Hanoi Things to Do Tips by Blatherwick

Ho Chi Minh Museum Ho Chi Minh Museum Review

For 10,000 dong you can find out all the Vietnamese would like you to know about Uncle Ho. The use of personal items, photos, and documents help to piece together the fragments of Ho's life. The exhibit starts at the top of the museum and spirals down to the rise of the nation's communist revolution. English language explanations are provided. The museum is open Tues-Sun 8-11:30am and 1:30-4pm.

Address: 3 Ngo Ha, Ba Dinh District

Directions: From the mausoleum, head south on Hung Vuong and make the first right. It's just beyond the One Pillar pagoda.

Phone: 845-5455

Presidential Palace Presidential Palace Review

The Presidential Palace of Vietnam was built between 1900 and 1906 to house the French Governor-General of Indochina. It was constructed by Auguste Henri Vildieu, the official French architect for Vietnam. The striking yellow palace stands behind iron gates flanked by sentry boxes. Like most French colonial architecture, the palace is pointedly European.

When Vietnam achieved independence in 1954, Ho Chi Minh refused to live in the building for symbolic reasons, although he still received state guests there. Today, the palace hosts important government meetings. It is not open to the public but the grounds are accessible for 5000 Dong.

Address: 1 Bach Thao, Ba Dinh District

Directions: Just north of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex

Phone: (84-4)8234760

Halong Bay Ha Long Bay Review

Halong Bay is the jewel of Vietnam and should not be missed. It's well worth it even if it is foggy when I went. Actually, the fog gave the feeling that we were approaching "Skull Island" except that we were getting there faster than Peter Jackson. Halong Bay consists of a dense cluster of 1,969 limestone monolithic islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, which rise spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. Some of the islands support floating villages of fishermen, who ply the shallow waters for fish and mollusks.

There are 1, 2 or 3 days cruises and ODC Travel seems to be the company of choice although we just got our guesthouse to arrange it. I took a one day excursion because of time constraints but I think that the two day tour is best. The one day cost $21 US while the two day would have been $26 US.

Ha Long literally means descending dragon(s) and according to local myth, the story goes as follows:

Long ago when their forefathers were fighting foreign invaders from the north, the gods from heaven sent a family of dragons to help defend their land. This family of dragons descended upon what is now Ha Long bay and began spitting out jewels and jade. Upon hitting the sea, these jewels turned into the various islands and islets dotting the seascape and formed a formidable fortress against the invaders. The locals were able to keep their land safe and formed what is now the country of Vietnam. The Dragon family fell so much in love with this area for its calm water and for the reverence of the people of Vietnam that they decided to remain on earth. Mother dragon lies on what is now Ha Long and where her children lie is Bai Tu Long. The dragon tails formed the area of Bach Long Vi known for the miles of white sandy beaches of Tra Co peninsula.

Address: Halong Bay

Water Puppet Show Water Puppet Show Review

If you want to gain only one piece of cultural background in Vietnam, go see the water puppets. Water puppetry developed over a thousand years ago in the Red River Delta. Puppeteers use bamboo poles to extend their puppets from behind the proscenium and up through the surface of a small pond that forms the stage. The stories are about daily life in the countryside and ancient tales such as the legend of Hoan Kiem Lake.

Shows are at 5:15, 6:30, and 8pm daily. First class seats cost 40,000d which allows you to sit within the first five rows and gets you a free CD of the music. The other seats are 20,000d.Get there early though as tours often make this a stop and they already have tickets. The water takes a toll on the dolls so after a few performances you can buy one both at the theatre or at a nearby shop.

Address: 57B Dinh Tien Hoang St

Directions: North end of Hoam Kiem Lake in the Old Quarter

Other Contact: Thanglong.wpt@fpt.vn

Phone: (04) 825-5450

Website: http://www.thanglongwaterpuppet.org

St. Joseph's Cathedral St Joseph Cathedral Review

If you need a break from the noise of Hanoi's streets then you should visit St. Joseph's Cathedral. It was completed in 1887 and is the main church in Hanoi. It was closed in 1975 upon reunification of Vietnam, and was not reopened until 1985. The building features a neo-gothic style of architecture with two rectangular towers providing striking features. It looks like a run down version of Notre Dame in Paris. Inside is an intricately detailed altar and stained windows featuring the saints.

