Hanoi

Marc had to go to Hanoi on business and we decided to make a weekend out of it. We flew to Hanoi on Wednesday night (Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and is located on the right back of the Red River 1,760 km north of Ho Chi Minh City). I had a look see around Hanoi. I can’t decide if I prefer it to HCMC. What I did like about it was that it had a definite French feel to it and the streets at least had wider sidewalks which made it a bit easier to walk around. I spent the day on Thursday trying to find the best tour operator to book our trip to Halong Bay through. I’ve never seen so many Travel Agencies in the same street!!

The City at night from the rooftop bar at the Sofitel Hotel.

View from our Hotel.

Marc managed to get out the office around 15H00 on Friday and we visited the Temple of literature and Hoan Kiem Lake.

The Temple of Literature ( Van Mieu ), dedicated to Confucius (Confucius was the great politician, educator and philosopher, who founded a doctrine, Confucianism, which has had far reaching impact on the culture, psychology and ethics of the Chinese people and other people in neighbouring countries, including Vietnam), was founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong. In 1076, Vietnam's first university was established here to educate Vietnam's administrative and warrior’s class. The complex is in a tranquil park-like site in the heart of central Hanoi.



We took a cyklo to Ho Kiem Lake, what an experience traveling in the front of a bicycle in the middle of traffic with motorbikes coming past you from all sides and the odd bus, taxi looking like it's going to ride you over.

Hoan Kiem lake is located in the middle of Hanoi. Its name means "The Lake of the Restored Sword", referring to a 15th-century legend in which the nobleman Le Loi, who fought for the Vietnamese against Ming China, received his sword from a magic turtle living in the lake. The nobleman defeated the Ming and returned home in victory. One day, the emperor was boating in the lake when the turtle surfaced demanding the sword's return. In memory of this event, the emperor built the Tortoise Tower on an island at the south end of the lake. Enormous turtles still live in the lake today. When they are spotted, it is supposed to herald the death of one of the country's leaders.

Bridge leading to Ngoc Son temple, on an island in the lake.

The main hall behind us.

The Tortoise Tower.