Day 10 - Hanoi

Today was Hanoi Kids day, and what a wonderful day we have had. Nhung and Trang met us in the foyer at 9 as planned - a delightful pair of cheerful young ladies. We discussed options, and they had a few ideas about where to take us. First step was to call a cab - hotel staff helped.

Our first stop was at Hoa Lo Prison. This had been the prison during the French domination, and into the early part of Vietnam as a socialist republic, including incarceration of American prisoners of war during the sixties. It had the expected atrocious conditions for political prisoners. The girls had many stories to tell, they know their history very well. As we left, it had warmed up, so it was hats on time. The girls had caps, but we chose this time to give them the pink and blue kangaroo ones we had brought with us. They were so excited, but both loved the blue one, so I have promised to try to get another when we get home and post it over.

Another cab then took us on to the Temple of Literature. This was the first university in Vietnam, and in the beginning, was only for the children of the King and his closest advisors. Then one King decided that the university should be open to others, and things changed from then. There were displays of how male students from everywhere came to sit the 3 day examinations to try to get into the uni. They each sat their exams in little huts so there was no cheating, if caught ... you would be beheaded!

There was also a statue to an important teacher from history - he was not interested in the high life of Hanoi, and turned down important jobs to go back to the country and teach the poor. There are also many steles - statues of turtles with large stone tablets on their backs. The names of all doctorate students from 1442 to 1779 have been carved on these stone tablets, and students often come here to pray for good results before exams, or to rub a turtles head. The Temple is set in beautiful gardens, and on a hot day, seemed like an oasis.

Decided on lunch next, so it was into another cab to a lovely looking restaurant - we ordered cold drinks first, and chatted for a while. The girls then found out that the restaurant had changed since their last visit, and was now only a buffet, and a bit expensive, so they asked was it okay to go somewhere else. We had no problems, so off we went again. The new restaurant was in the Old Quarter, and honestly, there is no way we would have gone in ourselves. The girls ordered, and all the food was beautiful. We started with beef rice paper rolls, followed by some shellfish in a lemongrass stock, then finished with beef and veggies that you stir fry over a burner at your table. Each dish came with it's own dipping sauce, and I'd love the recipe for all of them.

After lunch, it was into another cab to Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum. The mausoleum itself is closed at the moment, so we just walked past that. The Presidential Palace was just down the road, an impressive looking building painted yellow, which indicates its French roots. Around the corner, we viewed 3 of Ho Chi Minh's cars, but he only used the most humble and sturdy, would not use anything too ostentatious. This is also why he would not live in the palace, but chose a simple building in the grounds. Then the people built him a stilt teak house to remind him of the time he spent living in the hills. This is a beautiful, yet very simple structure of only 2 rooms. The one pillar pagoda is a short walk further on, originally built about 1000 years ago.

By this time we were all in need of another cold drink, and the girls guaranteed us the best lemon iced tea in town, 100% guaranteed. Yet another taxi was summoned, and we ventured back into the twisting streets of the Old Quarter. We stopped at another unlikely corner, and the girls hustled across the road, calling out to someone with orders. A grubby guy appeared with a stack of dirty looking kiddy sized plastic stacker stools, and put out 4, then found one slightly larger - that was our table! All this on the footpath, with scooters whizzing by. But they were right, the iced tea was great.

Now rested and refreshed, we walked through the Old Quarter streets, and even braved crossing the road at a mega busy intersection to get to the 'electric cars', which turned out to be 6 seated golf buggies. Along the way we saw many market type stalls, and entry to several tube houses - the government used to charge taxes by the frontage of a house, so clever people made their houses a door wide! Apparently they are very long, and open out at the back.

The girls were concerned that the electric car was a bit dear, and it seemed that the driver would not budge on the price. But at about AUD$7.50 (for all 4 of us) for a half hour tour around the Old Quarter, we decided it wasn't too outrageous, so went for it! It was interesting to be able to see so many streets, and still be in the open. The girls enjoyed it too, and as we finished, admitted that they had never been on one before.

Walked around the Lake a little, then back to the hotel. The staff soon showed up with iced water for us all, a lovely treat as it had been really hot out. Also gave the girls a koala pin each, and with lots of hugs and promises to keep in touch, said farewell.

We didn't keep track of each individual cost through the day, but with all the cabs, food and cold drinks along the way, electric car tour and entrance fees for all of us, we spent a total of about AUD$52.