400's pulled a magic sword from the lake that allowed him to vanquish the attackers.
There is a temple on an island close to shore, with a bright red bridge to it. Probably the most visited spot in the city.
After resting at the hotel again, I packed for the airplane and went out for dinner. Then to the craft beer place again (of course) and this night they had live music.
The group was called Extinguisher, and they were very good. I stayed quite late, until there were just 8 or so of us upstairs where the music was. Others would take turns singing, like people who worked there, often very old songs. It was quite special, like a common experience with the Vietnamese, a young couple from China, and others, all sharing in the music. A great way to spend my last night in Hanoi.
It was very hot in the morning, but I walked to the area that has the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, the grounds with the house where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked, and the Ho Chi Minh museum.
Not sure what to think, really. The image that is portrayed is that of a father figure with a passion for his country, who is highly revered. It is easy to believe he had a passion for his country, and one way or another he was instrumental in liberating Vietnam from the brutal French control, and he was able to inspire people to fight for his cause. On the other hand it was still a one party totalitarian state with everything that that entails. Complicated.
When I left the museum, it was still very very hot, so when I saw something like a tuk-tuk I got a ride to the hotel. Tuk-tuks are rare here. It's either taxis or people sitting on motorbikes offering a ride. However the internet is full of warnings about taxi scams, so I'm hesitant to take one unless the hotel has called for me.
Back at the hotel they were performing a ritual, to get blessings after a recent rennovation. There was a lot of food as offering, and someone came to do a chant. Afterward they burned the paper offerings outside.
After resting at the hotel for a bit, I ventured out again. I went to Hoan Kiem Lake, which the centre of Hanoi and not far from my hotel. There is a legend that a king from the 1400's pulled a magic sword from the lake that allowed him to vanquish the attackers.
There is a temple on an island close to shore, with a bright red bridge to it. Probably the most visited spot in the city.
After resting at the hotel again, I packed for the airplane and went out for dinner. Then to the craft beer place again (of course) and this night they had live music.
The group was called Extinguisher, and they were very good. I stayed quite late, until there were just 8 or so of us upstairs where the music was. Others would take turns singing, like people who worked there, often very old songs. It was quite special, like a common experience with the Vietnamese, a young couple from China, and others, all sharing in the music. A great way to spend my last night in Hanoi.
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