Day 2: Hanoi

One of the best (and most fun!) ways to explore old town Hanoi is by riding in a bicycle-powered rickshaw. Although most Vietnamese now rely on scooters, these rickshaws once served as a primary mode of transportation. The traffic here is among the wildest I’ve ever seen, making on-foot walking tours potentially dangerous.

It’s hard to capture the exotic allure of Vietnam in words. Hanoi is a bustling, noisy metropolis where scooter riders weave through traffic, their horns blaring in every direction. The air is rich with the enticing aromas of freshly baked French baguettes and the sizzling of various meats and vegetables on the grill. In the old town, tiny shops brim with a myriad of offerings, while vendors gracefully carry their wares on their shoulders, adding to the city’s vibrant tapestry.

Later we visited the mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh’s body lays. He is a hero to the Vietnamese people. Here the war is called the American war, not the Vietnam war.

Later, we visited the Hanoi Hilton, where American prisoners were held during the war. Originally built by the French to detain revolutionaries after they seized power. The displays of photographs in the prison show Vietnamese with severe injuries, while photos of the American prisoners show them receiving letters from home and playing chess. Although atrocities occurred on both sides, the overall impression here is that the Vietnamese were victims of the villainous Americans. War is complicated.

Later we had dinner in the home of a dear Vietnamese family. They prepared amazing food for us and shared deeply about their lives and their family.