I am doing this post from New Zealand and time has passed pretty quickly asa week already has lapsed since I arrived. It has been cold for the last few days and in a way I miss the tropical heat...
Hanoi is a great city to visit. The caos of lotsof people and motorbike, the large, fench-style avenue with large trees and often the friendly smile of Vietnamese people. There is plenty to do if you have time and days to spend. I did get a guide with a motocycle and he took me around the sites that I requested to see. I had heard about the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum so I visited that as well as Ho Chi Minh residence and the place he lived before he died. I got to see afew pagodas but the highlight was the Museum of Ethnology which i though was absolutely great as it did a great job in demonstrating the various ethnic groups that make up modern Vietnam. It definetely makes you want to go back and take time to visit some of the regions...
Enjoy the photos.
 |
| View from undera village house, often built on poles. Under it lived animals like pigs, poultry and of course, precious bufalos!! |
 |
| Bambbo cladding on a village home |
 |
| Spartan living, but cosy at the same time |
 |
| Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Leningrad style |
 |
| Ho Chi Minh body is kept here and than for two months it goes to Russia, i do not know what for. |
 |
| When the body is in display, at any day. thousands of people will be linning up to view and pay respect such is the stastus that Uncle Ho has in Vietnam. |
 |
| Residence within the HCM complex. |
 |
| Dinning room in the small, humble cottage Ho Chi Minh lived. Photo is through galss as you are not allowed to enter. |
 |
| Guess who the boys are. Picture inside HCM cottage as it was before he died. |
 |
| Cottage where HCM lived before he died (of Cancer ashe was a heavy smoker) |
 |
| View of the cottage from around a pond |
 |
| One-pilar pagoda, a popular tourist site. |
 |
| Inside theOne-pilar pagoda |
 |
| Around the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum there are lots of places selling flowers as it is a popular gift when you visit the tomb |
 |
| Asmall workshop, where people with physical disabilities produce lovely embroidery work. I did buy some great pieces and may be one day you will see them.. |
