Chinked~Out: 17-20/11/08 : Hanoi (Vietnam) Trip

I know 2011 is coming to an end already, but I don't get to travel that often.

Every one is definitely a special one.

In my life (so far), countries I've been to: Thailand (Bangkok, Pattaya), Singapore, Vietnam. that's it.

Zenne Gas Appliances (Kien Hing Sdn. Bhd.) sponsored 20 students, 2 teachers to Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Managing Director of the company (I think) was a remarkable man.

First, here are some cute facts that I recorded and observed (yes, we have to make notes to get the most out of every drop, I mean out of the trip (sounds like a petrol advertisement, eh?)

P/S: the places visited are according to the itinerary. Pictures shown are original.

Day 1:

0835, Arrived at Hanoi International Airport a.k.a Noi Bai International Airport

We visited Kein Hing Muramoto (Vietnam) Co. Ltd. located in the Thang Long Industrial Park which is the income source for 20,000 workers. Thang Long in Vietnamese means Outstanding Dragon, by the way. We were warmly welcomed by the people there, and we were exposed on the making process of gas appliances and how the workers deal with heavy machines.

Our tour guide were Texz Chai (Malaysia) and Jack (I think. I'm terribly sorry) who is the local tour guide. Jack is a very friendly person, in terms of speech and behavior. So, to me, but at first blush I considered that he is "too gentle." But, my perception totally changed after getting to know each other more.

Oh, right. Back to the main point, second destination : Museum of Vietnamese Revolution. As far as I recalled, we didn't spend much time there. So, here's the most important piece in the museum : Ho Chi Minh the first president of Vietnam. As what normal museums do, it showcases stages of defensing the country from the French, struggle for independence via the Communist Party and the construction of the Socialist regime.

More on Ho Chi Minh: http://www.notablebiographies.com/He-Ho/Ho-Chi-Minh.html#b

The next destination is the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, where we enjoyed a series (14 of them) of music preludes. Need no more further explanation, the show was performed on water, which the puppeteers have to spend the whole time soaking on water. If you noticed well, there were none digital instruments used during the show, except, well the amplifier and the lighting. The content of the performance comprises of the legends (unicorns, fairies, dragons), activities (fishing, catching frogs, boat racing, catching foxes) and things related to the agriculture (harvest festival). It is not just about laying back, and enjoying the show, as each prelude gives an insight on the lifestyle and the culture of Vietnam.

Then, we checked into our hotel, CWD Hotel. I remembered that the highest floor houses the British Council, just like Maya Hotel in Malaysia. The others have 3 or more staying in one room, while Jonas and I get a room to ourselves, with 2 Q-sized-beds!

In Hanoi, the streets are packed with motorcycles and bicycles. According to Jack (the tour guide, in case you forget like I did) said that people were could transport a small cow via a bike! People interested in cars can only get the cars by cash, in one shot (I think or its according to Jack, correct me if I'm wrong). Motorcycles save lots of spaces and therefore less traffic jams. Traffic jams happened because....

15 min earlier

now

Because they do not have traffic lights.

Day 2:

We attended a learning module on "Rice Research, Cultivation and Production conducted by Dr. Pham Van Cuong, Head of the Food Crop Science Department, Faculty of Agronomy, Hanoi Agricultural University. We learned about paddies and type of rice, like Japonica and Indica rice; the grain yield (counted those grains in a stalk, one by one); rice plant cycle (initiation, flowering, harvest). The professor was trying to combine both Japonica (sticky and round, found in sushi) and the Indica rice (long) to produce rice of better quality. Then, we got the chance to explore the campus. That was the first time I get to know what and how a greenhouse looks and feels like. And, indeed, it was pretty warm inside.

In the greenhouse we get to know about the behaviour of plants.

Like this: (below)

by manipulating the growth factors, which ends up all sorts of possibilities.

Then we braved ourselves through the paddy field (they have a paddy field!). Parts of the paddies were damaged by the flood and it was fun walking between the boxes of rice fields. Look out for colourful snail eggs sticking on leaves, stems and walls.

A clover (desperate for luck here!)

One of the oldest architecture in Hanoi, built by the French in 1911, is the Opera House. The House was closed (at least that's what I think) so just spent some time outside.

Moving on is the Temple of Literature, founded by Confucius. Education was only privileged for men, as this is what Confucius emphasized. Jack told us that marriage between 2 families bonded by promises (even before the children were born) is quite normal back in the old days, meaning that you don't to pick your spouse, which among the consequences were that the wife is an adult, while the husband could be as young as a baby; and with that age gap, the baby boy grows up into a man to get another women, abandoning the "legal" aged wife.

The temple is huge and in one part of the compound, there are pillars and stones with scholars names carved on it. Jack claims that by touching the stones, you might excel in your studies. So, everybody touched and rubbed it. As for me, I traced the names on a piece of paper and soon had it lost, together with most of the notes I've made.

