Saturday trip to Hanoi

Hanoi Trip
Our day starts with a nice 30 minute bus ride down to Sword Lake. Legend says that an honorable king returned a sword to the tortoises of that lake and it’s still there, buried under the water. Trees around the lake grow nearly parallel to the ground and stretch over the water, obviously perfect for the tree climbers in our family. But we are promptly besieged by two little ladies in conical hats who yell at us for a few minutes, presumably annoyed that the kids are out there. When we asked our friend what they had said, she translated briefly, “too dangerous”. We take a family photo instead.

Then we have some ice cream (coconut and rice flavored though green bean is available), buy a kids Vietnamese dictionary (for Bryce and I), and browse through a big 5 story shopping mall (too expensive). Now it’s time for lunch at what we think is a fast food chain called “BBQ Chicken”. Not quite the hamburger Titus was expecting… nice headbands, though.

We head over the the Old Quarter of Hanoi after lunch to see some little shops and especially so the kids could see what is available for the Moon Festival (by the way, Happy Moon Holiday to everyone). This is where we run into some intense crowds. We are in stop and go foot traffic with motorbikes, bicycles, and cars honking their way through. Like ants on a cookie…I think if people could have climbed over us they would have.

We are tired now, but we keep going at the sergeant-like encouragement of our friend. Somehow we end up at the museum. Like always when I visit a museum, I leave guiltily aware that I didn’t appreciate a fraction of what was there. But we did like the drumming and dancing, the outdoor games (Titus won at tug of war), and the authentic model houses of traditional Vietnamese Peoples.

So now it is time to go home. Unfortunately, it is also rush hour. Both buses we take are standing room only. I hold madly onto my handrail (trying to look as though I do this every day), hugged on all sides by strangers, as the bus lurches through traffic. I realize that lane markings are more decorative than anything as five lanes of trucks, buses, and cars fit on a three lane highway with motorbikes weaving in and around them all. Honking is essential.

We arrive home tired but happy. And look, Mr. Bean is playing on the screen outside…