Exploring Hanoi

We met up with Cathy and Sandy, and Amy and Adam this morning, and set out to explore Hanoi. 

The craziest thing here is crossing the street.  There are very few stoplights, and each street is full of cars, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, electric vehicles, and other assorted moving things.  Crossing seems utterly impossible.  We've already taken instruction on various techniques.  One says cross after the cars but before the motorcycles.  Another says just walk straight at a steady rate.  Apparently that way the scooters can judge where you'll be and avoid you, whereas if you dash or dawdle, they might misjudge.  Another theory says that the right of way belongs to the larger of the two vehicles … this seems very true.  I found it terrifying.  I now plan my routes around which way I can go crossing the fewest streets. 

We started at the history museum.  First we saw the ancient section – lots of bronze drums.  Then we saw the modern section.  The modern history of Vietnam appears to be occupation-revolution-liberation-occupation-revolution-liberation, etc.  I will admit that it is odd to read about the American "aggressors", "imperialists", "invaders" and so on.  However, since my earliest political memories are about protesting the Vietnam war, I can't say that I disagreed very much with their depiction.

We then headed over to the Hoam Kien Lake in the center of Hanoi.  We checked out the Buddhist temple and various pagodas.  After lunch, we took an electric car tour ("green" tour) through the markets.  It’s funny how like stores congregate together.  We saw kitchen street, coffee street, silk street, etc.  We also stopped in a large covered market with vast amounts of merchandise such as Burberry scarves (real or imitation?  who knows), funny knitted hats, costume jewelry, belts, and many sundry items.

Then we split up.  Lenny, Marina and I headed back to the hotel for a lovely High Tea and a rest.  We checked Marina into the room that she will share with Missy, who arrives this evening.  This turned out to be a difficult task as they had her incorrectly listed as Marina Dubimsky, and they simply did not believe me when I explained that Marina Dubinsky and Marina Dubimsky were one and the same. 

We ate dinner at a place recommended in the NY Times a few weeks ago.  It's in a non-touristy neighborhood … a tiny place whose theme was to be like the "old days" with ration coupons and tin plates.  The food was delicious and unbelievably cheap.  We had a feast for the 7 of us for only $50 total.

-- Donna