Today we decided to visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Because we got up a little bit late (around 8:00 AM) and after doing some stuff, we started for the trip at 9:30 AM, then we arrived at the Mausoleum after 20 minutes of driving my motorbike.
When we arrived at the Mausoleum, my friend Brian was very surprised at the long and crowded row of people in front of us. He asked me what they were doing while he did not know that he will soon join that row!
I had to park my motorbike at a much further place than usual because today is Sunday and there are so many people from both the cities and also the countryside that have come here to visit the Mausoleum. So to facilitate this they opened other parking places, we joined the row and were a little bit rushed as the Mausoleum is only open for a few hours (Tue through Thu morning) and also Saturday and Sunday. It's not open on Mondays and Fridays. During the whole month of October it's also closed for maintenance.
We went through the security check, then I received a bag to put my cellphone, my friend's cellphone and camera in, then we continued along the row until I got to the drop off point to keep all electrical products there and I will receive them back at a pick up point after we have visited the Mausoleum.
It took me around 1 hour to get to the main entrance of the Mausoleum then you only have an opportunity to see President Ho Chi Minh for a few minutes as the guards keep everyone moving along. You are not allowed to stop and look. Then I was very happy to meet my friend waiting for me at the pick up point to get our cellphones and camera back. Then, we did not visit the house on stilts and Ho Chi Minh Museum as we have visited them before. We went out and decided to visit the Military History Museum instead. However when we got there, it is almost 11:45am and they had closed for lunch already. This museum is open from 8:00 to 11:30 and from 13:00 to 16:30 for week days except Monday and Friday.Therefore, we decided to go somewhere for lunch.
This time, I took my friend to Phung Hung street. If you go along Phan Dinh Phung street you will turn right at the Galaxy Hotel to get to Phung Hung street, then after about 200m we came to eat at a barbecue or "Bun Cha" restaurant. This food is made from grilled pork patties with rice noodles which come with heaped plates of herbs and lettuce. We also ordered two bottles of cold beer to cool us down. The owner of the shop is a friendly and helpful man. He helped me to park the motorbike and also prepared the food for us. However, he is a little bit deaf. I asked him if we could have a fan as my friend comes from the UK but he could not hear. He thought that I asked him about the food so he kept telling us about the food. It was very funny but truly speaking, the food is really nice and it made us forget what he is trying to say :-)We each had "Bun Cha" as well as spring rolls and drank two bottles of cold beer. The total amount we paid is 55.000 Vnd = 3.5 USD.
After the meal, we drove around Westlake as it is near the street we had lunch, just 15 minutes by motorbike going straight along Quan Thanh street, then turn right at Thanh Nien road which is described as a comb between Truc Bach lake and West Lake, then you'll see Westlake.
Then we went to the Military History Museum.The museum is located at 28A Dien Bien Phu street. If you visit this museum after Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, go to Hung Vuong street,then turn left at Le Hong Phong street go straight ahead you will see Dien Bien Phu street, then after passing Hanoi flag tower and Le Nin Park, you'll approach the museum. While I was talking to a guide at the ticket office, my friend bought the tickets for us which cost 20.000vnd (US$ 1.3)per ticket although he should not have bought for me as I will be his tour guide. But we did not return the ticket, then we went inside the Museum.The museum was built in 1956. It is one of seven national museums in Vietnam. You can visit
its website here However, it is written in Vietnamese only. This museum reflects the history of founding and defending the nation against foreign invaders of Vietnamese people. It presents and exhibits thousands of artifacts, images, maps, sand tables and many documents, newspapers written by Ho Chi Minh President or other famous military celebrities. We also had chance to see many weaponry and planes such as Russian fighters and anti-aircraft guns from the American War. There is a courtyard which is dominated by the mangled wreckage of assorted American planes piled against a tree. Within the museum compound stands the Hanoi flag tower (We call Cot Co Ha Noi). It was built from 1805 to 1812, with a 31m height and a 180m perimeter. This is an ancient architectural work well-known and classified as a historical cultural relic.We also took some photos there.Near the museum, there is a big and nice bar under the shadow of big trees that you can easily recognise after visiting the courtyard. It serves fast food, ice cream and other stuff. You can also go shopping at some souvenir stores around the Museum.
At the time we visited, it is a little bit hot and it is too bright to take good photos so I advise you to visit this museum either early in the morning or in the late afternoon around 3 or 4 PM. It would be better.
We ended our trip with a cool drive from the museum to my room.
