The weather was warm and pleasant this morning, so it was a perfect time to go someplace that was not warm and pleasant: Hoa Lo Prison, or more commonly known as Hanoi Hilton (Interestingly enough, there is now a Hilton in Hanoi, and it is called Hilton Hanoi...)
As with the War Remnants Museum, I didn't feel it proper to take photos of the inside. It wasn't a very pleasant place even today far removed from it's infamy, and it was very moving. Propaganda aside, it's a powerful place.
Back to walking around the streets, avoiding crazy scooters!
Every so often something like this would bring back that Vietnam is still, in fact, a Communist country.
The beer of choice for Vietnam, apparently some of the cheapest beer on the planet.
The architecture of Hanoi is often stunning.
Around the corner, and the Mausoleum for Ho Chi Minh appeared.
The monument to the departed Vietnam leader was on a huge plaza, and sadly closed on Fridays and Mondays - how convenient!
Next up was the Vietnamese Army Museum. Guaranteed to be a good time!
Any place with a MiG fighter out front has to be good, right?
Just to the left of the museum grounds is the Hanoi Flag Tower.
An actual French 75 artillery piece, the namesake of one my favorite drinks.
WW2 Era White Half-track, most likely used by the French and captured after their defeat.
Captured American/South Vietnamese tank.
Large sculpture made of bits of various planes - Sky Raiders, B52's and the like.
Captured M151A utility vehicle.
THIS is the actual tank that broke through the gates of the Reunification Palace in Saigon.
This entire room was filled with items taken from that day in 1975 when the Reunification Palace was captured, including these flags that were flying above the Palace.
If you're going to invade a city, what better way to provide basic navigation aides for your troops than to buy a readily available tourist map!
US Army / South Vietnamese tracked artillery piece.
Soviet built airplane that ferried Ho Chi Minh (and other high-ranking Vietnamese officials) around the country.
If I thought Saigon was bad for the above-ground utilities, Hanoi was even worse.
Lovely, lovely bakery specializing in French pastries.
Amazingly delicious.
Since seeing Saigon was best done on the back of a scooter, why not try it in Hanoi?
Across Chương Dương Bridge that spans the Red River.
Chương Dương Bridge in the distance.
This part of the night was terrifying - eating along this single lane bridge, standing with whizzing scooters on one side, and the drop off down to the water on the other was a nightmare for me.
Then it was off to the flower market, where vendors were prepping Tet decorations.
Most of the action takes place early in the morning, but there were still plenty of stalls open.
Dinner at a traditional Vietnamese restaurant.
Tour guides for the adventure, Thuy and her brother.
Yeah, I've got my helmet on backwards. Duh.
Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum at night, still impressive.
As Thuy said, Hanoi is beautiful at night, especially when all decorated for Tet.
I think this might have been the Opera House, or City Hall.
Then down this dark alley, and up two flights of stairs...
To this authentic coffee house.
Coffee with an egg in it. I tried it, but still don't like coffee.
Rounding out the night was a Saigon Green beer, sitting at a huge intersection with hundreds of other people watching the world go by.
All in all a great night, and a great way to see Hanoi.
