The Green Cross Code.

Trip Start Feb 17, 2005
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38
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Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of Vietnam  ,
Tuesday, January 17, 2006

The traffic in Hanoi is absolutely ridiculous. Thousands of motorbikes beeping down the street, you risk life and limb every time the road is crossed, the trick is apparently not to make any sudden movements. At first i was like a rabbit trapped in the headlights and hopped and swerved my way across the street, this premature technique accidently mimicked Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' video, however, my methods improved and by the end of my time there i walked across the road at a steady consistent pace without looking at the oncoming traffic. Seriously, this was the best way. I'm amazed i didn't see an accident, it is absolute bedlam but strangely it works, watch the motorcyclists more closely and they constantly make little deviations from their course so as to ensure safe passage, i wondered if the Vietnamese men walk in the front door to the family after work and wifes would say 'how was your day dear?' and would the man reply 'traffic was a nightmare'? Are there varying levels to this chaos that can be distinguished? I don't think so.

First day was quite relaxing, Rhys was heading off down to an island the day after and we were to meet up in Saigon. We took a stroll around the old quarter of the city and went to a temple on the lake there which was ok but not great and a market, which again was ok but not great and then went for a few beers that night. We ended up going to a bar that was offering free beer until midnight, off we popped to expect some kind of catch but there was none, i was quite amazed. Free beer, what more could anyone want? Tuk-tuk drivers don't seem to exist, instead everyone asks if you want to ride on the back of their motorbike, which we did that night, me Rhys and our little Vietnam man all on the same bike. It was a tight squeeze.

Next day Rhys headed off and i went to the 'temple of literature' which was a university of some kind and that was quite nice but again not fantastic, worth seeing i suppose. After that it was Ho Lao Prison, which kept American POWs in the Vietnam war and was nicknamed the 'Hanoi Hilton' by them as they were treated very well. It was quite interesting, lots of propaganda such as captions that read 'despite the Americans waging a war of destruction on our country for no reason, we still let them receive presents from there families' In the pictures it seemed as though they were treated quite well also. Had satellite tv in my room so that night got to watch loads of premiership games. Jackpot.

Next morning i went to the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and went to see the big man. He's still dead and looks like a waxwork model. He goes to Russia for 3 months of every year to be embalmed or something, it was strange though, no cameras or phones were allowed in and there were lots of guards herding the visitors through and soldiers stood at four corners of the box. It was very kind of respectful but then walking out the other side there was stuff like a replica of Ho Chi Minhs study and his used cars and so what had been a tribute to a very historical figure quickly turned into a cheesy tourist attraction. When i return to England an overthrow the system to impose Communism on the country i want those reading this to make sure that i am preserved when i die and not have it turned into a fanfare..................on second thoughts, think i'll still vote Tory at the next election.

Hanoi in itself was very good, i liked it there, complete contrast to the slow paced Laos. It had loads of stuff to do there and was interesting as well. Fully recommended. Next day it was down the coast to Hue.
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