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| The quiet streets of Hanoi |
Hanoi roughly translates to ‘toot as much as you possibly can why erratically driving down any street’. I thought Bangkok was mental to ride into but Hanoi and motorbikes are just crazy!
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| Street corner puncture repair man. They were everywhere. |
While making my way to Hanoi I bumped into a German cycle tourist who gave me some wise advice and very good analogy of all the motorbikes in Hanoi. “Only look forward when you are swimming with the sharks.” Once I got into it I understood exactly what he meant. If you look back you will probably crash into someone turning in front of you, stay focussed!
From what I saw of the city it is not so much a sky scraper business centre but a 4-5 story building with things crammed into all the noks and crannies. Hotels are just everywhere, 10 or so per street in the heart. Then there was the other side of the city. I crossed over Long Bein Bridge (90 year old train and bike bridge) and saw some slums. Man not a nice site, never seen anything like that and I imagine that is what a lot of India is like – scary.
Hanoi never stopped being incredibly hot. Walking around I would go from shade spot to shade spot and where possible make it into an air-con café!
So some of the sites:
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| A little kids heaven - toys galore |
Vietnam national museum. The history of Vietnam is just amazing. The evolution of man and through all the dynasties of Vietnam. Seeing some of the rediscovered artefacts and even if I couldn’t read half the information boards you got a good idea from looking around.
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| Some clever camera work! Took a photo of myself...but I'm not looking at myself? |
Vietnam Revolutionary Museum. All about Vietnam’s constant struggle against imperial and federal rule and trying to create its own governance. Unfortunately all the information boards were in Vietnamese so it was hard to learn much and I was keen to learn dammit.
Literature University – The first university built in Vietnam. Opened in 1076! The way of their exmas sounded pretty full on. Standard end of year exams which if you passed you could qualify for The National Exam then further to the Royal Exams. Here the King himself posed the questions, responded to the students and then ranked them. Intense man!
B52 Bomber museum – some old planes and parts and rocket launchers on display. Went to walk inside but the museum didn’t exist it was still being built. No wonder it was free and no wonder it looked like a dump yard coming in.
Ho Chi Minh Museum. A very dominating building when you approach it and the first display you see is a big statue of Ho Chi Minh. Obviously it is a museum dedicated to the life, rise and governance of Ho Chi Minh but there were also a few side displays. One included this random scary clown. This is why kids get phobias of clowns, it gave me the creeps.
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| The grand entrance |
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| Quite an intimidating statue |
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| Replication of Ho Chi Minh house while he growing up |
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| The scary clown. What the heck does it have to do with anything but give you the creeps! |
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| Ho Chi Minh's suit and few weights to work those guns |
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| Ho Chi Minh's burial site |
One Pillar Pagoda. Sounded cool and I expected an intricate single pillar standing pagoda but it wasn’t actually that impressive.
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| Was really hoping for a fancy looking pillar but it was just concrete. |
Ho Chi Minh Palace and the residence of Ho Chi Minh.
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| Where the man took his midday naps |
Bike shop – fixed headset, I think. Great guys, super friendly. The one in the middle is cycle tour guide so had a good sit down and chat with him about my travels.
And of course I had to enjoy the local ale...
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