Living in Singapore for seven years certainly has its perks - the biggest being that there is a vast array of vacation destinations to choose from. In the spring of 2007, my family and I ventured to Hanoi, Vietnam. And, while the main intent of our trip was to relax, we still made sure to visit the bigger historical sites in the city.
As with the post on St. Petersburg, I think it's important to understand a bit of the Hanoi's history before discussing specifics. If you were to turn the clock back to 3000 BC you would find Hanoi in its developing stages. Until the later half of the third century BC, the city remained a fishing village. But towards 200 BC, a Vietnamese leader from Northern Vienam, Thuc Phan, set up the Au-Lac regime, moving the capital to Co Loa - Hanoi's ancient name. From that point onwards, Co Loa served as a national social and political center.
In 197 BC, the Au Lac Kingdom was taken over by the Hans, leading to over 1000 years of Chinese domination. During the time of Chinese rule, Co Loa's name was changed at least three other times. Under the Ly dynasty, from 1009 to 1225, the city was named Thang Long, or Flying Dragon, a name that lasted from 1009 to 1788. The Thang Long of the Ly Dynasty, from 1009 to 1225, was where many of the architectural works that set the city apart were designed. These include the Dong Co Temple and the Dien Huu One-Pillar Pagoda.
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| The Dong Co Temple |
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| The Dien Huu One-Pillar Pagoda |
When discussing Vietnamese history it is also extremely important to mention, the rise of the leader of the Việt Minh, from 1941 onward: Ho Chi Minh. Ho established the communist-governed Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945 and defeated the French Union in 1954 at the Battle of Điện Biên Phủ. Ho Chi Minh resigned shortly after, in 1955 due to his health, but remained an inspiration for the Vietnamese who fought for a united, independent Vietnam until his death. His body was embalmed and is on display in a mausoleum modeled after Lenin's tomb in moscow. 
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| The Kissing Rocks - the two best known islets in the bay |
My family and I ended our venture in Vietnam with a cruise in Ha Long Bay. The "descending dragon bay", marked by isles of various sizes and shapes, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The bay consists of a dense cluster of over three thousand limestone islands. An interesting fact, however, is that locals claim there are only 1969 islands as that was the year of Ho Chi Minh's death. Many of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. While two of the islands are frequently visited by tourists, the majority of the islands are inhabited. The population living in this area is concentrated in four main villages that are located around the bay.
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A dragon boat made in the style of the
traditional Vietnamese vessels that originally sailed
the Ha Long Waters
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When my family and I visited, we travelled with a small, highly recommendable company that ran a single cruise through the bay. The name of the ship was the Emeraude, and it was captained by a quaint French sailor that had settled in the area. With several opportunities to kayak around the islands, the cruise is highly recommendable, and is definitely more reasonably priced than many of the other larger cruise liners that pass through the areas. Another perk about taking the Emeraude is that it can travel in shallower waters than the other liners, allowing you to see more of the islands that make Ha Long Bay so unique.
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| The Emeraude, the liner that took us along Ha Long Bay |
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To close, I have to mention two things that Vietnam is best known for: the laquer and silk production in Hanoi and the rice paddies lining many of the highways in between cities. The laquer products are some of Vietnam's best known export items and the silk tapestries aren't far behind. And the rice paddies, dangerous as they are, - with all the snakes and potential for malaria - are probably some of the most beautiful site you will lay your eyes on. So, enjoy these, and until next week!
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| A woman adding the final touches to a laquered plate - three of those red ones are hanging in our foyer! Courtesy of the AP |
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| The Rice Paddies en route from Hanoi to the dock at Ha Long Bay |
Wow! Your pictures are so awesome. They look like professional photos. Anyway, you did another great job of balancing history with personal anecdotes to describe the country. I can't wait to read next week's post!
ReplyDeleteI would have to second everything Sarah said -- I can appreciate a new place so much more when I actually know a little bit about its roots, and you blend the historical with the contemporary very well on this blog. Splendiforous job.
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