Around Hanoi

We spent Thursday seeing some more famous sites around Hanoi.  The Museum of Ethnology was quite interesting.  There are 54 different ethnic groups that make up Vietnam and each has unique customs, ways of making a living and even houses.  Interesting - but really hot. 

Carol at the entrance to a house where the women have all the power.  Sounds like our house.

Communal House - steps are not really inviting.

These wooden carvings were around a tomb.  Guess they want the dead guy to know what he is missing.

Most of the cab drivers try to rip you off a bit.  When the hotel calls the cab, it costs a certain amount to go somewhere and more when you come back.  It is easy to get uppity about it until you realize that you paid $3 or $4 to get somewhere and $5 or $6 to get back.  It just sounds worse when you compare 80,000 Vietnamese dollars vs 150,000.  Sounds like a big rip off. 

The Temple of Literature was in the afternoon.  Alter to Confucius and tributes to the doctors of Literature. 

Carol felt a home - hot - but at home.  We sweated a little more, and then made our way back to the hotel.  

Then to the water puppet show.  We had tickets and even though it was raining - we got our umbrellas and trudged on.  Well, not really raining - it was a downpour.  We got to the water puppet theater very wet and took our seats.  The puppeteers stand behind a facade in water up to their waists and the puppets act out legends.  It was somewhat entertaining but a little bit goes a long way.  The one hour show was a gracious plenty - and those folks do 4 or 5 shows a day.  Dinner and early to bed - Friday is a long day to Halong Bay.