Historical Hanoi

Despite the French legacy of grand boulevards, Hanoi still feels like a cluster of tiny villages. One of the first things you will notice is the traffic. As with other destinations in Asia, motorbikes are a way of life, and Hanoi is no exception.

A must see spot is Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. Uncle Ho asked for a simple cremation with his ashes to be scattered across Vietnam, thus allowing more land to be farmed but the shrine was built anyway. Uncle Ho also gets an annual trip to Russia to have his embalming maintained. After waiting in several different lines and giving up cameras and phones, it is time to enter the mausoleum. Once inside, it is up some stairs to the viewing chamber. The distance is about eight feet to the body. Two guards stand motionless at each side of the casket while viewers look down on the body from an elevated walkway. Viewers must keep moving in a slow procession. In all, Ho Chi Minh is in sight for about twenty-five seconds. He looks a bit waxy but his goatee is still looking prime.

On the culinary side, Phở, pronounced (fa) is a soup that includes noodles made from rice and is often served with basil, bean sprouts, lime, and peppers. This is a simple yet tasty dish. It is good at anytime of the day.