If you notice the splash picture, they really like their eggs in Vietnam. Here’s another version:
The multi colored ones are quail eggs, which you see frequently on menus.
We’re going to intersperse a few Hanoi shots in this post, but the main theme is free tours. We just mentioned that we wanted to do a city tour, and Tommy, our hotelier, said he’d take care of it. He pulled out his phone, made a call, and announced we were signed up. We asked “how much?” He responded “free.” Turns out it’s for the most part university students who want to practice their English. Not a bad deal.
Here is the view from our room first thing in the morning. During the night the street is empty. When the old town Hanoi was established, each street had a different trade. Strong vestiges still remain. Our street now contains packaging: tape, plastic wrap, fast food containers, plastic rain ponchos, etc. But, first thing in the morning, before the vendors set up, there is a breakfast trade. Then that goes away and the vendors pull out their wares for the day.
City Tour
Linh met us at our hotel. She is finishing her last year studying international business law. She first took us through the crowded streets of the old town to an old house that has been preserved.
The house is several hundred years old. Back when it was built, there were five families living in it. They worked at different times, and would switch off front room (for business) and back (for living). Seems complicated, but they made it work. These were relatively well-to-do families.
Next we strolled toHoàn Kiếm Lake, or Sword Lake. This is because a sacred turtled reclaimed a powerful sword that an emperor has used to defeat his enemies after the battle. The red bridge is probably more famous than the pagoda in the lake.
We then walked to the Cathedral, built, of course, by the French. This is a famous spot to have iced lemonade. Linh took us to the most famous place, that went up through a dark alley. The lemonade was very sweet.
Hoa Lo Prison
This wasn’t really a free tour, but it was a tour none-the-less. We started the next day looking for a pair of jeans for me. The Levi store didn’t have big enough sizes. (Ironically, when we finally did go to the “Old Sailor” store – a Vietnamese brand, I had gone down a size and would have fit in the Levi’s. We were close enough, so we walked to the Hoa Lo Prison. Many of you may remember it as the “Hanoi Hilton,” where John McCain and other captured U.S. pilots were held.
Built by the French, of course, it was used to hold Vietnamese revolutionaries, trying to escape colonial rule. It was pretty grim.
Food Tour
We told Tommy we wanted a food tour. Boom – we were signed up. This time our guide was a stock trader from Ho Chi Min City visiting home. Go figure.
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Next stop – Ha Long Bay.
