Vietnam: Day 7, Save the Best for Last!
Getting
up on Day 7 brought a mixed bag of feelings…excitement for the grand finale tour
we had planned, the distressing thought of saying adieu post that, being thankful
for the journey that was, and the soft outpouring of love for an awaited
reunion with our loved ones at the end of our sojourn… an olla podrida of emotions!
Speaking of which, we dashed through our breakfast and packing and checking out
formalities, so that we could head out for our last walkabout in Hanoi. We had our
return flight in the evening so we decided to make the most of the morning and
afternoon.
Once
again, we relied on Grab to get to the Grand grey-granite Ho Chi Mausoleum at Ba Dinh Square straightaway. We landed there on some sort of public
holiday (Lunar Calendar) as there was a huge queue and layered security at the entrance
itself. We had gone to the square day before in the evening for a walk and it
was quite pleasant and sans the tourist crowd, but we couldn’t enter the mausoleum
and other areas at that hour. We did catch the change of guard ceremony and lot
of cute young army dudes going about their evening routine run!!!
Anyways,
we complied with all security requests and stood in line for our meeting with the
very revered President Ho Chi Minh. And it was worth all the wait! It still
gives me goose bumps! The President’s embalmed body inside the glass case
looked so real and awe-inspiring. The resplendently decked military guard standing
around him added to the recherché. We paid our respects to the man and his
legacy in the few moments we were allowed in his presence.
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| View of the Stilt House from across the Carp Pond |
Thereafter,
we headed to check out Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Presidential Palace, and Uncle Ho’s
collection of cars followed by his unassuming home, a traditional Vietnamese house built on Stilts still conserved with his humble belongings. It is
said that the president chose to stay in the stilt house as opposed to the
Presidential Palace in order to step away from the bitter memories of the
French decadence and apathy symbolized by the Palace. The house is situated
amidst a green well-stocked garden around a carp-pond. It was nice to have the
company of little kindergarten munchkins following their teachers in queues
learning about the great leader and being inspired at such a formative age.
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| Presidential Palace |
Located
inside the same complex is one of Hanoi’s most iconic images, One Pillar Pagoda, another architectural marvel. As the name suggests, it is a
structure balancing itself on one single concrete foundation pillar in the
middle of a tiny lotus pond connected by a bridge on one side.
After
the grand old Square and presidential complex, witness to all major historical
turn of events, we headed towards the West Lake to offer prayers at the TrấnQuốc Pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi (dating back to the 6th
century) located on a small island making it one of the most scenic and serene locations.
The pagoda gardens also have an Indian connection featuring the sacred Bodhi
Tree (Peepal tree) donated by our first President, Shri Rajendra Prasad
in the year 1959. This Pagoda is a definite must visit location in Hanoi.
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| The Bodhi Tree |
Nearby,
we also have Quán Thánh Temple, meaning the ‘Place of the Gods’, a 11th
century temple dedicated to the Taoist god Xuan Wu, the ‘Dark Warrior’,
who is especially revered by martial artists. People come to the temple to burn
joss paper/ fake money, as an offering to the deceased family members for
a comfortable after-life.
The entire area surrounding the West Lake is quite
scenic and a pleasant place with fountains, park benches, large green cover,
and cafes to relax and unwind, quite far-removed from the lively bustling cacophony
of sounds and images of the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake.
To be
continued…
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