Vietnam, 2018

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Arrived in Hanoi and immediately learned the importance of the Lotus blossom - and the motor scooter!
Hanoi: Arrived in Hanoi and immediately learned the importance of the Lotus blossom - and the motor scooter!
Our first trip through Hanoi will be in these cyclos, three wheeled bicycles with chairs.
Hanoi: Our first trip through Hanoi will be in these cyclos, three wheeled bicycles with chairs.
A few quick photos of street activity from the moving cyclo.
Hanoi: A few quick photos of street activity from the moving cyclo.
On her way to work, probably, on the scooter with heels.
Hanoi: On her way to work, probably, on the scooter with heels.
The small store-front shops, the scooter traffic and scooters parked - like this all over the city on non-major streets.
Hanoi: The small store-front shops, the scooter traffic and scooters parked - like this all over the city on non-major streets.
The mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. Photos not allowed inside, where he rests in apparently peaceful repose.
Hanoi: The mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. Photos not allowed inside, where he rests in apparently peaceful repose.
A school outing to see Uncle Ho's tomb, and Uncle Ho himself.
Hanoi: A school outing to see Uncle Ho's tomb, and Uncle Ho himself.
From the presidential grounds. I see fruit everywhere that isn't familiar. this one is, I think, Buddha's Hand, and it isn't eaten raw but in jams, etc.
Hanoi: From the presidential grounds. I see fruit everywhere that isn't familiar. this one is, I think, Buddha's Hand, and it isn't eaten raw but in jams, etc.
Museum of Ethnology showing historical artifacts of important minority tribes in the area. This one called, appropriately, the tall house, a Bahnar communal house.
Hanoi: Museum of Ethnology showing historical artifacts of important minority tribes in the area. This one called, appropriately, the tall house, a Bahnar communal house.
Another bamboo house, the Ede long house, from the Museum of Ethnology.
Hanoi: Another bamboo house, the Ede long house, from the Museum of Ethnology.
Flowers and butterflies of Vietnam.
Hanoi: Flowers and butterflies of Vietnam.
Vietnam cities appear to be filled with very entreprenurial individuals who find a niche for a small shop. This is a furniture area.
Hanoi: Vietnam cities appear to be filled with very entreprenurial individuals who find a niche for a small shop. This is a furniture area.
Oh my, and now they all have cell phones! This might be electricity, which is scary. Still, the wire tangle is not as bad as I've seen elsewhere (e.g. Old Delhi)
Hanoi: Oh my, and now they all have cell phones! This might be electricity, which is scary. Still, the wire tangle is not as bad as I've seen elsewhere (e.g. Old Delhi)
We visited the home of a master water puppeteer. Our guide, An, is holding one of the puppets.
Hanoi: We visited the home of a master water puppeteer. Our guide, An, is holding one of the puppets.
This water stage is how the puppets story is told.
Hanoi: This water stage is how the puppets story is told.
And this is the Master Puppeteer and his wife, who just gave us the demonstration.
Hanoi: And this is the Master Puppeteer and his wife, who just gave us the demonstration.
He makes and repairs his own puppets
Hanoi: He makes and repairs his own puttets
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Hanoi: A few examples of puppets
On a countryside tour, we stopped at a military cemetery.
Near Hanoi: On a countryside tour, we stopped at a military cemetery.
We happened to arrive on a day of ceremony to change (?) the ashes.
Rural village Tho Ha near Hanoi: We happened to arrive on a day of ceremony to change (?) the ashes.
We also stopped at a small village across the river to visit a veteran and his wife, who was making rice paper wrappers.
Rural village Tho Ha near Hanoi: We also stopped at a small village Tho Ha across the river to visit a family and learn about making rice paper wrappers.
Much activity along the river, with houses right up to the edge.
Rural village Tho Ha near Hanoi: Much activity along the river, with houses right up to the edge.
This is our landing point. Also nice picture of a typical
Rural village Tho Ha near Hanoi: This is our landing point. Also nice picture of a typical "tube" house. These are slightly wider than a single garage, but often 3 or 4 stories high and quite deep. More on why later.
To our surprise and delight, a festival is in progress in the village!
Rural village Tho Ha near Hanoi: To our surprise and delight, a festival is in progress in the village!
The ancestors' cabinet and photos, which we saw in several homes. Notice the musical instruments. Our host could play several.
