Hanoi

(Continued from previous post)

The bus ride to Hanoi, Vietnam was tedious: three hours to the China-Vietnam border, two hours of standing in line at customs, then three more hours to the city itself.  Our hotel was situated in the Old Quarter of Hanoi-a place with heavy colonial European influence.  Everywhere you look, whether it's down a small alley tucked away in some hidden corner or around the enchanting Hoan Kiem lake, you're bound to spot some form of Westernization somewhere.  The French have certainly left their mark on Vietnam ever since they occupied it in the 19th and 20th centuries.  Cafes dot the city with their tasty baguettes and relaxing atmosphere, while Western architecture also adds to its charm.  

The days there felt slow, schoolwork in the morning and cafe hopping in the afternoon.  Our favorite cafe was The Highlander, which sat three floors above the hustling traffic of Hanoi and offered a panoramic view of the lake from the outdoor balcony.

One day we visited the Vietnam War Museum.  Tanks stare at you while you enter, followed by helicopters and artillery.  In the middle of this all was a towering statue of downed airplane debris.  Pretty intimidating if you ask me.  An interesting piece of info stood in front of every weapon and vehicle.  It would tell (supposedly) how many people this gun had shot down.  One piece of artillery destroyed 2 bombers, another pistol shot down 4 US troops.  These signs were in Vietnamese as well as English and French, which makes me wonder if they mean to do it for extra information, or payback for the war.  

Our trip to Hanoi wasn't the most exciting vacation we've taken; we dined at The Highlander half a dozen times, and ate lots of baguettes too.  But maybe that would change in our next destination: Hoi An, a city with beaches, cafes and bread - exactly what we wanted.