Old Quarter, Hanoi

The TCC kicked off its Hanoi conference last night for 160 attendees featuring a festive dinner with various presentations. But the best part of these meetings is having conversations with adventurous travelers from around the world and sharing experiences. We learn so much from one another, and always come away with new ideas for the next trips.
Monday involved a full day tour through Hanoi's Old Quarter which included a visit to Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum. One can ordinarily file by his preserved remains much like visiting Lenin in Moscow or Mao in Beijing, but it's closed on Monday (we've seen him in the past and can settle for those disturbing memories). We also visited Ho Chi Minh's residence in Hanoi, the presidential palace, and an 11th century Confucian academy as well as the prison where John McCain was held as a POW, all before noon. After lunch, we each had a pedicab driver take us on a harrowing ride through the old part of town. It's been more than a decade since I was here last, but the city has grown and prospered without losing its unique charm.
Tonight we will have dinner with friends Ken and Charlie from Washington state. The menu looks extensive and intriguing---but I think I'll skip the Intestine Platter.Read more