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Vietnam & Cambodia

Day 3 - Hanoi - Around Hoan Kiem

24th November 2019

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A Cake, a Lake & a Turtle Temple

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After a slightly complicated move from International to Domestic terminals for our connection in Saigon, we arrived in Hanoi.

We arrived at rush hour and had an instant baptism into gridlocked streets packed with 1000s of meandering scooter drivers, however the driver took it all in his stride and we ended up having an impromptu tour of the city. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum...

HCM




Madam Huong

After checking in, there was only one thing for it - coffee and cake at a nearby bakery. The colonial French influence left a tradition of patisserie and baguettes.

That said, I'm not 100% sure if these are sweet or savoury, my guess is sweet...


Cake 1

 

        

However Madame Huong didn't let the side down with this little beauty...

It's not clear in the photo, as the people are petite too, but the chairs were tiny, but strangely comfortable.
 
Cake 2




We arrived at the weekend and the streets close to the hotel had been temporarily pedestrianised to accommodate various community events.

This block had been given over to hundreds of children's toy cars for rent...


Toys 1





Toys 2




Turtle Tower on Hoan Kiem lake (Lake of the Returned Sword)...

Island



Street dancers drew a good crowd...

Street dancers



Plenty of teeny-tots doing shows, but here the mothers put on quite a performance...

Grown ups




All against a backdrop of more vigorously authoritarian times...

Statue


At the entrance to the Ngoc Son Temple...

Temple 1




Miche on the Huc (Rising Sun) Bridge...

Temple 2



Approaching Jade Island...


Temple 9





Decorative Dragons...

Temple 3



Also known as the Temple of Jade Mountain...

Temple 4



One of the former lake residents...

Temple 5







Incense and lake views...
 
Temple 6



Temple flags against the blue sky...

Temple 7



Many of the water features we saw in Vietnam had small figurines of village life...

Temple 8



Turtle Tower...

Lake 1



Newly married couple by the lake for formal photos...

Lake 2



Turtle Tower from afar...

Lake 3

Next - Day 4 - Hanoi - Explore - Long Walk

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Days 1 & 2 - London to Saigon Day 3 - Arrival Hanoi - Explore - Hoan Kiem Day 4 - Hanoi - Explore - Long Walk
Day 5 - Hanoi - T. of Literature, H. Hilton, etc. Day 6 - to Halong Bay Day 7 - Halong Bay to Hanoi
Day 8 - to Hoi An Day 9 - Hoi An - Cycle Day 10 - Hoi An - Cookery Class
Day 11 - to Saigon Day 12 - Cu Chi Tunnels Day 13 - to Mekong
Day 14 - Mekong to Saigon Day 15 - to Siem Reap - Temples 1 - Ta Prohm Day 16 - Temples 2 - Angkor Wat
Day 17 - Tonle Sap Day 18 - Temples 3 - Angkor Wat - Preah Kahn Day 19 - Siem Reap Town
Day 20 - to Home