We headed for the Ba Dinh Square which is the precinct NW of the old town where the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum is located.
Went past some low standard housing typical of any big city...
.. but also crossed up-market, wealthier areas. The streets below included several embassies and consulates - again dominantly yellow with green shutters.
The HCM Mausoleum and Museum precinct was tightly controlled and crowds were moved through gateways and doorways. Backpacks and large bags had to be checked in.
The Mausoleum was dominant on the skyline as crowds moved slowly along in single file around the outside.
The Mausoleum was huge and visitors moved forward in respectful silence.
No cameras were allowed and I wasn't about to test the resolve and vigilance of the white-uniformed guards who looked suitably stern.
It's all a bit macabre! Found a photo online from HCM's funeral. He is still 'lying in state' but the actual casket is much grander. The line of visitors shuffle in and move around the 3 sides in about 30-40 seconds then out again, probably no closer than 4-5 m from the casket. The site is open only for a few hours each day. Guess it's too tiring for HCM if the hours are longer.
The photo below was from the other side (out the 'back') where the visitors can roam with a tad more freedom along the paths.
Nearby was the very splendid residence built in early 1900s by the French for the Governor-General of Indochina, back when France colonised the whole peninsula. Ho Chi Minh refused to live in such luxury when the republic was established, so now it is used just for formal occasions and big-deal visitors.
HCM chose to live in a relatively smaller residence below in the same precinct.
Some rooms have been re-furbished and glass full-length windows installed so visitors can see the spaces. (This caused problems for photos with reflections but we still got the idea)
His bedroom was quite simple.
Across the lake was his 'summer residence' where many high-level talks took place. Again, the buildings were quite simple and sparse.
... and the view back across the lake from the summer residence towards his usual house.
The small Buddhist temple and shrine where HCM worshipped.
The mangoes were large in size and number.
Couldn't resist taking the photo below. This is the retractable covering for walkways around the precinct and locks into small anchors embedded into the path. Keeps visitors dry, out of the sun and controlled within a defined path. Quite ingenious.
Left it too late to visit the HCM Museum next to the Mausoleum so decided to come back next day. Instead, we walked into town and visited the National Museum of History.
This had numerous rooms tracing through Vietnam's history. It was unashamedly biased because winners write history, but it did label many documents as 'propaganda' which was an indicator they realised their bias.
Below shows HCM in 1945 calling for Hanoians to show resistance in the August Revolution in front of the Opera House.
... and HCM with troops in 1957 - so this was during the independence struggle against the French government. (It should be clarified that Vietnam's resistance against colonial French government was supported by many French)
The photo below from the Vietnam War (aka American Invasion) has been used extensively in the west as an iconic image of US soldiers supporting their mates (resilience, determination, loyalty etc). The label in the Museum read ... 'American soldiers held each other to run away ...' No surprises - winners write history.
Kate had booked a 'food tour' for the evening and it was sensational! A small group of westerners (English tourists plus Kate and me) visited about 8 eateries around Hanoi and had a food 'course' at each. The places tended to be nondescript, ordinary places which tourists might hustle past and were certainly not the high profile eateries. The guide had good command of the language and explained many aspects of Vietnamese food as well as some other cultural things. The food was exceptional. Yes.. I am certainly no 'foodie' and was brought up on 'meat and three veg' but I could easily eat authentic Vietnamese very often.
Next morning we walked back to the HCM Museum next to the Mausoleum.
Needless to say, HCM is depicted in a very favourable light as a dedicated freedom fighter, which is probably true, but History is never clear-cut, so I'll leave the research and reading to individuals.
A life-like reconstruction.
On the walk back to our hotel before departure, we had to sample again 'egg coffee' which was very nice! Could perhaps be described as an 'egg-flip' with a shot of espresso.
.. and the bridge over the floodplain heading for the airport was spectacular indeed.
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