Rural village Tho Ha near Hanoi: The ancestors' cabinet and photos, which we saw in several homes. Notice the musical instruments. Our host could play several.
Making rice paper for wraps - she shows us that there is nothing to it.
Rural village Tho Ha near Hanoi: Making rice paper for wraps - she shows us that there is nothing to it.
So I try. So far, easy stuff.
Rural village Tho Ha near Hanoi: So I try. So far, easy stuff.
At the last minute, mine decides to stick to the roller and I ruin it. :(
Rural village Tho Ha near Hanoi: At the last minute, mine decides to stick to the roller and I ruin it. :(
Looking at our weird rice paper attempts with disdain, I think.
Rural village Tho Ha near Hanoi: Looking at our weird rice paper attempts with disdain, I think.
Off to the village festival! This is a group in ethnic dress.
Rural village Tho Ha near Hanoi: Off to the village festival! This is a volunteer group in ethnic dress .
Jusy tries the bread crisp, which is quite good!
Rural village Tho Ha near Hanoi: Judy tries the bread crisp, which is quite good!
Back on the ferry to leave.
Rural village Tho Ha near Hanoi: Back on the ferry to leave.
A visit to Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi, aka
Hanoi: A visit to Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi, aka "The Hanoi Hilton" to prisoners.
Demonstration of how the prisoners were controlled.
Hanoi: Demonstration of how the prisoners were controlled.
Much of the museum is about the French war - but it does have a section about the American war.
Hanoi: Much of the museum is about the French war - but it does have a section about the American war.
Next morning early we head out walking around the lake to do some version of Tai Chi. The street vendors were setting up for the day.
Hanoi: Next morning early we head out walking around the lake to do some version of Tai Chi. The street vendors were setting up for the day.
The group we join on the Hanoi street is call ed the laughing ladies exercise group. We did laugh a lot, and they do have special times for laughing loudly.
Hanoi: The group we join on the Hanoi street is called the laughing ladies exercise group. We did laugh a lot, and they do have special times for laughing loudly.
They enjoyed having us visit also, so we all gathered on the street to take group photos.
Hanoi: They enjoyed having us visit also, so we all gathered on the street to take group photos.
On our way back to the hotel, we saw this exercise group, who seemed much more organized and disciplined.
Hanoi: On our way back to the hotel, we saw this exercise group, who seemed much more organized and disciplined.
Passed this corner with a fancy performing arts plaza on one side and ye old McDonald's on the other side.
Hanoi: Passed this corner with a fancy performing arts plaza on one side and ye old McDonald's on the other side.
A view of the lake in the middle of Hanoi.
Hanoi: A view of the lake in the middle of Hanoi.
A visit to a local pottery manufacturing shop was quite interesting. The master potter shows us a mold.
Bat Trang Village near Hanoi: A visit to a local village known for pottery and ceramics, and a manufacturing shop was quite interesting. The master potter shows us a mold.
a pot right out of a mold.
Bat Trang Village near Hanoi: a pot right out of a mold.
Oh yes, we were invited to try. My first attempt at potting, I might add. The wheels were turned by hand. Mine is the middle one and it won a prize! Maybe I have a new talent?
Bat Trang Village near Hanoi: Oh yes, we were invited to try. My first attempt at potting, I might add.
The wheels were turned by hand. Mine is the middle one and it won a prize! Maybe I have a new talent?
They also make wall and floor mosaics. This is part of one they were creating. I loved the crane!
Bat Trang Village near Hanoi: They also make wall and floor mosaics. This is part of one they were creating. I loved the crane!
Just a street scene. Many of the houses open to small streets, almost sidewalks. These are sometimes crowded with scooter and walkers.
Bat Trang Village near Hanoi: Just a street scene. Many of the houses open to small streets, almost sidewalks.
These are sometimes crowded with scooter and walkers.
Visited a wealthy couple who lost their house and lands to the communists, but have their home back.
Near Hanoi: Visited a wealthy couple who lost their house and lands to the communists, but have their home back.
Couple in front of the beautiful home they once owned, lost, and now own again.
Near Hanoi: Couple in front of the beautiful home they once owned, lost, and now own again.
Apparently these are posts of advertisements of people for hire.
Near Hanoi: Apparently these are posts of advertisements of people for hire.
Suburbia, Vietnam style.
From Hanoi to Halong Bay: Suburbia, Vietnam style.

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