As Seen by TV

Seems strange sitting here months after the fact reminiscing about my trip to ‘nam.  Especially considering my trips to Hangzhou, Suzhou and just getting back from 2 weeks in Thailand (more pics to look forward to!!).  But back to the subject… Vietnam was everything I could have hoped for and so much more.  Happy smiling people, amazing food, beautiful scenery… shit, words can’t really explain the sights, sounds and delicious aromas that can onl be experience first hand.  And make sure you do.

Took the last full day in Vietnam just cruising around the city… over the river, past markets, fields, palaces and temples.  Also had to give our farewell to Uncle Ho, well his empty tomb at least.  We even drove through these tiny back alleyways… which got a little tricky when you hit oncoming motorbike traffic… yup, just look at those small street pics and imagine head-on around-the-corner-lurking traffic!

Then, when the sun went down, we saw some proper traffic (check out that last pic!).   Ah, Vietnam… I miss you already.

GOOD NIGHT VIETNAM.  Trust me, I will be back.

Rented a motorbike and hit the town… in the rain.  Checked out Uncle Ho’s mausoleum, the one-pillar pagoda and the strangest museum I’ve ever seen.  I was very much dissapointed that Ho Chi Minh wasn’t lying in his mausoleum, but apparently he hits a Russian spa each year for 2 months to get his embalming treatment.  Since I have already seen Mao in Beijing, I was hoping to see another comrade in the flesh.  Oh well.

Seriously… the Ho Chi Minh Museum makes ZERO sense.  Wikipedia statses that, “it is a museum dedicated to the late Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s revolutionary struggle against foreign powers.”  But… I don’t know, look at some of the pictures I took and you’ll see it was a whole mix of bizarre crap that doesn’t make sense… reproductions of Mondriaan’s “Broadway Boogie Woogie” painting? …a large exhibit of oversized fruit on table?? ….a Ford Edsel smashing through the wall!?!  I don’t get it.

Then a final picture from the balcony at our hotel……….. g’night Hanoi.

First day & night in Hanoi… walked around a bit, started taking some night shots but unfortunately it started to rain.