Friday 30 December 2011

Hanoi

Charming, nice weather, people not camerashy. Crossing streets is scary at first. Shopping at Old Quarter is very good, nice variety of Vietnamese reproductions.

Entrance to the Temple of Literature.

Inner Courtyard entrance at the Temple of Literature.

Some of the early Saints' Tablets are displayed here.

Main building of the Temple of Literature.

Confucius is the most revered person in Vietnam.


Pagoda at the grounds of the Temple of Literature. (can't see any ladder or stairs to the upper floor.)

Minor gateway at the TOL.

Mythical animals at the inner courtyard gateway at the TOL.

The original presidential residence of Uncle Ho.

This house on stilts was requested by Uncle Ho because he preferred the simple life. 

Ground floor of Uncle Ho's residence.

There were 2 rooms upstairs.

A reproduction of the famous One Pillar Pagoda, the original was destroyed by the French colonist.


Entrance to Ngoc Son Temple.

Entrance to bridge crossing to Ngoc Son Temple.




Hoan Kiem Lake.

Vietnamese mythical creature, a fish which became a dragon.

Another mythical animal found at Ngoc Son Temple.

 Mythical animal found at Ngoc Son Temple. Note the ceramic shards inlay.

 mythical animal found at Ngoc Son Temple

 mythical animal found at Ngoc Son Temple

Symbol on roof of Ngoc Son Temple.

Old Quarter street scene.

Old Quarter street scene.

Old Quarter street scene.

Old Quarter street scene. Notice the width of the shops in Hanoi, mostly about 5 metres only.

All the newest Crumpler bags for your picking.

Ancient Vietnamese hieroglyphics found on buried copper drums.

Motorcycles of Hanoi as seen from our hotel.

Cyclo vs electric buggy in green vehicle war.

Old Quarter shop, see how high the bags are hung up. 

Most of the motorcycles are parked orderly in Hanoi.

The sidewalk or five footway is sometimes used to display goods.

I was wondering how to reach for the items at the corner of the display.


Most of the shoeshops sell only ladies' shoes.

Be careful where you park your vehicle.

Alfresco lunch in Hanoi Old Quarter.

Mobile florist.



Common scene in Vietnamese cities, vendors plying their goods on baskets.




Youths slicing cooked beef.


Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.