 |
| In front of the Presidential Palace |
It was nice and yet somewhat surprising to get a full nights sleep. Even though we were pretty worn out, the time change of thirteen hours can play tricks on your sleep patterns.
We were up early enough to get in a walk before breakfast and heading out to tour Hanoi. Even though it was only 6:30 in the morning the streets were alive with vendors selling fruits, vegetables and meats. The lakefront area was full of groups of people doing tai chi, aerobics, playing badminton, ballroom dancing, running, walking and numerous other activities. If the heartbeat of the lake was strong the previous afternoon, it was even stronger at this early hour.
 |
| Group Massage at the end of the workout! |
 |
| Groups like this were enjoying various forms of exercise all around the lake |
After breakfast at the hotel we met Tony and Ang at 8:30 to begin our city tour. First up was a visit to Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum. Ho Chi Minh served as the first President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (commonly referred to as North Vietnam). His body, which is on display inside the marble and granite mausoleum is treated as sacred and is one of the most visited sites in Vietnam. Fortunately we arrived early and it's not yet the "busy season" so the line to get in was fairly short. The mausoleum sits next to the Presidential Palace and adjacent to the Parliament building in a beautiful section of the city.
 |
| Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum |
Nearby were two lakes. The Tran Quoc Pagoda, Vietnams oldest Buddhist temple sits along the shore of the West Lake. It was originally constructed in the sixth century. It underwent renovations through the centuries but the last major renovation was in 1815 so it has clearly withstood the test of time.
 |
| Tran Quoc Pagoda |
Nearby and to the east of West Lake, not surprisingly was East Lake. This lake was much smaller but had an interesting story tied to it as well. It was along the shores of this lake that Senator John McCain's plane was shot down. The prisoner of war camp where he and many other American soldiers were held was commonly and sarcastically referred to as the "Hanoi Hilton". In spite of his treatment in the camp, Senator McCain developed a strong relationship with the people of Vietnam and is widely respected throughout the country.
 |
| The East Lake-It was on the shore on the opposite side where Senator McCain was captured |
The 94 million people that make up Vietnams population come from 54 different ethnic backgrounds. This makes Vietnam one of the most ethnically diverse countries on the planet. The Museum of Ethnology made for an interesting stop to learn a bit about the different ethnic groups and their unique customs.
Of course all that touring and packing our heads with information made us hungry. Thankfully next up on the agenda was a Street Food Walking Tour. We tempted our taste buds and satisfied our appetites with three traditional street food dishes. They were all excellent and needless to say, by the time we were finished we were full.
 |
| Tony, our expert guide at Stop #1 of the food tour. I can't remember the name but I do remember it was really good! |
 |
| One of the many fruit stalls along the road. Some were familiar, many were not, including the Dragon Fruit at the top right |
 |
Stop #2 This is called Bun Cha. It's pork patties and pork bellies that have been grilled served in a fish sauce accompanied by rice noodles. It was outstanding
Stop #3 Beef and Chicken Pho. We were so full we could barely eat half of it. |
We ended the tour with a stop at the Temple of Literature which was built in 1070. It was the first University in Vietnam and is dedicated to Confucius. It is also know as one of the most picturesque sites in the city and it certainly didn't disappoint.
 |
| Entrance to the Temple of Literature |
After a few hours rest we finished off the day at the Water Puppet Theater. As the name implies, this is a theatrical show featuring puppets that are performing to live music on water. It is a form of art that has been around since the 1100's. This unique and novel approach to puppet theater told many stories of the history and culture of Vietnam and it's people. It was an entertaining show and a great way to close out the day.
 |
| Just a few of the many puppets of the Water Puppet Theater |
 |
The puppeteers of the Water Puppet Theater taking a bow.
|
Water puppet theater
