In Northern Vietnam, everything kind of went the other way for me. I liked the Hanoi a bit more than Saigon, mostly because it had a nice lake in the middle (Minnesotans have a thing for lakes). Still, the streets were clogged with exhaust-spewing motos and the alleys were lined with aggressive, English-speaking vendors, all hawking the exact same postcards and books, and marijuana. What's funny is how they say it so suggestively, "Hey Guy, you want some (looks both ways) Ma..ri..Juanaaaaa?" as if it's some sort of secret.
The city is very modern looking, large high-rises with rooftop restaurants and bars. They also have a KFC, which after a month of noodle soup sounded like a feast. I made my way to the Colonel only to discover that BBQ sauce has yet to reach Asia, as well as biscuits (The only real reason for eating at KFC). Did I mention it was a three-story KFC? It overlooked the lake like penthouse apartment (what kind of fried-chicken rush could they possibly have expected that would require three stories of seating?).
The most interesting thing I did in Hanoi was visit the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. To get through the line and the check points takes about an hour. To walk through the tomb itself took about 15 seconds. The descriptions of Ho Chi Minh as a kind of grandfather figure are correct. He looked at peace, his beard combed neatly and a half-smile on his lips.
On my way back from the Mausoleum, I joined some kids playing soccer in a park. None of them could speak English and it was difficult for me to tell who was on my team (although quite easy for them). The game was really fun except for this one kid on my team who kept yelling instructions at me in Vietnamese that I could not understand. Judging by his reactions, I was not doing well. The others found this hilarious.
