"Completing the strike" In Moscow I saw Lenin. In Beijing I saw Mao. In Hanoi I saw Ho Chi Minh. Three communist leaders, still cherished in their own countries, they were all mystical figures that for decades to come will be read and written about all over the world. Upon arrival in Hanoi I heard some rumors that Ho Chi Minh was not available at the moment. Some said the mausoleum was closed off to tourists because of the Spring Festival, some s...

"The city of celebrations" Hanoi has a lot of celebrations going on at the moment, and I am very happy I got the time to see some of them. The city is celebrating 1000 years old, the Communist party is celebrating its 80th anniversary, Chinese New Year was coming up and some of the guys in my hostel were celebrating their birthdays. The city is rigged with lights, lanterns, thousands of communist flags, pictures of Ho Chi Minh, and actually vario...

"Entering Vietnam" At the border we needed to get out bags on, and walk inside the train station. After scanning my bag, they wanted to have a look inside it. It turned out they were after my shampoo. It is kept in a metal container, and the texture of it is solid, like a piece of soap. I came across this soap by random, when walking through the streets of Trondheim when preparing for the trip. It is hand made and sold in a store called "Lus...