Lloyd's Vietnam Trip 2015
Index Previous - Next

Sun 10 May - Hanoi tour

Main feature was a visit to (Uncle) Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum and to file past his body. The pomp, formality and buildings were all very impressive, thousands of people. The queue took 45 minutes to file through 2 abreast at a normal walking pace. making it about 4k long. The body was in a 5x3x3 m glass case in the most sacred inner chamber of the building with guards. With only 2 guests Hong was able to explain a lot of interesting stuff and cope with clarification requests and odd questions from really ignorant foreigners. I am trying to follow the events of history that led to the Vietnam war its all so intriguing but no space or time for it here. I was surprised to learn that in this "terribly communist" country, people have full title the the land they buy, foreigners can buy property based on a 100 yr lease and the power and other utilities are 49% owned by private enterprise and anybody can purchase their shares on the stock exchange, 8 hr working day, overtime for more, fee primary schooling to age 13 then it costs a little, there are private schools, not terribly religious generally but a large the cathedral was packed for mass great organ sound but didn't see it. Went on scooter with Hang for some shopping for lighter shirts, cheaper but not much.

Below are pics as we queued to enter the mausoleum