Hanoi
Our first stop in Vietnam was in the capital of Hanoi. We stayed in the Old Quarter.
Hanoi is filled with countless street food vendors that set up at various times during the day. Some are open as early as breakfast; others don’t open until late afternoon for the dinner rush. Most of the ones we saw were a simple setup of a pot and fresh ingredients as seen in the photo below.
We also saw chickens kept in pens at some of the food stalls. On one occasion, a man was oiling the live chicken. Other times we saw people plucking the feathers.
There were cars and trucks in the city, but there were far more scooters, motorcycles, and bicycles that filled Hanoi’s Old Quarter. On our Grab ride share app we had the option of getting a motorcycle ride instead of a car ride, like the lady shown below.
Bicycles were often carrying huge loads around town.
The other common sight was women carrying two baskets of goods on sticks they held on their shoulders.
Various streets specialize in a particular product. The street shown below contained all the Christmas shops.
On the weekends they close some streets surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake. It becomes a vibrant scene with people of all ages out and enjoying some food, playing a game, riding electric toy cars, and just lounging in the shade.
On one end of Hoan Kiem Lake there is Jade Island that contains a temple that honors a 13th century leader who successfully fought off various invaders.
There is a legend about a magic sword and a turtle god. They have one of the giant turtles displayed in one of the buildings.
We visited Maison Centrale (called Hoa Lo by Vietnam), a prison built by French colonists in the late 1800s to house mainly political prisoners who tried to lead or help Vietnamese resistance to colonization. It was later used to house prisoners of war (including John McKain) during the Vietnam war. Much of the prison was demolished, but a part of it still remains as a museum.
Outside of the main museum area is a memorial for all the prisoners held under the French regime.
The final part of the museum tour is an area dedicated to American POWs.
The unassuming restaurant featured in Anthony Bourdain’s show Parts Unknown where he ate with President Obama now has the nickname of “Obama Restaurant”. The table they sat at is encased in a protective box with a picture of them over it. You can order the Obama combo and eat what the president ate (and drank). We ordered it of course.
Many people we talked to loved Obama and were proud that he visited their country.
We visited Ho Chi Minh’s tomb. It is surrounded by various government buildings; all displaying the communist flag in addition to the Vietnamese flag.
Visiting Ho Chi Minh’s tomb is very regimented. You must wear respectful clothes (no shorts or really casual clothes) or you’ll be turned away. No chewing gum, talking too loud, spitting, or anything else determined unacceptable by the guards all throughout the complex.
Inside the tomb Ho Chi Minh’s body is displayed in a bright white light. You walk around his encased body but cannot stop or talk. Seeing his body gave me a very eerie feeling (and being on display was absolutely opposite of what Ho Chi Minh wanted).
After visiting Ho Chi Minh’s tomb we went in search of the downed B52 Bomber that still lay in the neighborhood lake it fell into and right next to a school. Along the way we saw barbers along the side of the road.
A mural near the school and lake depicts the wreckage.
Only part of the plane remains in the shallow lake.
Throughout our time in Hanoi, we saw men smoking out of these huge wooden pipes.
We visited the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater that depicts various folk tales with puppets in a water stage accompanied by musicians and singers.
Another performance we went to was called a bamboo circus where acrobats performed with huge bamboo stalks. No pictures were allowed, but we took some of the decorations in the theater.
In another part of Old Quarter we visited a park next to a lake where we saw people fishing. After the park, Paxton got his hair dyed to be red like the lead singer of his favorite band (My Chemical Romance).
The night market near our hotel overtakes one of the normally busy streets.
The Countryside
We visited a more rural area south of Hanoi, including Hoa Lu (the capital of Vietnam in the 10th century), Hang Mua Peak, and a boat ride in Trang An.
We enjoy the view near the top of 500 steps leading to Hang Mua Peak.
We took a boat ride on the Sao Khe River.
All of the boats are powered by people rowing with their feet.
A floating marketplace is located at the half way point. You can get drinks and snacks.
Phu Quoc
On the southern tip of Vietnam is the island of Phu Quoc where we enjoyed the beach and local scenery.
One of the street performers at the night market puts a snake up his nose and out his mouth…all while people eating dinner are watching.
A small fishing village where restaurants along the pier serve the fishermen’s catch.
You can pick out which live ingredients you want them to cook for you.
On the boat ride to our snorkeling spot. Everyone tried fishing, but only two fish were caught.
All around the island are floating pearl farms.
The view from our hotel.
This couple never once got in the water. The whole time they were at the hotel they were posing for photos. All day long every day. They must have an instagram following??
