Hanoi Streets

The City is amazing -- and endlessly entertaining.  The weather had cleared and warmed a bit.  The hotel provides a full breakfast (fresh baguettes, thank those French!) so I got an early start.

I walked slowly towards the Temple of Literature--a highly impressive, well preserved temple dedicated to Confucius in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong.  Later it was established as a university for the education of mandarins.  Its roofed gateways, low-eaved buildings and five courtyards are typical of 11th-century courtly architecture.  In 1484, Emperor Le Thang Tong ordered the establishment of stelae honoring the men who had received doctorates in triennial examinations dating back to 1442.

This is the quote from the exam in 1442:
Virtuous and talented men are state sustaining elements:  The strength and prosperity of a state depend on its stable vitality and it becomes weaker as such vitality fails.  That is why all the saint emperors and clear sighted kings didn't fail in seeing to the training of men of talent and the employment of literati to develop this vitality.

Then a street ramble to Hoa Lo Prison -- known to most Americans as Hanoi Hilton.  The Prison was built by the French colonialists in 1896 to hold thousands of Vietnamese patriotic and revolutionary fighters.  The most gruesome relic was the French guillotine -- used to behead Vietnamese revolutionaries.  Most exhibits recounted the the Vietnamese struggle for independence but there were also exhibits about the American War.

Finally -- the Quan Su Pagoda, now the headquarters of the Tonkin Buddhist Association.

I took their picture -- but they really wanted one of me too!

The Four Pillars / Entrance to the Temple
Nearby Stelea advise one to dismount from their horse!

Doctors stone stelae were erected between 1484 and 1780 with the names and birthplaces of 1,304 doctor laureates.
Each stelea rests on a tortoise.

Courtyard near The Temple of Confucius

Surely a game of chance!

All wiring is above ground so when you need more -- well, get a rough hewn ladder and get out in the traffic!

Interior Wall at Hoa Lo Prison

Memorial monument area of Vietnamese patriots and revolutionary fighters.
The Vietnamese struggled a long time to become an independent nation.

Front door of Hanoi Hilton -- French for Central House

Bikes on the sidewalk -- like the flower basket!

Women chanting and rhythmically banging a drum.