Hanoi, Vietnam
December, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012 Hanoi
We were up early this morning to catch the 7:15 bus to Hanoi. It was a three hour bus ride to the capital of Vietnam. The bus stopped half way for a toilet/shopping break. The shop sold all the things that we had seen in the top gear Vietnam special, including embroideries, statues, boats and many other small souvenirs. The best thing about the bus trip was the fact that they provided free wifi, so we were able to catch up with all the news on facebook, and I was also able to follow the commentary of the MCG boxing day test between Australia and sri lanka.
Our first stop in Hanoi was the Hanoi Hilton, an old prison built by the French in the late 19th century. It was used by the Vietnamese to hold American POWs during the Vietnam war. Our guide took us to the old quarter in the heart of Hanoi. It was full of people and scooters that don’t slow down when you cross the road. The US and UK tourists were amazed by what they were seeing. For many of them, it was their first trip to SE Asia. For us though, it was just like any scene you see everyday in the Philippines, however the locals here wear the traditional Vietnamese hats.
We had a delicious Vietnamese lunch, before heading to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where Ho Chio Minh is buried. He was the leader of Vietnam during the Vietnam war and is considered a hero for driving the French out of Vietnam and gaining independence. We saw his presedential palace, his garage and his simple living quarters that he used once in power, situated around a beautiful man-made lake.
We were up early this morning to catch the 7:15 bus to Hanoi. It was a three hour bus ride to the capital of Vietnam. The bus stopped half way for a toilet/shopping break. The shop sold all the things that we had seen in the top gear Vietnam special, including embroideries, statues, boats and many other small souvenirs. The best thing about the bus trip was the fact that they provided free wifi, so we were able to catch up with all the news on facebook, and I was also able to follow the commentary of the MCG boxing day test between Australia and sri lanka.
Our first stop in Hanoi was the Hanoi Hilton, an old prison built by the French in the late 19th century. It was used by the Vietnamese to hold American POWs during the Vietnam war. Our guide took us to the old quarter in the heart of Hanoi. It was full of people and scooters that don’t slow down when you cross the road. The US and UK tourists were amazed by what they were seeing. For many of them, it was their first trip to SE Asia. For us though, it was just like any scene you see everyday in the Philippines, however the locals here wear the traditional Vietnamese hats.
We had a delicious Vietnamese lunch, before heading to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where Ho Chio Minh is buried. He was the leader of Vietnam during the Vietnam war and is considered a hero for driving the French out of Vietnam and gaining independence. We saw his presedential palace, his garage and his simple living quarters that he used once in power, situated around a beautiful man-made lake.