Hanoi - a city of 9 million people, 4 million motorbikes and 500,000 cars and no rules - all of which make for some crazy traffic. Crossing the street here, as in Saigon, is somewhat nerve-racking til you get the hang of moving slowly but steadily and allowing the traffic to go around you - and praying that it does!

We first paid our respects to Ho Chi Minh (or "Uncle Ho" as they call him here). He lies in state in the huge marble mausoleum shown in the photo, his safety ensured by serious guards carrying rifles with bayonets. We understand that he takes a two month holiday each year for some rest and reconstruction. Personally, we thought that Madam Tussaud could have done just as well with a lot less trouble! Interestingly, Ho Chi Minh did not want a lot of fuss made of him and his humble home is also on the grounds - built for him after he refused to live in the palatial French Governor's house.

After visiting several other sites including the Museum of Ethnography which houses many artifacts and displays relating to the numerous ethnic groups of Vietnam, we reluctantly took a one hour cyclo ride through Hanoi's old quarter. It was included in our tour, and while it was a good way to see the area, we felt somewhat ridiculous being cycled around by wiry little men older than us! In the evening we attended a traditional show of water puppets which impressed us with the puppetry skill while amusing us with gentle humour.

So...Hanoi - a rather rundown city with fiercesome traffic, but which is being randomly renovated and has some beautiful old French architecture. The old quarter where our hotel was, seems to be one large marketplace of mostly cheap tourist souvenirs with some elegant silks thrown in (as well as anything else you might want to buy!). The old city is fortunate to be situated around a small lake with an ancient pagoda in the centre which adds beauty, atmosphere, and legends to it. I'm sure we will not recognize the city in 10 years with all the growth that's going on.