A snapshot of Hanoi, Vietnam. Reviews are based on my September 2024 travels there.
You’ll pay a small fee to enter the grounds, and should allow time to line up. As a Westerner, it’s a very interesting insight into a Communist country; the very regimented process was not something I had experienced before. All electronic devices and cameras need to be surrendered before entering the Mausoleum and they are returned on the other side. The entire Ho Chi Minh complex is heavily guarded by military and in all areas you must be dressed with sleeves, and covered from the knees up. If you didn’t bring appropriate attire they sell wraps you can wear.
When approaching the actual Mausoleum armed guards instruct all visitors to line up single file and walk in close succession through the cooled, Russian-designed structure. An excited little boy in front of us saluted every soldier he came across. It was sweet to watch the soldiers very briefly break their seriousness to salut him back before hurrying us all along.
It was marvelling to see the perfectly persevered body of Ho Chi Minh, and equally marvelling to observe the reverence of the Vietnamese people, some even praying to him.
Another highlight of the trip was our a student guide in the museum. When you enter the museum there’s a few students waiting to offer a guided tour. It’s a really interesting way to get insight into local perspectives and information you wouldn’t otherwise get. Our guide was warm, funny and spoke excellent English. The tour doesn’t cost but be prepared at the end with a tip to thank them.
The museum focuses on the lifetime of Ho Chi Minh: his education, travels and the wars.
Crossing the street in Hanoi is exciting at best, harrowing at worst. I thought dodging the mopeds in Da Nang was daunting but Hanoi takes it to another level. Be prepared – careful but confident seems to be the way to make it to the other side safely and without waiting forever.
If you can brave crossing the roads, then exploring on foot will allow you to find loads of coffee shops, fashion and gadget stores, and get a more grounded glimpse into life in Hanoi. We even stumbled across this little fella taking a live drill to a tree.
In our experience, it felt very safe and seems to be notably free of things like prostitution, theft, drugs and violence. But due to the size of the place, the language barrier and the chaos – I definitely felt more secure not being on my own.
Without the OH&S standards that we are used to in Australia, you seem some wild things in Vietnam, not least of which is the train street in Hanoi.
Right through homes, restaurants, shops and whatever else might fall in its path barges a heavy duty train. You can check the timetable online, but if you just wait a little while, one is bound to come through. In busy thoroughfares they sometimes put up a metal gate to keep the hoards of tourists and locals back from the speeding locomotive.
In some sections of the track, there are little places to eat out the front of homes, where you can walk along the track or stop and sit for an egg-beer or steamed bun literally a few centimetres from the track’s edge.
Hanoi’s Temple of Literature is surrounded by ponds and gardens. It is made up of many buildings and rooms with shrines, literature and art. People come to pray, take photos and observe the ancient texts, statues and architecture. I found it interesting to see the influence of Japanese and other cultures, and to get some insight into the beliefs of some of the Vietnamese people. It’s a busy, tourist-filled place though, so be prepared to line up.
Hoang’s Vegetarian Restaurant & Vegan Food is absolutely delightful. The staff are not just friendly, they are really personable, getting to know you, making you laugh. And the food did not disappoint. I tried crispy savoury pancakes with fresh vegetables and herbs. The menu is extensive and local. I’d recommend stopping in for a dinner or lunch.
We climbed the stairs to the upper base of the flag tower, spying giant snails along the way. lThe tower looked great against the temporarily sunny skies.
The museum is in two or three relatively small sections. It gives a longer history of war in Vietnam and a glimpse of some of the global attitude toward the more recent wars. Again it was really informative and interesting to read the perspective of current day Vietnam on its past events.
