City of Red and Gold
Travelling to Vietnam was uneventful until arriving at Ho Chi Minh City. The Qantas staff had specifically informed us that our luggage would be checked though to Hanoi, and things started to get unstuck when we were directed to collect it at Ho Chi Minh. Those that have read previous entries here may realise that anyone from Qantas I have ever dealt with has only ever provided incorrect information. After struggling with what was going on we worked out that we had to go through immigration and transfer to the domestic terminal. Fortunately there was a bus for this, as the (very short) walk may have been an issue with the severe lack of breathable air.
Hanoi certainly has not done anything to make the air more breathable than Ho Chi Minh. Our driver fought his way into the city through the hordes of motocycles, many of which carried large stacks of goods or entire families. Vietnam now makes it's own motorcycles, because apparently they need to keep registering 15 thousand every month in Hanoi alone.
Almost by accident the Vietnamese declared Hanoi their capital after breaking away from the Chinese on 10/10/1010, and we are here for this peroid, which means that the entire city has been filled with statues and murals regarding 1000 years of being taken over by almost every other country at some point in time. As it is communist, however, the wording is more like 'glorious Vietnam the undefeated'. Or I am sure it would be, if I could read it.
The locals seem to buy in to the government line and have only good things to say for the running of the country. Looks like the almost comical stereo typical posters and bill boards actually work. All government posters also have the hammer and sickle up next to the Vietnamese star, as if they didn't get the memo that China bailed on their comrades.
Ha Long bay is increadibly still and clear. There are no noticable waves and is great for swimming. We did a cruise accompanied by (amongst others) some Irish. While the Vietnamese where quick to defend and support their government, the Irish like nothing more than to point out their country is run by some of the least competent people ever to have walked the earth. All of the buildings in the countryside are the same as in the city - very narrow, three stories, and sheer walls on either side with no windows. The theory must be that just in case someone needs to build a house right alongside and turn it into a city you are prepared.
Sunday night was the big night for the 1000 year celebrations. There were many people out and many people hawking goods, but I didn't really see the point. There was meant to be fireworks, which was cancelled, so I'm not sure what we were meant to be doing.
Tomorrow we fly to Bangkok. More to follow.
Hanoi certainly has not done anything to make the air more breathable than Ho Chi Minh. Our driver fought his way into the city through the hordes of motocycles, many of which carried large stacks of goods or entire families. Vietnam now makes it's own motorcycles, because apparently they need to keep registering 15 thousand every month in Hanoi alone.
Almost by accident the Vietnamese declared Hanoi their capital after breaking away from the Chinese on 10/10/1010, and we are here for this peroid, which means that the entire city has been filled with statues and murals regarding 1000 years of being taken over by almost every other country at some point in time. As it is communist, however, the wording is more like 'glorious Vietnam the undefeated'. Or I am sure it would be, if I could read it.
The locals seem to buy in to the government line and have only good things to say for the running of the country. Looks like the almost comical stereo typical posters and bill boards actually work. All government posters also have the hammer and sickle up next to the Vietnamese star, as if they didn't get the memo that China bailed on their comrades.
Ha Long bay is increadibly still and clear. There are no noticable waves and is great for swimming. We did a cruise accompanied by (amongst others) some Irish. While the Vietnamese where quick to defend and support their government, the Irish like nothing more than to point out their country is run by some of the least competent people ever to have walked the earth. All of the buildings in the countryside are the same as in the city - very narrow, three stories, and sheer walls on either side with no windows. The theory must be that just in case someone needs to build a house right alongside and turn it into a city you are prepared.
Sunday night was the big night for the 1000 year celebrations. There were many people out and many people hawking goods, but I didn't really see the point. There was meant to be fireworks, which was cancelled, so I'm not sure what we were meant to be doing.
Tomorrow we fly to Bangkok. More to follow.
posted by Bruce at 3:32 am
1 Comments:
Just a quick note to say that the reason houses in Hanoi are so incredibly narrow is that back in the day household taxes were dependent on the width of your house. Consequently, families would build their houses as narrow as possible to avoid high taxes. Great example of utilising taxes to achieve a planning objective... :)
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