It's a quiet night for us after a long day of touring Hanoi. We opted for the helicopter tour which saved us most of the long drive from the port to the city. It's about 3-3.5 hours by bus. The helicopter ride took 35 minutes and was a lot of fun. It was a large helicopter (24 seats) so not as much motion as I was expecting - it felt more like a small fixed-wing plane to me. It was a very smooth ride though visibility was poor due to the haze. We flew over the Halong Bay monoliths but couldn't get a very good view or good photos due to the haze. Tomorrow we cruise the monoliths so hopefully Grant will get some good photos then.

After arriving in the city we saw the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and the complex where Ho lived and worked. Unfortunately his body is off for "reconditioning" as is the custom for two months every year. The guide said it is a secret where the body is sent but conventional wisdom is Russia. we saw an 11th century pagoda then visited the Temple of Literature, a Confucian temple also from the 11th century. There are rows of stone tortoises at the tmple which are like diplomas or certificates for former students who passed their exams. Turtles are a sacred animal representing longevity, and students preparing for exams still rub the turtles' heads for good luck.

After lunch we visited the prison known as the "Hanoi Hilton" then had some free time to spend in the Old Quarter where we enjoyed seeing street life. I really enjoyed Hanoi - you can see the French colonial influence with wide, tree-lined avenues and European architecture. Also French baguettes for sale from vendors on bicycles :) Crazy traffic and motorbikes everywhere, but people were friendly to us. I'd like to return some time and see more.

Dena