Hanoi City Tour - Nov. 16, 2010

Senne's Summary: Today we took a tour of Hanoi and saw a lot of sights. (If I told you all of them here, it wouldn't be a summary anymore 😉)

This morning we were picked up at our hotel for our city tour. There were about 12 people on our tour including us.

Our first stop was a Pagoda. Our tour guide, Toan, explained to us that in Vietnam Pagodas are for Buddhism, and Temples are to honour someone. This was an interesting distinction and helped things make more sense to me.

The Pagoda was very beautiful inside. Outside of the Pagoda there was a memorial to the monks. This is where the monks are buried. There was one very decorated monument and Toan told me that this was the most recent monk that died. He was the leader of the monks at this Pagoda. He also said it is the most famous Pagoda in Hanoi. If Presidents come to visit Vietnam, this is the Pagoda they will visit.

Next we went to the Ho Chi Minh Complex. The first thing we saw in the Complex was Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum.

But, first you must go through a SERIOUS security check, then they check that you are properly dressed. Steve had to buy a t-shirt because he had a sleeveless shirt on. Then you stand in a long line and file into the mausoleum. There is NO talking. This rule is enforced by guards with rifles and bayonets. When you are in the mausoleum you actually get to see Ho Chi Minh’s body, which is surrounded by four armed guards. After we left the room with the body, I whispered to Steve, "How long do you think the soldiers have to stand there like that?" I was promptly shushed. Apparently, the rule of silence is not only in the room with Ho Chi Minh, but applies until you step off the red plastic carpet.

There was a daycare or preschool on a field trip to the mausoleum. They were so cute. When they walk they don’t all hold on to a rope they hold on to the shirt of the person in front of them. They were extremely well behaved, but also willing to ham it up a bit when Steve went to take a photo of them 😀

When it was their turn to go in, one of the guards came out and greeted them and held the hand of the child at the front of the line. I suspect that holding hands with a guard in full uniform will be the highlight of the child’s day!

After the mausoleum we saw the outside of the presidential palace. This is where all the presidents have lived except for Ho Chi Minh. He did not want to live in a big palace he wanted to live more simply like the people of Vietnam. You have to respect him for making that choice.

After this we were shown the house where he lived for most of his presidency, which was a very simple house on stilts. It basically had a bedroom, office and main area for meeting people and dining.

After this we saw the “One Pillar Pagoda”. The first one was built many years ago (I can’t remember… but I think like 1000 years ago). Apparently it was built to resemble a white lotus flower. It was heavily bombed during the war though and had to be rebuilt afterwards.

As we were waiting for the rest of the people on our tour, there was a lady (about 70 years old) selling fruit. Steve managed to take some pictures of her.

When she saw them on the camera she looked very shy, but then soon after presented Steve with a coconut with a straw in it and said, “Present”. Steve felt very guilty and tried to pay her, but was told in no uncertain terms, “No money. PRESENT!”. I thought that was very sweet.

After this we got back on the bus and headed to another “handicraft shop”. This one was an embroidery shop. It is basically a place the government has created to make jobs for disabled people making handicrafts. They then sell them to also support these people. Each organized tour we’ve been on in Vietnam has stopped at one of these workshops/stores. I’m wondering if it’s a government regulation that you have to stop on one per tour?!?

After this we went to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. This was basically a museum showing interesting things about the daily lives of the many different Vietnamese Ethnicities. There were a lot of very interesting things, but both Steve and I were starving so didn’t take as good a look at things as I would have liked to. It certainly reminds me how it must be hard for kids to pay attention in school when they are hungry… both of us were all over the place!

Next we headed off for lunch. This was a terrific Vietnamese lunch that was included in our tour. We ate with a couple from Germany and a guy from India. It’s always interesting to meet new people and find out about them.

This is not where we ate, but you often see locals eating at places like this.

After lunch we headed to a temple (which I can’t remember the name of). It was the temple that basically was commemorating leaders in education and Confucius. It was also the first University (In Hanoi or Vietnam? Can’t remember!) that gave degrees to doctors. (I was unable to determine if that meant physicians or all doctorates, but will try to remember to look it up!) Apparently they only held the test once every 13 years, and the actual test was only held 82 times. They have big stone tablets with the names of everyone who passed the test in the courtyard of the temple.

The tour was very interesting because we learned a lot about the history of Vietnam and the influence that China had. Of course, it’s now becoming quite foggy in my brain, so I won’t share it with you at the risk of misinforming you! I do remember it was very interesting… and I had many moments when I said… Oh now I understand why this is that way… Geez! Who’d ever believe I’m a teacher. I can’t remember anything!!!!

Our final stop was the same temple that we visited the day before. Our guide told us an interesting story about how Vietnam won a battle with China. The Vietnam General was originally forced to retreat to the forest.  In this forest he came across a sword that was presented to him by a 'Giant’ tortoise.  Legend has it that this sword gave the General the power to return to battle, drive back, and defeat the Chinese forces.  Post battle, the General was visiting the lake in the centre of Hanoi and a ‘Giant’ tortoise came to the shore.  The General returned the sword, and the tortoise returned to the bottom of the lake.  Legend has it, the sword is still there.  This temple commemorated that event and the very important general who won the battle.

The tortoise!

By the lake you also might see some locals enjoying a game of chess.