On the Way from Halong Bay to Hanoi

We left Halong Bay early to travel north by bus to Hanoi, on almost the same route that we took two days ago from the Hanoi airport to Halong Bay. Photo: Seen on the way.

On the Way from Halong Bay to Hanoi

Some of the unusual Vietnamese houses seen on the way.

On the Way from Halong Bay to Hanoi

Street scene. Note the trash collector on the bottom left.

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

We stopped for a rest stop at the same store that we visited on our way down to Halong Bay. This time, the young embroiderers were working. They are orphans who are given a job and a trade. They go to school at night.

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

A young girl embroidering.

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

The embroidery is done over a stenciled drawing.

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

A young boy embroidering.

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

Women sewing clothes and other items sold in the store.

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

I think these are embroidered silk.

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

Close–up.

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

Silk dresses.

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

Silk ties.

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

Some kind of ceremonial drum.

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

Lacquer artwork.

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

More artwork.

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

More artwork.

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

The store also sold other items, one of them being Vietnamese Snake Wine. There is a cobra in the bottle!

Lacquer/Embroidery Store

Close–up. I didn’t buy any snake wine, but I did buy snacks as we weren’t going to have time to eat lunch today. The same young woman who waited on me two days ago waited on me today. She recognized me and was so excited that I had come back. What a very nice welcome.

On the Way from Halong Bay to Hanoi

Seen on the way.

On the Way from Halong Bay to Hanoi

Interesting building in the background.

On the Way from Halong Bay to Hanoi

A decorated tube house.

On the Way from Halong Bay to Hanoi

Another colorful tube house.

On the Way from Halong Bay to Hanoi

More colorful houses.

Approaching Hanoi

On the outskirts of Hanoi.

Hanoi

Modern buildings in Hanoi.

Hanoi

Tall tube houses in Hanoi.

Museum of Ethnology

Our first stop in Hanoi––the Museum of Ethnology, which is dedicated to the cultural heritage of the 54 ethnic tribes in Vietnam.

It wasn’t as cold in Hanoi as it was in Halong Bay, but a warm jacket was still needed.

Museum of Ethnology

Outside the museum are various ethnic houses. The one in the photo is a long house.

Museum of Ethnology

Also, outside there were games for children and young adults.

Museum of Ethnology

Food was also available. This poor pig would be roasted and eaten.

I have put my photos of the Museum of Ethnology on a slide show. Go to Slide Shows, Asia, Vietnam–2, “Hanoi: Museum, Old City, Water Puppets, Tour Day 11(A)”  or directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/hanoi–museum–old–city–water–puppets–tour–day–11/

Water Puppet Show

Not our next stop, but we went to a water puppet show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi.

Water Puppet Show

The show was great fun to watch even though we couldn’t understand the Vietnamese language used in the show. I have put on a movie of the water puppet show. For the movie, go to Movies, Asia Movies, Vietnam Movies, page 2, “Water Puppets” or directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/vietnam–movies/  , page 2.

The Old City

After the water puppet show, we walked around the Old City, where the puppet theatre was located. Photo: A good illustration of the unbelievable jumble of electric wires that you see in both Vietnam and Cambodia. If a line malfunctions, it is simply left where it is and a new line is strung. The old lines, still with electricity running through them, sometimes do come down in the rain––a great hazard.

The Old City

Starting to rain. Either the cyclo driver or the cyclo rider brought along a poncho to provide cover in the rain. Good thinking.

The Old City

There were many street vendors in the Old City.

I have put my photos of the Museum of Ethnology, the Old City, and the Water Puppets together on a slide show. Go to Slide Shows, Asia, Vietnam–2, “Hanoi: Museum, Old City, Water Puppets, Tour Day 11(A)”  or directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/hanoi–museum–old–city–water–puppets–tour–day–11/

The Hanoi Hilton–The Hao Lo Prison Historical Site

Between visiting the Museum of Ethnology and seeing the water puppets, we went to the Hao Lo Prison Historical Site, formerly the French prison named the Maison Centrale. This was where our shot–down American pilots were held prisoners during the Vietnam War. The pilots gave the name Hanoi Hilton, sarcastically, to the prison.

The Hao Lo Prison Historical Site is a memorial to the Vietnamese, mainly political prisoners, who were held prisoners of the French when Vietnam was part of French Indochina. Many were tortured and put to death. The site also serves as Vietnamese propaganda as to how well the American pilots were treated while in prison, even though we know that they lived in inhumane conditions and were tortured so that they would make both statements denouncing the American involvement in the war and to tell the world how well they were being treated.

Lieutenant Everett Alvarez, Jr., was the first American pilot put  in Hao Lo Prison (August 1964). John McCain was another prisoner. Some of the American prisoners were held for nine years before being released.

I have put my photos of the Hao Lo Prison on a slideshow. Go to Slide Shows, Asia, Vietnam–2, “Hanoi: Hanoi Hilton (Hao Lo Prison Historical Prison, Tour Day 11(B)”     or directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/hanoi–hanoi–hilton–hoa–lo–prison–historical–site–tour–day–11b/

The Hanoi Hilton–The Hao Lo Prison Historical Site

One of the displays in the prison is President Ho Chi Minh New Year’s Message in the spring of 1969. A sign says that it was translated from the Vietnamese by the American pilots:

“Last year was full of glorious victories. This year the forefront’s sure to win still bigger ones. For Independence, for Freedom. Let’s fight so the Yanks quit, and the puppets topple. Forward! Fighters, countrymen! North and South reunited, could there be a happier spring!”

The visit to the prison was chilling. It was not listed as a tour site but so many of us wanted to visit it Tho took us there.