Vietnam - Hanoi Day 3

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Vietnam : Hanoi 5th to 7th March 2009

Our first day at Hanoi was one of quiet walking around the old quarters during the day and attending the renown Water Puppet Show in the evening.
On the second day, we made a trip out of the city & took a boat ride around the famous Ha Long Bay. Today we will be visiting the Ho Chi Minh Museum and walk around the park surrounding the area.
I will also be attending mass at the St. Joseph's Cathedral. Me only? Will come to that later. So read on!

Day 3 : 7th March 2009

Waking up to a magnificent view of the Hoan Kiem Lake from our bedroom at the Golden Sun Hotel should be a start to a great day.
But no! I had recovered from my bout with diarrhea but Lynn was still recovering from hers. She was still feeling weak but managed to pull herself up to follow me to visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum.


Ho Chi Minh Museum & Park

Here's Lynne at the entrance to the Ho Chi Minh Museum, she may be feeling under the weather but still managed a smile. We had taken a cab over, one advise though when taking cabs please ensure that the fare is agreed on before proceeding.

Immediately after entering, one would have to climb up  a small flight of steps to the entrance hall.

At the entrance hall, a statue of the great leader himself welcomes visitors to view and appreciate his struggles. The display rooms are to the right and left of this hall.

The museum is dedicated to the struggles of Ho Chi Minh, a documentation of how he and his fellow Vietcong freedom fighters managed to take back the south and re-unite Vietnam.
It also showcases communists efforts in other parts of the world.

The resistance fighters were fantastic; with simple, outdated weapons and sheer determination they managed to fight against an army with superior weapons. As the saying goes, if there is a will there is a way.

A memorial representing people breaking the chain of suppression to obtaining liberty & harmony.

An angel comforting the oppressed.

Posters commemorating the communist struggle - this one is from Russia.

Picasso-like sculpture of a bull - the bull head representing the labor of the ordinary people.

Whilst the museum for dedicated to the combative efforts, the park outside was a place of serenity, a place of hope.

Strangely, there was this Chinese temple or clan house within the park. How is it associated with Vietnam? I have yet to find out.
(Note: Rewa Tran, a Vietnamese updated me on the above. It is actually a Vietnamese Buddhist temple. Back in the old days, the Vietnamese used to use Chinese characters, called Hán tự in writing, i.e. before the use of latin script which was introduced when the French colonized the country.)

The park was well landscaped, with open boulevards and shady areas. I like these orange blooms, but then I could be biased as orange is one of my favorite colors.

And there was this uniquely black temple, probably made of ebony wood, perching over one of the smaller lakes.

Lynn said some prayers here, for a continued safe journey.....
..... and also for some ease from her stomach problems.

Besides the temple were some pretty, bright red flowers.
Okay! Let's brighten up to! Forget our woes and enjoy the place.

Slightly further off from this temple was a very wide boulevard that led to .....

... the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. This is where the body of the great leader of Vietnam is preserved and lying in state for all perpetuity.
We wanted to go in, but unfortunately it was closed for the afternoon.
So others please take note opening hours are from 8-11 am. It's closed on Fridays.

Heading back to the hotel, we passed by these colorful buildings.
When we got back, the kind manageress of the hotel, having heard of Lynn's tummy problems had her staff buy back some hot chicken broth for us and also got her some medication too.
After this gracious lunch, while Lynn stayed in to rest, I went out to explore the neighborhood.


St. Joseph's Cathedral

Wandering through the streets, I found this nice old Roman Catholic church - the St. Joseph's Cathedral. It dates back from the 1800s, the Vietnamese name for it is Na Tho Lon. Some how it's grey old Notre Dame style walls adds to it's aged stature.

The cathedral is named after St. Joseph, the earthly "father" of Jesus.
Much have been said about this church not being up to par with those in Europe.
Of course it will be hard to match those churches in Europe, but let's get our perspective right. Imagine back in the 1800s, bringing those intricate stained-glass mosaic and paneling over hundreds of kilometers over the seas, and then showing the locals how to build a church European style. It would be just as difficult to build a pagoda in Paris back then.

The church is a piece of art with a grand main altar with beautiful paneled backdrops.

A close up view of the main altar, showing the intricate paneling.

On each side there were alcoves with shrines, this one is for Mother Mary.

At the other side is a shrine to Jesus.
The church also have beautiful stain glass mosaic windows.
(... see more at St. Joseph Cathedral's blog)

On the outside, to rear side of the church is a rocky, landscaped shrine to Mary.
I said some prayers there.

Further along the road, beyond the cathedral, is the St. Joseph's Seminary. This is where future priests are trained to be later ordained.

At one of the entrance to the seminary is a statue of St. Joseph carrying the child Jesus high on his shoulders.

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Later in the evening, I went out alone for dinner as Lynn was still feeling unwell.
AND I met the horrendous traffic of Hanoi - one full of motorcycles zipping here and zapping there. How do I cross the road amid this chaotic zooming.
Here's the secret! Don't wait until the traffic clear, it never will. Slowly, step by step, walk your way across, the motorcyclist will avoid you, flowing around you like water flowing around a rock.
I did that and had a nice medium rare steak for dinner.

Having finished dinner, I went back to see poor Lynn.
I took a nice night photo of Hoan Kiem Lake before I went to bed - little realizing what was in store for me the following day.


Day 4 : 8th March 2009
Disaster! The medium rare steak didn't go well with me, and I too was down with diarrhea.
So Lynn and me spent this day in bed (well, actually in bed and in the toilet!)
The ever so kind hotel manageress, again took good care of us and bought nice warm chicken broth & medication - this time for the both of us!


Day 5 : 9th March 2009

In the early morning, the air-port transfer taxi picked us up and sent us to the airport where we took the Air Asia flight back.
So it was good bye Hanoi! Tạm Biệt!

Haha! Our holiday here was for five days, it felt like three on account of our tummy adventures. But it was a good three days.



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Vietnam - Hanoi Day 1

Vietnam - Hanoi Day 2

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