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Asia, part III: Vietnam (1)

Richard Rosss
2006-04-03 13:39:58

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Good morning Vietnam!

I have had a great day here - I like this place, it has a nice vibe to it (similiar to China, hence why so good!), there is lots to see/do, things are cheap and there seems to loads of westerners! Today I got up early and went to see Uncle Ho. After queing for 10 mins with some other foreigners I wondered in with the masses. I was surprised at how small the masuleam was (Vs Mao's!) - but he looked great, a bit orange but alright. Don't these locals have jobs??

After, I checked out his house (pretty modest but nice!) and presidental palace. The museam in the same vicintiy was also good...kinda post-modernist/cubist/arty farty, but rather good. It talked about Uncle Ho's and his mates struggle for independence and effect of world events on country. Then the heavens opened and it rained for about 30 mins straight. The heaviest rain I have seen! I then walked to the Temple of Literature - a series of buildings that was built in 1050 for a uni in nam to teach ideals and Confucious's idea's to the select few. Splendid place - very similiar building/temples as China.

Yesterday the 25th, I went to the Perfume pagoda. We waited in a bus here for 90mins for some frenchies who blamed someone else for their lateness. All the time I was urging the driver to go... Eventually we arrived there and walked along a muddy road with ankle high mud to jump in a boat rowed by super-women! The scenery along the boat ride was fab. Beautiful green hills over the river... We then walked 1hr up a mt; up steep, slippery stairs to see a huge cave with an average shrine inside it. Wasn't worth it - I was soaked in sweat and caked in mud...

Headed down for some lunch - pretty darn good! Headed back via the boats and the muddy road. Then the rains started...it rained for about 15hrs straight - typhoons suck! I think the Vietnamese soldiers use the same tailors as the ...