XIN CHAO FROM HANOI

Hey look at me - I'm a millionaire!

Today we had a great day of touring around.  There were many times I was wishing for cool and dry instead of hot and humid - but I expected that.  Thank goodness for air conditioned hotel, air conditioned bus and lots of fans everywhere!

After our most enjoyable breakfast, we boarded our tour bus to go to the mausoleum of people's most beloved leader, Ho Chi Minh. 

Had it been any other day than Friday, we would have been able to go inside and see the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh, but on Friday, it is closed to all and I was quite ok with that.  Evidently Ho returns to Russia every year for 2 months to have "work done".  I wonder if Phyllis Diller uses the same people.

There are a few other tour groups around, but it is a quieter time of the year as it is heading into their rainy season.  Although we haven't had any rain just yet, today there is a typhoon heading into Ha Long Bay and other tour groups were cancelling - that stop is not on our itinerary.  Our tour which would have 68 people if it was full only has 31 guests - it will make for a very close and personal cruise adventure!

So after the mausoleum, we visited the Museum of Ethnology.  There are 54 separate ethnic groups making up Vietnam and this museum was to showcase their similarities and their diversity.  It was an interesting look inside, and all around the outside of the museum were some of the different styles of traditional houses.  I hope to see some of these when we head on our river cruise in a few days.

In the afternoon we visited a temple of literature and then to the Hoa Lo Prison - aka Hanoi Hilton.  I don't take pictures of places like that.  It was a time in in history and it was interesting to see.  Also interesting was to read the dialogue on the good and humane treatment of prisoners while they were imprisoned there.  Reminded me of another time when Peter and I were in Dachau.  We did not visit the concentration camp, but the literature said that the chambers were never used.  One must always be respectful when visiting a foreign country and listen to the history as they tell it.

Then back to the hotel to shower and wash clothes - there were already soaking wet anyway!  Tonight is a gala dinner - thank goodness not gala clothes - they will have to be satisfied with a nice top and some clean pants.  Then afterwards, Diana said there is a night market close by.  We will see if it is something we can walk to ... and whether or not we should venture out on our own.  Our tour guide Tony will help us make the decision.

Tam biet for now!