Sightseeing in Hanoi



We are headed to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum but see lots of highlights on the way.  We cross train street just as a train is coming so we hustle onto a table at a cafe to watch it pass by.  We haven’t had time to order drinks and they are seriously overpriced so we leave 100,000 dong (7NZD)and carry on.

We walk past the statute of Lenin on the way.  He’s styled Lề Nin in Vietnamese.  

The crowds at the mausoleum are huge. Bus loads of school children who are on school trips and who wave out and say hi or give five /fist bump us.  The queues are mostly orderly and we are made to wait single file as the queues move at different speeds.  We are sweltering in our long tops and pants which are needed here. 

We queue for about an hour but the queue moves reasonably steadily and it’s cool and sheltered. Lots of Vietnamese here with their young children. It’s all very solemn at the tomb, soldiers in white uniforms as the honour guards.  The body is well preserved and sent back to Russia every year for maintenance. 

After that we are dying for a cold drink and we stop at a local cafe to try salted coffee (strong, sweet, cold) Holly has a lemon ice tea, iced chocolate for Emma and mango smoothie for James. It’s a third of the price of train street and much needed.

Next stop is a pagoda on Ho Thay.  The lake is large and nearby is a statue for Li Tu Trong a revolutionary executed by the French at just 17 years old. 


We have walked a long way so get a grab car to our next stop Ho B52 which is a small lake with the part remains of a B52 bomber still visible.  It’s 1pm by now so we stop at the nearby cafe for beer and coke. 

Last stop is the Temple of Literature, dedicated to Confucius.  It was founded in 1076 and was Vietnam’s first university, lasting 700 years.  It’s here we re-encounter many student groups who are dressed in gowns and holding graduation ceremonies.

We go back to our local cafe from this morning to eat lunch.  Rice and pork for most of us but Emma has pigeon!  All served with pickled cucumber and crispy shallots.


Then it’s back to the hotel to relax while the kids head out shopping. Then we head to beer st for dinner and catch up with Chris & Simone who are also travelling in Vietnam.  It’s a lovely night despite a bit of rain. 

Scott and I finish the night with a wander around the lakefront ( heaving with people) eat a delicious bbq pork kebab and peruse the markets. 

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