Hanoi

Hanoi

Tuesday, April 17
We arrived at the hotel camellia at six o'clock in the morning, and of course we had to wait to get rooms. We had breakfast and then went a little walk around the Hoan Kiem lake. A lot of people did morning gymnastics here at the lake. Khoa arranged for a car, and together with Thuy, we drove first to the modern, newly built Hanoi, inhabited by the very rich Vietnamese. So we went to a 1000 year old pagoda and temple, Sai. We donated a sum to the temple and got a very prestigious acknowledgment by the monks. The monks were very interested in being photographed, and the whole was a very joyful experience. Thuy showed us his apartment on the 5th floor without elevator. The apartment was very simple furnishings and a great contrast to the rich, new town. Thuy chose the spot for our lunch, Hot Pot with chicken and lots of vegetables. Award ½ million V.Dong for food and drink for 7 people. Corresponding to approx. 20 Danish kroner per person. The afternoon was devoted to visiting the Ethnic Museum with both a large indoor area and outdoor museum with examples of the 54 peoples, building style. 80% of the population is Vietnamese, the rest is divided between the 53 minorities, of which not all speak Vietnamese. Dinner at Little Hanoi, a very popular restaurant in the old Hanoi. We ended the day with a cup of cappuccino on a back-packer corner

Our hotel Camellia 4

Hoa Kim Lake with morning gymnastics

Tai chi in Hanoi

Sai temple 3000 years old

A woman is predicted

Ethnic Museum

Thuy Linh and

Thuys apartment

Little Hanoi

Wednesday, April 18
Moped and bike ride around the West Lake with the first stop on a very popular pagoda. Continue around the lake where we enjoyed the fresh air and the quieter traffic. After lunch and a stroll in the old town, we had tickets to the Water Puppet Theatre. It was an experience both with doll play and the music on traditional instruments. In the evening Thuy invited us to dinner at a restaurant and a visit to her parents. She showed us to end a very large, brand new park with amusement. It seemed to be a very popular place for Vietnamese.

View to the east of West Lake in Hanoi in the background
Water puppet theater

Water puppetry
Den a bony pagode

a bony pagoda

Thuy in Sai temple

Thuy and Georg in Sai Temple

Sai Temple

Thursday, April 19
Visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum along with 25,000 other people, among them many children in kindergartens and schools. In the park behind the mausoleum is the official government guest house, where Queen Margrethe lived during his visit to Hanoi. Ho Chi Minh did not want even one as flashy house, but found better organized in a simple pile building, constructed as the houses in his hometown. At the end of the park we saw the one-legged pagoda, Chua Mot Cot, and we ended up watching the Ho Chi Minh Museum. The exhibition is designed as artistic tableaux depicting various facets of the Ho Chi Minh's life, and thus while Vietnam's recent history. So we went to the old university or literature museum, or the Temple of Literature. There are several names to choose from. It is not used more as a university, but students are often the atmosphere's sake. Before the exam, it is customary to walk along a number of turtle sculptures and pat each turtle head. This should ensure a good exam. We ate lunch at a restaurant, a wealthy American lady created as a training site for street children. The students receive a good education and become so helped to a better life. Begging had otherwise been their only option. In the evening Hennings birthday dinner for 30 people at a restaurant overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake.