Cambodia and Vietnam Part 9 - Hanoi

We had peacefully spent several days in Vietnam, but Hanoi?  And how fitting to arrive to chilly, rainy, dreary weather after being in the heat and humidity of the south.

We stayed at an interesting hotel consisting of several buildings on piers in a large lake. There were even a few local fishermen in small boats fishing among and under the  buildings.

 

We started our “history tour” day at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex. The mausoleum is closed on Friday, so we walked around the area listening to our guide. We had some trouble hearing him because of all the people in the area, but as the guards had already told him he was too loud (which he wasn’t), we did our best to listen carefully. As we had noticed in Russia, the guards are sometimes bullies, because they can be.

The Presidential Palace where Ho did not live

Ho Chi Minh lived a simple life in a plain house and then moved to his house on stilts, modeled from a traditional rural house, which was next to an extensive bomb shelter. We were able to see into both of his houses, but not the shelter. Whether or not we agree with his politics, he did live his ideals.

Gardener's cottage where Ho lived while his house on stilts was being built.

Ho's house on stilts

Simple Dining Room

We were able to visit only the courtyard of the B-52 Museum as the building wasn’t open. It was eerie seeing the wreckage of the B-52 that had been shot down by a MIG. 

Piece of the tail of the B-52

Wreckage which includes engines

The type of MIG that shot down the B-52

Another uncomfortable place, to say the least, was the Hoa Lo Prison, built by the French, and much of the prison focuses on Vietnamese imprisonment. Of course, we know it as the Hanoi Hilton, and there is a significant space devoted to the prisoners of the American War as it is called in Vietnam. John McCain and many other Americans were held here. That place wouldn’t have been on my list of tourist sites, but I went in with the rest of the tour and was the first person out of the museum.

Stated as John McCain's flight suit, but there is some doubt about that

I think some US pilots might not agree. (reprinted below)

Vietnam has a long history, and it was the French who helped to organize the artifacts and they built a beautiful museum to house them. We stopped to see some of these very early pieces of Vietnam history.

The Museum of Vietnamese History

Then some final shopping in the Old Quarter to spend the rest of our dong. Or is it dongs? 

From the sign at the Hoa Lo Prison Museum
Some Pictures and Objects of United States Pilots in Hoa Lo Prison

United States Government carried out a sabotage warfare by air force, and naval force against the North of Vietnam from 05 August 1964 to 15 January 1973.

Thousands of planes were shot down, hundreds of United States pilots were arrested by north army and people. Some of them were imprisoned here.

During the war, the national economy was difficult but Vietnamese Government had created the best living conditions to US pilots for they had a stable life during the temporary detention period.

Upon the agreement on war termination was concluded in March 1973 in Paris, all the arrested US pilots were released to US Government by Vietnam Government.

Some of pictures and objects on these two exhibition hall show some details of US pilots’ life when they were temporary imprisoned at Hoa Lo Prison.