Day 20. Hanoi. 18.11.24

Day 16 of the cycling tour, no cycling. 

'Sightseeing tour including Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum; discover the unknown part of Hanoi Old Quarter and evening water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.'

We went for a pre breakfast stroll to Hoan Kiem Lake.

Home for another delicious breakfast. 

We headed out sightseeing by 9.30am with Miss Hong.

Art works in the Hotel. 

1st stop on our tour was at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Unfortunately it's closed on Mondays but we were able to wander around the gardens and see the stilt house he lived in.

The banner says "Long live the Socialist Republic of Vietnam "

Parliament House. 

President Ho Chi Minh passed in 1969 and this mausoleum was built as his resting place in 1973-75. It is 21.6m high and 41.2m wide. The exterior is made from grey granite and the interior is grey, black and red polished stone. The name on to is made from 6kgs of ruby according to the guide, although Wikipedia says dark red jade stone.

"President Ho Chi Minh,  forever in our hearts "

The guards change hourly.

The President was a single man and didn't want to live in the Presidential Palace so the Governor lived here. While the President lived in a simple house on stilts.

Some of the outer buildings in the Presidential Palace. 

Kitchen.  I remember my grandparents having a similar fridge to the one below. 

A pretty small bed for a President. 

Tree roots shooting up.

Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house.

Bunker entrance and a small area that HCM used when he was ill.

If you clap your hands the fish will come to you to feed them.

Pomelo orchard. 

We were try to get a photo with a guard in the background. 

A 1 pillar pagoda. 

After that we went to what I think translate to an old university or place of study.

The great hall of ceremonies. 

A music video was being filmed.

Lunchtime before we went home for rest time.
Back to train street to actually see the train come through. 

Having a drink while we wait. Mark tried an egg coffee. 

The track is crowded until the train comes.

So close.

A water puppet show was next on our agenda. I loved it,  even though it wasn't in English. Very talented people. 

The puppeteers. 

Wandered back to the hotel 

Bit of a rest time before heading out for dinner at the 5 spice restaurant. 

Another wonderful day spent exploring.