Claire got up very early today to have breakfast and go to get har Mongolian Visa, im very tired today, think im still catching up from the night on the sleeper train (contradiction of terms!) Get up and had breakfast myself and walked to the Massauleum? to meet Claire. We queued to go through some security cheques and then we were herded around to the building, there were guards everywhere and we couldnt step off the designated areas. Walked into the building and then around a central bit containing the embalmed body of great Ho Chi Minh. It was very surreal with the lighting that they had used and the guards all around and the dimmed lights and silence and then we were out, very quick. Collected our cameras we had had to leave behind and made our way into the complex where HCM had spent the last 15 years of his life. There was a grand building, very french, then the garages and cars and a fish pond, and then the house on stilts kept how HCM left it. Just walked round, was interesting. Saw the one pillar pagoda which looks like a lotus flower blossoming from one central stem and then the grand HCM museum, built in 200 to commemorate 100th anniversary of HCM birth. Claire went back to collect her visa and i sat in the sun and read the guide book, being constantly pestered by cyclo drivers from the road, some take no for an answer, others dont!

Claire got back and we walked to the Temple of Literature, a massive walled complex of 6 courtyards, a very tranquil place if it wasnt for all the horns being blown on the street from the scooters! There were quaint little buildings and grand pagodas and many turtles with stones on thier backs naming all the scholers to pass though. Everything had a long and complicated history behind it that i can never remember, but its nice to wonder around these things. Sat on a rooftop for a while catching some rays and then went in search of food.

Ended up at Pho24, our old friend from Saigon! Was no different in Hanoi, we both had Pho Bo (beef noodle soup) which was very nice and just what we fancied. Walked back along some new roads lined with shops and took a stroll out towards a more posh part of the city, where the opera house is. Very very French building again, painted yellow like so many are. The Hilton in this area too and some fancy french bistro's. Went in search of a restaurant recommended in the book, but it was having building works done and being converted! We wont be eating there! At certain times of the day, there are speakers on the street that play somebody speaking (really loud!) possibly educational, possibly propaganda/communist type teachings, we cant tell, but its a bit annoying! It does feel more communist in this city, just small things that make you think.

Got back to the hotel around 6ish for a bit of a rest before going to the water puppet show tonight at 9.15. We have both been really looking forward to it all day! Hope we can understand what is going on! Ill let you know! X

10.45pm

Just got back from the Puppet Show, it was great!! They really are right in the guide books, you cant come to vietnam without seeing one. It didnt have a full story to it, but we did get a programme with the names of the scenes on. It was like a kinda Peter and the Wolf kind of show, lots of music really telling the story rather than speaking, it was really colourful and bright and cheerful. Really enjoyed it and the musicians and puppeteers were really talented. You werent supposed to take photos but Claire took a few and then i sneaked one, so we have something to show you. Throughly good night out, but tired now!Still lots to see tomorrow, we might take a 2 person cyclo, we havent seen them anywhere but Hanoi.