We are picked up by our guide and driver, and head across the red river, towards the city.

As we arrive in the evening, we stop on the way to enjoy a superb 8 course Vietnamese dinner.

I found Hanoi to be both modest and charming.

Here Sarah and I pose outside the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh.

The Quoc pagoda sits on an island in the West Lake.

Supposedly founded 1,400 years ago by King Ly Nam De (the famous warrior of Sword restored fame), it was virtually impossible to photograph in one shot.

Its possible to buy money for the dead (its costs about a fifth of the cost of normally money. You then burn the money in the arga, for the people you want to pray for.

I asked if people burned money, for Ho Chi Minh.

The reply was in the present tense “Uncle Ho is a simple man, he does not need money.”

An Arthurian-type legend is associated with this lake.

It’s about a sword provided by a golden turtle from the lake, in the 15 century and which was used in battles against Chinese invaders.

The sword was later returned to the lake (hence the name sword restored).

In the middle of the lake is a small island with a structure on it, which was previously the symbol of Hanoi.

Although it was an interesting experience, I would have preferred to walk around, as they only go at 2 miles an hour.

The bottom story, normally acts as a shop front, with the occupants living in the back of the shop.

They are very narrow, long, and built high.

At one time, houses were taxed on their width, hence why some of them are only 7 feet wide.

the length of the house also creates a larger, cooler shaded interior.

Although it had a very “comedy Soviet” feel, it was imperative to remain respectful.

He had originally asked to be cremated, and his ashes scattered over the highest mountains in the North, South and Centre of Vietnam.

It is located on the spot in Ba Dihn square, when on September 2nd 1945, Ho Chi Minh read the declaration of independence, which he never lived to see.

When the French left Vietnam in 1954, Ho Chi Minh declined the offer to live there, preferring to live in a small cottage in the Palace grounds.

The venue was instead used for meeting visiting dignitaries and school children.

His house is exactly as it was, when he died.

There were very few possessions, aside from a simple bed and desk.

“Father of the modern state”

and:

“Liberator of the Vietnamese people”.

We stood on the steps, but armed guards “discouraged” us from feeding them ourselves.

It was originally built in the 11th century to look like a lotus flower, floating on the water.

Tragically, like many of the things we saw, it had been destroyed by the French and been rebuilt.

It showed 3 figures, and said something like “Its okay to give your life in the war for independence.”

Basically, people carrying explosives could run towards tanks, and destroy them, but obviously, they would die also.

Since there were more people willing to die than tanks, the tanks lost battlefield superiority, and became redundant.

The artists stand waist deep in water, and operate the puppets from behind a bamboo curtain.

They have demonstrated their art as guests in over 40 countries.

Its essential to read the program. Although impressive to watch, its practically impossible to tell what’s going on.

The modern symbol of Hanoi.

The previous symbol, had been the building on the Island of Hoan Kiem Lake.

Again tragically, like the single pillared pagoda, it was destroyed by the French before leaving, and rebuilt after 1954.

I think that simple scenes like this, are as much a part of travelling, as visiting famous bridges and eating local food.