18 December, Hanoi
Old Quarter Cyclo Hotel
275,000VND
Our
Chinese visas have been approved, but will be available for collection only on
Monday, December 22. Can’t say we mind ... Hanoi is a fantastic place to hang
out for awhile and we have no particular schedule to keep. The Chinese embassy
is located close to the Flag Tower of Hanoi, which stands just over 33m high,
was built in 1812, and is lit by 36 flower-shaped and 6 fan-shaped windows. The
B52 Victory Museum at the base of the flag tower commemorates the Vietnamese
shooting down 81 aircraft, including 34 B52s, during the December 1972 US air
raid on Hanoi. Our visit coincided with the visit of several busloads of small
children and their teachers. The warplanes and bombs made an incongruous
backdrop for our photos of kids decked in colourful winter gear, having fun in
the winter sunshine. We lunched at the delightful Nola Cafe and again enjoyed
strolling the chaotic streets.
Nola Cafe
Nola Cafe
Nola Cafe
Flag Tower of Hanoi
Flag Tower of Hanoi
B52 Victory Museum
B52 Victory Museum
B52 Victory Museum
B52 Victory Museum
B52 Victory Museum