Hanoi-The Heart of the North
We arrived at night in Hanoi, the moderate temperature a relief from the heat and humidity of Siem Reap. Our change in the quality of our transport and the journey from airport to Hotel represented a very developed country in comperison to Cambodia. Large industrial buildings lined the road and the infrastructure was of a high standard.
As we began to explore Hanoi the next morning, the scooters/motorbikes consumed the road, as many as 5 persons on the one bike, a truly incredible sight. Women pushed old bikes covered with flowers as they began the struggle to earn an income.
The people of Hanoi especially the men are not as hospitable as those in Cambodia. Before breakfast Dad and I went for a brief walk where we were followed and looked blunlty upon and cut off by a man arrogantly riding his bike on the footpath.
We visited Ho Chi Minh at the muasoleum, a very valuable experience. The line stretched for several hundred metres, guarded either side by very acutely dressed military. We were not permitted to speak, no belongings were allowed to be taken and hands had to be by ones side. We entered the building and walked up several steps until we reached the room containg Ho Chi Minh. We walked around him on a raised platform, for a couple of seconds. This experience emphasised the communist side of Vietnam.
