Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum
According to our tour guide Ho Chi Minh was not his real name
Born Nguyen Sinh Cung
He was considered one the most influential communist leaders of
the 20th century

To beat the heat we were at the mausoleum very early
But there was still thousands of other tourist's there to witness
the changing of the guard.

March 18, 2016

View from the 20th floor of our hotel
Glen took these pictures...I was up there but I couldn't seem to
let go of the wall...
This is the route we took earlier
in the evening

City View of Hanoi at night

Pagoda island view and the city getting ready for the New Year
celebrations!

Good grief!

"Walk into traffic...slowly...don't stop... keep walking" Vin says
Viet Nam drivers know to go around pedestrians...

There are over 4 million scooter licences in Han oi alone 

Also know as Tran Bac or Guardian of the North

Glen and I were not wearing the proper clothes, so
we were unable to actually go into the temple complex
Photo taken through an open window
Proper clothes: knees covered, shoulders covered 

Carving showing the birds of Ho Tay on West Lake.
On the side of the main entrance of the Temple 

Welcome to Tran Quoc the oldest Buddhist Pagoda in Viet Nam
Constructed in the 6th century
Making it more than 1450 years old

Red brick symbolizes Luck & Prosperity
This tower holds the ashes of important monks

Glen and I were in Hanoi a half day before the rest of the
people on the tour arrived.
We decided to go for a stroll in the park just down the street from our hotel
Our tour director Vin said "Very safe, no worries!"
Above is one of the 35 lakes in Hanoi, although
this one has a unique story...see below

This is the monument for (Senator) John  McCain, as his plane was shot down and he bailed out
 before crashing into West Lake.
He was captured and spent the next 5 1/2 years in a POW camp
 nicknamed the' Hanoi Hilton.'

Interestingly the city now has a Hilton Hotel built...

One of the only places Glen & I have visited
that when you exchange your money you become  an instant
millionaire
Picture of Ho Chi Minh
Chairman of the Communist party from 1951 until his death in 1969

"Park where you like..."