Hahahanoi 
February 6, 2012
Arrived in Hanoi to meet up with my parents and the VBT tour group. No cycling in this city, rather 1.5 days planned of touring. Once I saw the traffic, I understood why. Signals are a mere suggestion, particularly for the moped drivers which make up 80% of the road! When we cross with the group, our guides tell was to be like "sticky rice" and surge across in a tight huddle, haha.

The city is planned around a series of lakes, which are quite lovely. The architecture is a mix of rather brutalist, institutional looking buildings (like the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum), and French colonial. With many large boulevards around the political center and crazy twisty alleys in the old town. Historically buildings were taxed by the width of their street frontage, so you seen many tall and super narrow townhouse type structures (similar to Amsterdam). And there is a very strong culture of health and fitness, if you walk to any of the lakes and parks around 530 am, they are filled with people not only walking or doing Tai Chi, but also lifting weights, and participating in Zumba-like dancing. Temporary "gyms" pop up with sound systems and free weights. We went for a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake early one morning to watch the exercise antics, even in the cold rain it was busy!

It's been interesting to hear the Vietnamese perspective on the "American War" during our tour as well as the perspective of the group, who are all my parents generation, including two veterans. For Vietnam, the American occupation was the latest of many as there have been the French, Japanese, and Chinese... And the collective history does not appear to be quite as polarizing. Ho Chi Minh is held in the highest of esteems, referred to as "Old Uncle". His body is preserved in a Mausoleum in the center the city, visited by tourists (we did not enter), similar to Lenin in Red Square. Apparently he is still sent to Russia annually for preservation "upkeep".

Non-stop touring included visits to the outside of the Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagota, the Presidential Palace, the Temple of Literature, a cyclo (rickshaw) ride through the old city and an afternoon Water Puppet show, which was my favorite. I am typically very averse to tour groups and tour buses, but this isn't too bad. Our guides are funny Vietnamese guys, the bus is amazing in the sea of traffic, and it allowed us a quick taste of the city before flying down to Hue to begin our cycling adventure.
  • Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum,  Dmc-zs10
    Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum,
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  • Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - don't cross the line!  Dmc-zs10
    Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - don't cross the line!
  • Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum  Dmc-zs10
    Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
  • Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum  Dmc-zs10
    Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
  • Presidential Palace  Dmc-zs10
    Presidential Palace
  • Presidential Palace  Dmc-zs10
    Presidential Palace
  • Presidential Palace  Canon Powershot Sd750 5.8 - 17.4 Mm
    Presidential Palace
  • Presidential Palace  Dmc-zs10
    Presidential Palace
  •   Dmc-zs10
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