Xin chào!!!
Day 4 in Hanoi is Christmas Day. It’s not really celebrated here by most people so today was just another busy Monday.
We headed to a mall that was recommended in Lonely planet. It was not really that interesting to us. Dior, Chanel, Prada, and Hugo Boss, etc all genuine, not the knock off stuff that is so ubiquitous here. Six storeys and two towers of opulence. Stark contrast to most of the sights we have seen.
Today’s scooter 🏍 of the day is the local glazier, seems pretty safe.
We made our way to the Museum of Hỏa Lò Prison, ironically called “Hanoi Hilton” by American POWs. On the way my immature sense of humour was piqued by some more signs.
Hỏa Lò Prison was pretty harrowing. Particularly the early history of the revolutionaries and their treatment by the French colonists.
The propaganda is pretty ripe in here too. Of course there is the official version of the shot down pilots stay during the American war. They were kept indoors for their own protection from the Hanoi locals after bombing the city to bits with B52s.
You may have heard of this pilot John McCain
I really liked the government posters that came out during the American war, they are real worker party style comrades! Kind of horrific and beautiful.
I wonder how much we learn from these atrocities.
Ok enough heavy shit. Here’s a goat and some piglets.
This “farm” down a side street was right next door to a 30 storey hotel. Yet again the contrasts here are mind boggling. Liam and I explored a few alleyways and discovered what we suspect is some sort of anti government graffiti, haven’t quite worked out the meaning.
Jac went for another massage, I went for a walk and discovered a flower farm.
That’s it for day 4 Merry Christmas all. This post is brought to you by Doggo double denim in booties and the local Bunnings.
