Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Within an enormous concrete cubicle, surrounded by guards in bleached-white uniforms, lies Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed body – despite his request to be cremated. It’s a free tour, and it’s interesting to see how the visitors – from elderly VC comrades on a pilgrimage from South Vietnam to foreign student groups – react to the sight of old Uncle Ho.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex
Hoan Kiem District
cnr Ð Houng Vuong & Le Hong Phong
Temple of Literature
Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, is a calm retreat from the streets of Hanoi. It’s a rare example of traditional Vietnamese architecture and an interesting introduction to Confucianism. Five courtyards represent nature’s essential elements. A central path symbolises the Confucian Middle Path, dividing the complex.
Quoc Tu Giam
Central Hanoi
2km W of Hoan Kiem Lake
tel: 845 2917
Hilton Hanoi Opera
Overlooking the grand Hanoi Opera House, this Hilton is imbued with much more character than your average international hotel. The seven-storey, curved design is in harmony with its more historic neighbour, neither overwhelming it nor looking out of place. The building is a major attraction in its own right.
1 Le Thanh Tong St
Old Quarter
tel: 933 0500
Ngoc Son Temple
This island-temple, towards the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake, is worth a detour – it can be reached via a picturesque footbridge. Inside, look for the preserved remains of a giant turtle, measuring 2.1m, that was captured in the lake. The temple was founded in the 14th century, although its buildings date from the 18th.
Hoan Kiem Lake
History Museum
A beautiful French-colonial building and engrossing exhibits make for a winning combo. Archaeological artefacts fill up most of the ground floor, while upstairs concentrates on recorded history up to 1945 (the Museum of the Vietnamese Revolution takes it from there). The life-sized diorama depicting Vietnamese cave-dwellers is tops, but the scale-model battle scenes are also hard to walk away from.
1 Pho Trang Tien
French Quarter
tel: 825 3518
Museum of Ethnology
This superb museum showcases the depth of Vietnamese cultural diversity with an astounding collection of 15,000 artifacts gathered from throughout Vietnam. Maps, displays and dioramas are labelled in Vietnamese, French and English.
Ð Nguyen Van Huyen
tel: 756 2193
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