Friday, 27 April 2007

Hanoi





Sophisticated, modern, and yet coolly romantic, the city is a self-assured blend of French colonial flair and vintage Vietnam. Late-model motorbikes pulse through the intersections of the Old Quarter's labyrinthine streets and foreign tourists slurp soup on the street alongside old men with goatees and Vietnamese fashion plates in silk and denim.
Hoan Kiem Lake is the liquid heart of the Old Quarter, a good orienting landmark. Everybody like to stay in this area as the whole place is filled with nice cafes and bars as well as nice little boutiques. It is also very easy to get around and hangout.
One of the must visit in Hanoi is definitely the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex. It is divided in different buildings. The main one is certainly where Uncle Ho rests in a glass sarcophagus set deep within a monumental edifice. Bringing your camera or taking pictures is strictly prohibited! Other interesting buildings are the museum with lots of photos, manuscripts and documents followed by the stilt house where Ho Chi Minh lived between 1958 and 1969.
Another highlight in the innercity of Hanoi is the Temple of Literature which was dedicated to Confucius in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong and later established as a university for the education of mandarins. A well-preserved jewel of traditional Vietnamese architecture in 11th century style with roofed gateways and low-eaved buildings.

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