We arrived in Hanoi on Sunday morning (March 18) following an overnight train ride from Danang. Our 4 person berth (2 bunk beds) had only 3 of us, including a nice young lady from Denmark so we managed to get a decent sleep during the 14 hour trip.
The following day we walked around the city, visiting the Temple of Literature (well-preserved Vietnamese architecture) and then the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex. The Mausoleum was closed by the time we got there in the afternoon but we managed to visit the HCM Museum, and two different buildings where he lived over a 15 year period before assuming power......the House on Stilts, more like a cottage home appeared to be his favourite choice, a very relaxed place to gather his thoughts.
Late that night we caught another overnight train and short bus ride to Sapa, a beautiful trip up into the mountain (north of Hanoi and less than 40 kms from China). Our full 2 day trip was arranged by a wonderful husband-wife team in Hanoi who met all of our expectations and more. When an initial on-line booking hit an internet snag from Nha Trang, they took personal ownership and promised a worry-free experience with upgrades along the way at a discounted price. From a personal drop-off at the train station (with 'travellers'), a cell phone with a number to call if we had any problems, a VIP room in Sapa and a Hanoi train station pick-up at 5 am in the morning at the end of our trip, it was more than anyone could have expected and drew astonished looks from our other Sapa travelling friends who booked similar priced packages with other tour companies. We can only assume that this couple is new to the business and trying to make a name for themselves through positive guest reviews which we will surely provide without them asking.
On our first day in Sapa we walked downhill to the Cat Cat minority village and then back up the mountain....... only 7-8 km's but it felt like a lot more due to the elevation changes. The views were spectacular. We still had enough energy later in the day to walk around the town of Sapa including the only flat spot in the area, the lake in the middle of town. On the second day we did another trek, this time 12 km's into the Muong Hoa Valley. Following some steep and sometimes rough trails we were rewarded with more magnificent views and stops at two more minority villages where the people there seem very happy having only a small rice field and a hut to live in. The village ladies were also out in force trying to sell their hand-made treasures to all that passed by. Rhonda made a couple of purchases (jewelry and a hand bag), and as I heard someone say recently, "word spread faster than a fart in a wicker chair" so from then on she was surrounded by other Black H'mong tribe ladies hoping to cash in with the Head Purchaser of the family. It was entertaining to watch, especially since the costs of the items was so little. After a lunch in the village we were relieved to find out that a mini-bus was going to return us to Sapa where we able to have a shower and a few well-earned beverages before catching another overnight train back to Hanoi.
Today, our very accommodating hotel, where we had left most of our clothes on our Sapa trip, let us check in early to our room (6 am) where we caught another few hours sleep. They have also been treating us wonderfully and we are enjoying our stay here. Then we hiked over to the Mausoleum, just in time to see Uncle Ho. It was a very interesting experience. Only available from 8-11 am, 6 days a week, there is a constant flow of people lined up to pay their respects to Ho Chi Minh who despite dying in 1969, is encased for all to see. No pictures are allowed (guards everywhere), security is tighter than at the airport, talking is forbidden and everyone walks single file in continuous movement around 3 sides of the embalmed corpse. There were several thousand people in line when we got there and it took 45 minutes for the whole experience including the less than 60 seconds that we were allowed to stroll by HCM but it was worth the effort. Uncle Ho is in remarkable shape for someone leaving us 40 years ago.....and by the way "Uncle Ho" is an endearing name to the Vietnamese......I'm not making fun of the situation.......just in case my blog is being scrutinized by the gov't (where Facebook access is not available).
Another museum to visit tomorrow and then on Thursday we have another trip booked with our favourite tour campany to Halong Bay where we will spend two nights sleeping on a boat before returning to Hanoi.
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