The One Pillar Pagoda is built on one pillar only, therefore, it is remarkably "cute." It was built in 1049 to worship the Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) after the queen successfully got pregnant. Based on the itinerary, the temple is the remains of the Ly dynasty kings' palaces. There are also other places of interest nearby like:

I can't remember the name.

______

Next was the Vietnam Military History Museum which artifacts are displayed through 4000 years of founding and defending the nation (according to the leaflet).

You did well, lady.

P/S: If you look at the title of the picture, I apologize.

Military vehicles.

Tanks.

And a watching tower. And, I did make it to the top with Jonas! The spiral stairs to the top were quite narrow (dealing with 2 ways traffic) and was not well-lit. But, at last the view was soul-captivating, windy, too!

And we watched a "manual simulation" on how the Vietnamese defeated the French (Battle of Dien Bien Phu).

Day 3

We had a visit to a secondary school. It was a wonderful surprise to get to interact with the students there. Like normal kids, we are all mischievous. I didn't explore the rest of the school except just staying in main court (probably that's just it). So, here's where the students treat me like an alien and taking things away from me, my pen, my papers, my notes, my virginity (no lah....just kidding....)

They were so overwhelming till they asked for signatures (on papers, on their hands, clothes, shirt, and windbreakers.

People do get along with each other!

They have a temple nearby, so we stopped by.

We went to the most important spot in Hanoi, where the declaration of independence was announced : Ba Dinh Square. This is when Jack explained about the national flag of Vietnam. I suppose that everyone should know that red represents courage (tribute to the fallen warriors) and the star signifies hope in/for the future.

from left: Ee Lynn, Xin Hui, How Mun, Elaine, Aun Kee, Charisse, Qiao Yuan, Michelle.

Ahh...I think I missed out Jeynn on the right. I'm sorry. The building behind the row of girls is the Ho Chi Minh Museum and Mausoleum, whereby the body of Ho Chi Minh is kept and preserved in a "glass cabinet". We had to pass through a security check post with metal detectors and have to line up in 2 rows and be silence and keep on walking till the exit and no cameras. Basically, it's almost the same experience (as strict) as visiting the painting of Mona Lisa in Paris, just that what we are looking at is a legend who is responsible for the birth and development of a nation.

Pres. Ho Chi Minh passed away in 1969, which at that time, WWII burst out. Though he said that his body would like to cremated but instead, the people brought his body to the mountains to hide and protect it, until 1975, in which his body kept in the mausoleum, built by the/a Russian.

(source: Google Maps)

Ho Chi Minh was born in Central Vietnam, which is between North and South Vietnam, and he strive to unite the people of both regions, hence the mausoleum is built in the middle between 2 benches.

Have I mentioned that I brought a raincoat instead of a jacket? The temperature was cool (16 degrees) and the climate got colder during the "cyclo" / tricycle ride. It was fun "roaming" through the streets in Hanoi. The architectures are well preserved, instead there are lots of them. The streets are wide and cars park on the sidewalks (not on the street). In some areas, each row of shops has a specific function, meaning along the street, all the shops sell the same products or provide the same services.

Here's something that is not in the itinerary:

Hoan Kiem Lake, (The Lake of Returning the Sword?) is something that you don't get to see. Since Hanoi means the "city in a river (Hanoi River, 500km)", this lake is truly a breathtaking one. There are even people taking wedding pictures.

Legend said that there is a giant turtle (or tortoise) living in the lake, but it's no legend.

Some other facts that I don't where to tuck in:

Bamboos are put at river banks to prevent soil erosion.
Houses built are tall and narrow to reduce the surface exposed to the sun, to allow ventilation and to let the rain water flow down faster, as Vietnam experience extreme weather changes (-2 degrees during winter and 43 degrees during summer/autumn).
Vietnam's coastline is a bout 2600km.
Population in Vietnam: About 87mil., 47mil of the population is in Hanoi.
The road and traffic system follows America.
The National Day is on 2, Sept. in remembrance of their victory against the French, but obtained full independence in 1979.

Shopping in Hanoi:

This is when you unleash your skills of bargaining. I bought a bookmark for $3 (yes, US Dollar), so I think it's a little expensive. You can either transact in US Dollar or Vietnam currency (Dong). Many people tend to confuse with the large Vietnam currency, hence easily cheated by being extra-charged or not getting the enough change. This doesn't just occur in normal stalls, but supermarkets as well. Oh, I bought a cute-little collection of the traditional string music instruments, and it is pretty cute.

Food in Hanoi:

The shops (restaurants) in Hanoi are pretty narrow, but they have a few levels. First, be careful not to trip on the spiral staircase, and second, don't trip on the trays and used dishes that the waiters put on the staircase. The dining industry is considered a profitable one and the profits come from the tourists' wallets. The dishes were quite good. I tried new things as well. I ate rabbit's ear and snails. No.No. Don't worry, we did not had any dog's meat or pre-hatched ducklings.