Tag 4 - History and Culture of Vietnam

My morning started off both delightful and frustrating. Right at the beginning of my walk, I was approached by a sweet little girl and her mother. Well, approached is probably the wrong word. They were more like waving at me. The girl wanted to take a photo with me. I had read before my trip that Vietnamese children and teenagers especially like to take pictures with Europeans in order to show how modern and cosmopolitan they are. The mother and daughter were very charming and both spoke a few sentences of English. So I let the girl take a picture with me and afterwards exchanged a few pleasantries with her in English. I was amazed that a girl of about 5-6 years old already spoke a few sentences of English. However, yesterday I had talked to the receptionist at the massage parlor. She told me that it is extremely important for the Vietnamese middle class that children learn English from a very young age. That's why series like Peppa Pig are also watched in English. In any case, this was a very sweet encounter and the little girl even taught me how to say "Happy New Year" in Vietnamese.

Shortly afterwards, I had to go to the post office to buy some stamps. It was an incredibly tedious procedure. The lady right at the entrance, who was probably in charge of assisting foreign guests, spoke hardly any English. Communication was very difficult. In the end, I left the post office with 13 stamps and an envelope. I hope this will cover my needs for the entire trip.

Afterwards, I continued walking southeast towards the National Museum of Vietnamese History. Determined to learn something about the millennial and multilayered history of my host country today, I was unfortunately somewhat disappointed by the museum. The exhibitions consisted of various artifacts, which were also labeled in English and French, but you learned very little about the different eras and dynasties. I will have to do some online research if I want to learn more about the history of Vietnam.

I spent my lunch break in a Cantonese restaurant that offered excellent steamed dumplings and chicken with cashew sauce.

Since my next destination was too far for a walk, I faced my next adventure: taking the bus. As they say, a person grows with their challenges, and at 32 cents per bus ticket, you can get lost a few times without breaking the bank. In the end, the ride went quite smoothly - thanks to Google Maps. My bus ride took me to the Museum of Ethnology. In two buildings from the 1990s, the many different peoples of Vietnam are presented in an impressive way. The exhibits are well described and there are separate panels for various aspects of life. For me, it is fascinating to see how some Vietnamese people still live quite simply.

In the second building, the peoples of Southeast Asia are presented. A special exhibition showcases the traditional and modern life of Korea.

In the garden of the museum, various buildings of the Vietnamese peoples have been set up. It reminds me of the Kramsach Farm Museum.

After this stimulating museum visit, I take the bus again - this time even freestyle, without Google Maps. My last point of the day takes me to the Lotte Observation Deck. At 242 meters, you have a panoramic view of Hanoi from here. I enjoy a cocktail and wait for darkness to set in to take some night shots.

Chúc mừng năm mới!