Address: 40 Nha Chung Street

Directions: At the end of Nha Tho.

Opera House Opera House Review

The Ha Noi Opera House was completed in 1911 in the same architectural style as the Opera House in Paris. This is the most striking building in Hanoi with its neo-Baroque architecture that feature pillars and balconies overlooking the city center. The 900-seat opera house plays host to visiting foreign performances as well as Vietnamese symphonies. If you enjoy this type of entertainment, the best seats usually sell for less than $10 USD10. It was from a balcony of this building on 16th august 1945 that the Viet Minh announced from the main balcony that they had taken over the city.

Address: 1 Trang Tien St

Directions: 300m east of the South end of Hoan Kiem Lake in the French Quarter.

Phone: (04) 933-0113

Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) Temple of Literature Review

the Temple of Literature, is the oldest school in Vietnam, giving it the distinction of being the most significant temple in both Hanoi and Vietnam. It was founded in 1070 by the emperor Ly Thanh Tong as a Confucian temple. Only parts of the Van Mieu complex date back to the earliest period, although much of the architecture dates to the Ly (1010-1225) and Tran (1225-1400) Dynasties. In 1076, emperor Ly Thanh Tong established Vietnam's first university, the Quoc Tu Giam (National University), within the temple to educate Vietnam's mandarin class. The university functioned for more than 700 years, from 1076 to 1779.

What exists today is a series of four courtyards that served as an entrance to the university. Architecturally, it is a fine example of classic Chinese with Vietnamese influences. Particularly impressive is the collection of 82 stone stelae which rest upon large stone tortoises. They were created between 1484 and 1780 and are engraved with the names, places of birth and achievements of the 1,306 doctor laureates that received their degrees during this time span. These stelae were erected to encourage learning and bestow honor on the talented men who assisted the Kings in defending the country.

Address: Quoc Tu Giam St, Dong Da District

Phone: 04-845-2917

Air Force Museum

* Note that this museum is being renovated and is closed as of January 2006.

If you are an airplane buff then you must go here. The Air Force Museum is one of the larger museums in the country and the outside features a number of Siviet built MIGs, reconnaissance planes, helicopters and other equipment. The inside provides the history of the Vietnamese Air Force with the primary focus on the American War.

What a great museum! However, I found the exhibit on the B-52s interesting. They were celebrating the fact that they brought down 9 B-52s during the war. However, I calculated that the Americans bombed Vietnam with B-52s for around 9 years. So they shot down 1 B-52 a year and there were how many missions flown?

Address: D Truong Chinh in the Dong Da District

Directions: Your going to have to grab a moto for this one as the museum is located far to the SW.

The Old Quarter Old Quarter Review

The Old Quarter is Hanoi's commercial centre that has over a thousand years of history. It contains the best place to take in cafes, markets, local shops, etc. It is also the place where the cheapest hotels can generally be found.

The 36 streets that make up the Old Quarter somewhat gives you the feeling that you've been thrown back in time and you are in the old Parisian style of Hanoi. Hang Bac is lined with gold and silver shops. Hang Thiec is where the metalworkers are. Because merchants were taxed according to the length of their storefronts, houses are thin structures and go deep into the block.

You can also find the museum at 48 Hang Ngang where Uncle Ho drafted the Vietnamese Declaration of Independence.

Directions: The Old Quarter is north of Hoan Kiem Lake

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Review

What is it about communists that they have to have their founding fathers stuffed and put on display? Uncle Ho wanted to be cremated and have his ashes buried in parks around the country. Instead, upon his death in 1969, he was stuffed and placed in a large Soviet style mound of concrete.

That said, the Soviets did make impressive mounds of concrete and this one is no exception. Also notable is the reverence that the Vietnamese visitors have for this man which actually makes seeing him a moving experience, even though he looks like a wax figure.

Uncle Ho is on display most days before noon. Respectful dress is required and pictures are forbidden within the mausoleum. Check with your hotel for a full list of rules.

Address: Ba Dinh Square

Directions: Ba Dinh District