Saturday Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Although I do not like Vietnam, I liked Hanoi. A lot of. I thought it had a certain charm to him.
time and bad reconstruction have worn the city. Everywhere in Hanoi, old French colonial houses were crumbling as modern buildings sprouting around them, slowly bring the city into modernity. The city's old town, directly from Hoan Kiem Lake, is a fine example of French colonial architecture, although it is easy to run down. I imagine that's what New Orleans would look like if it was left to decay.
This part of town is a great place to wander. Navigate small streets and outdoor markets, as people from all sides crush. Hanoi is very busy, and this quarter is one of the busiest - flooded with bicycles, buses, markets and tourists. Buses cram down streets I do not even could get through motorcycles. A bus from me you went down the wrong way, and I was sure we were ready for. And the road here crossing is an art, such as motorcycles and cars do not stop for you. But despite the crowds, this tightly packed streets have much charm as the old battles of the new hegemony.
The Old City is also a great place to sit and drink Bia Hoi, cheap Vietnamese beer. Across the country, small stands selling beer in the glass for as little as 00 dong (about 15 cents). Hanoi is a great place to pull a little plastic stool up, sit down, chat with the locals, and watch the whole craze pass. At 15 cents per beer, you can not go wrong!
Centered here is the famous Hoan Kiem Lake. Hoan Kiem Lake is to be the home of great giant tortoises. Legend has it that King Le Loi a magical sword that was given by the gods, which he used to sell the invasion of the Chinese Ming dynasty. Later, while driving on the lake boat, he came across a giant tortoise grabbed the sword and carried it down into the depths, they returned to the gods. Large turtles are said still roam the lake, although the increasing pollution has made it unlikely that they will survive much longer. You can see the northern part of the lake a mummified turtle on the Jade Island. The turtles are revered by the Vietnamese and this legend / struggle is a source of great pride for all Vietnam. Turtle sightings still send in the lake the locals in a fervor!
Outside the Old City, a modern city sprawls out, mixed with old colonial houses. There is a lot in Hanoi do. For those interested in history, there is the Temple of Literature. Built in 1070, this was the first university in the country. The huge complex is lined with stone tablets, listing all graduates of the University. There are also a few buildings and some small ponds.
For those interested in the history of warfare, there is plenty to see, from the American Vietnam War the French Vietnam War. There is also the Museum of Vietnamese Revolution, the Army Museum, B-52 Lake, and the infamous Hanoi Hilton (its most famous prisoner, John McCain, is now executed president).
looking for something more? The visitors can see the preserved body of the former leader Ho Chi Minh, a tour. Despite his body wanted to be cremated (not agricultural land waste), his compatriots mummified him and put him on display. It's a creepy sight and it looks very "plastic". No cameras are allowed in, and soldiers stand guard to make sure that you do not speak it. Make sure that your visit right time, though - Ho Chi Minh spends a few months a year in Moscow always "worked" on
For interested in Ho Chi Minh, you his old presidential palace to see. and a museum dedicated to his life. The museum is not that big. In fact, I found all the museums in the country must be very badly done; they skip many historical details. The museum is actually more to show a propaganda tool, designed as Ho Chi Minh a revolution against imperialist pigs led to be a chronology of his life instead. I found that to be disappointing as I was really looking to learn about his life. I left this museum to learn a little, but a lot missing.
For those who find the hustle and bustle of Hanoi too much to handle, there are many excursions outside the city, you can also take. You can on the World Heritage head out, Halong Bay, and limestone Krysts sail through. Or head west to Sapa, one of the most beautiful regions of the world and home to many hill tribes. Sapa was really nice. In fact, Vietnam was the natural beauty of the highlight of my time there.
At the end of Hanoi is a big city. There are many other cities that I enjoy more, but Hanoi has certainly charm all its own.
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