Beginning the OAT adventure

This morning we met our tour guide, Henry, and our fellow travelers. Henry took us on a walk around the immediate neighborhood of our hotel, and instructed us on the safe way to cross the busy Hanoi streets. Henry invited folks to join him for a noodle soup lunch (though his intended destination remained closed in connection with the Lunar New Year) but we chose to instead use the time to visit Hoa Lo Prison, a/k/a the “Hanoi Hilton”, the prison where the French jailed and tortured Vietnamese revolutionaries in the first half of the 19th century and where captured American POW’s were sent during the “American war”. Obviously, the information was told from the victorious Vietnamese perspective and it was a pretty tame recitation despite the US aggressions.
Later, we went on a “Xich lo” ride - rickshaw carrying just one passenger each. Then dinner at the KOTO restaurant (know one, teach one) - a social justice program for young disadvantaged students who are trained in the culinary arts and related hospitality industry jobs. Over 1700 students have gone through the training and many have won many national and international awards. The food was delicious!Read more