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Thomas and Andrena, hopefully after a relatively painless flight, will arrive at Hanoi Airport and transfer to their hotel
to freshen up. They will then cycle to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum to visit the final resting place of former president Ho Chi
Minh, his old residence and one pillar pagoda. The mausoleum was built on the edge of Ba Dinh Square, the place where Ho Chi
Minh delivered the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Viet Nam to half a million of his countrymen in 1945, following
the surrender of the Japanese.
The angular grey granite edifice stands stern and alone against the skyline. The street and square are usually so abandoned
that the whole scene is enormously stately, like a miniature version of Tiananmen Square. From the mausoleum, Thomas and Andrena
will return in the direction of the Old Quarter for a cycle to explore the vibrant street scene.
Hanoi became Vietnam's capital in 1010, and still has many preserved ancient architectural works including, as mentioned,
the One Pillar Pagoda (built in 1042) and the Temple of Literature (built in 1070). It has a lovely landscape of lakes, shaded
boulevards, verdant public parks, colonial French houses and astounding modern skyscrapers.
Hanoi's enchanting Old Quarter is rich with over a thousand years of history. If time permits Thomas and Andrena will
hopefully have a chance to explore Hanoi before leaving for the train station.
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| One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi |
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| One Pillar Pagoda: An artist's impression |
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