Northern Vietnam: Yup that's brain alright...

Temple of Literature

After 5 years, I’m finally back in Vietnam.  Me and Chantra touched down at Noi Bai International Airport today and were immediately bombarded by dozens of taxi drivers promising cheap prices for the 45 minute ride into town.  3 dollars for the “tourist” bus into town.  3 dollars?  I don’t think so.  Me and Chantra opted for taking the local bus into town.  3 dollars just became 25 cents.  The local bus definitely isn’t as comfortable as the “tourist” bus but it was way cheaper and we actually met a local college student who was super excited to practice his English skills on us.  We had a nice conversation and said our good byes.

We stayed at the Hanoi Serenity Hotel in the old quarter.  So you’re probably wondering:  how are the hotel rooms in Vietnam.  Well let me tell you.  10 dollars gets you a king sized bed, AC, minifridge, and satellite TV.  The room was clean and comfortable and the staff was great.  The only problem was that we were on the sixth floor and there was no elevator.  Otherwise it was a great hotel especially for the price.

The old quarter of Hanoi is a great place.  It’s a maze of small alley’s populated by dozens of street vendors selling everything you could possibly imagine.  They even have an entire alley dedicated to selling dog meat!  Yup they sure do love their dog up here in Hanoi, which, would explain the surprising lack of strays here.  The old quarter is a bit dirty and grimy but that’s exactly what I like about it.  I love the old dilapidated French colonial buildings, the narrow winding streets, and the way the city continually buzzes with life.  This is a city, and a country that is continually on the move.

The food scene in Hanoi is fabulous.  I already mentioned the dog but you can pretty much get anything you want up here and the first meal we had in Hanoi was certainly an adventure.  Me and Chantra ordered the “special” hot pot.  I figured it would just be filled with meat, seafood, and a bit of organ meats.  So let’s just say we were pretty surprised when the vendor brought out a plate of shrimp, beef, pork, tripe, liver, clams, and… um… oh yeah a whole pigs brain!  That’s right ladies and gentlemen.  A whole raw pigs brain.  All I can say is:  creamy, really smooth and creamy. 

 

Being that I’m Vietnamese, my favorite part of Hanoi is Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum.  I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and reverence for good old Uncle Ho.  He IS Vietnam’s most beloved historical figure.  This tiny gaunt little man inspired a nation and raised an army that stood against the Japanese, the French, and the Americans.  He spent the better part of 60 years trying to free his country.  He dedicated his life to his fellow country man and the belief that Vietnam should be a sovereign state governed by it’s own people.  If only he could see Vietnam now.  I think he’d be truly amazed at how much progress the country has made.