The next morning, we drove up to Hanoi. When our driver told us that we had reached our destination, I was surprised. We were not anywhere close to where the hotel was supposed to be. Apparently, the person that scheduled everything for us, had made a mistake. The location is not as ideal, but there is nothing that I can do about it now. I will be complaining.
We headed out, away from the old city, to explore the Ho Chi Minh museum. I had heard that the museum was a bit unique. The museum was an odd combination of abstract art and some quotes and articles about how the revolution and dictatorship under the guise of socialism was a great thing for Vietnam. I greatly enjoyed the unique artwork and quickly stopped reading the bad quotes.
Next, we walked toward the Museum of Fine Arts. On the way, we took notice of something we had been told by our guides. The people are taxed based on width, so many buildings are super narrow. This creates an odd and unfamiliar look.
The Fine Arts Museum was fairly large and had some beautiful things inside. Here were some of my favorites.
Next, we quickly walked through the Temple of Literature, built in 1070. It is also printed on the back of one of the most commonly used money notes, the 100,000 dong bill(4.5 dollars). Inside the temple, Vietnam's first university was built. A huge crowd of white women, led by a guide, had no problem blocking people from entering while they took a ridiculous group photo. They were totally oblivious to the inconvenience to others around them. They then walked as slow as molasses inward.
At this time, a young boy, of around the age of 10, walked up to us and asked us where we were from and how old we were, explaining that he was practicing his English from school. He was quite good. I told him that I was from the moon and was 110 years old. He understood that I was joking. Was I though?
On the walk back to the old city, we passed another glorious example of proper city planning.
We ate dinner and spent the night walking into the heart of the city and browsing shops. I also stopped for hot chocolate, which I had been craving for some reason all trip. Stephanie did not understand why I would want a hot drink in this heat. She just doesn't understand.
We went to sleep very early. At around 4:00, the noise started. Constant flip flop shoes slapping, talking, and moving. We got up at 7:30, though I was never able to fall asleep. Even the housekeeping decided to start at 7:30, and had a loud walkie talkie. We took the elevator up to the 8th floor, where breakfast was served. The host asked us how our night was and I explained how crappy it was. She said that she would look for a quieter room for us. She also gave us coupons for 2 free massages, which have very high prices according to the booklet in the room. This was a nice gesture ,though I do not know if I will be using the massage. Stephanie is too afraid to be massaged with her issues right now. The breakfast was the nicest we have had so far.
Today, we went to the city's history museum. On the way, we saw the local UPS man.
Then, we saw the opera house.
I am all museumed out right now, so I just glanced at things in the history museum. It was rather small. We then went towards the Vietnamese women's museum. On the way, we passed the Hanoi Stock Exchange.
Stephanie bought the audio guide to the museum while I read using the wifi in the museum. We walked toward the old city, which has a lake in the middle that we had not been to yet. There was an old building in the middle of the lake.
We passed a few places selling luggage, and I thought it would be best to pack the items that we had bought on the trip in a luggage with wheels so that it could be checked with the airlines and she wouldn't need to worry about it.
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