Hanoi
My name is Michael Smith. My dream job, is to travel the globe searching and
finding the best and at times the worst of our world. To most it's a big
world...too me it's a small world, but always amazing, especially in the SE of
Asia. It's a world in a world and offers the best of mankind and the absolute
best of nature. My journey into the communist capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, was long
in coming as I had occupied three months of 2006 and the first two months of
2007 touring extensively in the stunning and unforgettable country of
Thailand...from the Malaysian border in the south to the tri river delta in the
far north, called the Golden Triangle and the enchanting country of Cambodia and
the mysteriously unforgettable Laos.
Before heading into Vietnam, as I was saving it for last, so I could have more
time in exploring what was soon to become one of my most favored nations, I
had toured the ancient and poor, but phenomenal, country of Cambodia and Laos. Both had taken me on a wonderful journey back in
a time to when people
actually cared for each other and worked as a community for the welfare of all.
Lessons long forgotten by the so-called modern countries of the West. The faster
we live...the less we see and the more we loose.
Leaving the rapturous country of Laos on the 1st of March 2007, I landed in the
much whispered about communist capital of a much long fought war in the 60's and
70's, Hanoi. The name Ha Noi, was the name given to the city by King Minh Mang
in 1831. Ha means river and Noi means within - Ha Noi means within the river.
Being in the city I was aware that my generation had partaken in the madness of the war
and I was quite
familiar with the tales and horror stories, especially of the infamous Hanoi
Hilton where American POWS had been supposedly kept and tortured. Was this
infamous hotel still
there? It was the one question that drove me to research the hotel and as if time
had stood still...it was still a hotel. It had been remodeled, of course, but
regardless, the
mental image inspired me to book my 5 day stay at
this hotel turned prison and then back to hotel. Definitely a journey I would
never forget as I lay awake at nights during my stay and listened in my mind to
the ghost screams of captured warriors of the past.
I had befriended a couple of young guys, both from Canada,
JJ (on rt.) and Josh,
while touring in
Laos and agreed to meet them upon landing at the Hanoi airport, as they were
flying in from Vientiane, Laos about an hour later than my arrival.
JJ was a strong young, adventurous man on his
first real journey away from his native country and was always fun to be
around...somewhat more serious than his friend Josh,
but meticulous in keeping notes and researching the things we should do and see.
Josh on the other hand was like a race horse...calculative at times and running
with total abandonment at other times. He was without a doubt...most
entertaining and there was never a dull moment with him around. Between the
three of us...we were a complete package.
So, after
breezing though immigration and grabbing my numerous bags I headed just outside
the main terminal door for a smoke. The air was heavy and fairly
humid and echoed the many sounds of busy travelers humming inaudible sounds in a
multitude of languages. Wiggling my way through the mass of people I found a
small open space against the outside wall where I could pile my bags and enjoy
my cigarette.
My first smoke in a few hours gave me a slight buzz and
as usual I drifted free of my surroundings...drifting back in my mind to my life and what had led up to
my wanton desire to wander the world. I concluded that it had been my gypsy soul
that need to always be free...free to
roam as I wanted, free to explore the realms without boundaries. I learned early
to never take no for an answer...and at 13
years of age I left my families small N. Texas farm and bade goodbye to my
crying Mom, my silent Father and my 6 sisters and my baby brother and hopped a
freight train westbound to hopefully live with my 8th sibling, my eldest
sister, in the exciting city on the bay...San Francisco. It was during the days
of cheap booze, abundant pot, free love and the psychedelic brain forgings of
the Jimmy Hendrix era. Ahhh, life was good as I eventually stumbled through
countless crazy experiences, from riding bulls to riding Harleys, from hitching
to wild rides on top of freight trains across America,
Canada and Mexico. Surviving, although barely, my youth and the thousands of
other insane exploits I eventually and precariously established my
odd identities. At times a cowboy and at other times a hippie and basically everything in
between, I retained my sense of humor and enjoyed life with an
open, but questioning mind and eventually learned that the main purpose of
life was just life itself...living every moment as if it were your last and
never...never...hanging onto anything too long. In order to maintain a happy
outlook I learned to accept my past choices...good or bad, without regret or remorse. I still adhere to these simple
philosophies and regardless of where I am in life I live it! My Vietnam
experience would simply be another side-trip in my never-ending
journeys. As I was to discover...it was one I would definitely remember!
My Canadian buddies arrived on scheduled and after some howdies and hugs we
headed off in a taxi to the Hanoi Hilton. I had reserved 2 rooms,
one single for me, of course, and one double. We must have been quite a sight as we three casually
attired misfits drug our bags and
backpacks in the now modern luxury hotel. However, I must say that regardless of our
appearance, we were greeted with professional courtesy by the staff. The hotel's lobby was
grand, but not over burdened and the suites were most accommodating with all the
amenities one would expect from such a memorial hotel. After a short reprieve of
leisure in the suites we were off to begin exploring the city and getting a feel
for the change in the cultural and economical differences from Laos and
Cambodia...Vietnam is a country on the move.
While walking around the city center in the midst of the local people I couldn't
help but feel somewhat timid in my awareness that I was an American. How would I
be treated? Were the people still harboring a much deserved hatred towards the
citizens of the country that bombed, killed and raped their people for so many
years? My fears soon diminished as everyone I made eye contact with smiled and
were genuine in their welcoming behavior, stopping for but a moment as they went on with their daily
lives. The streets were lined with kids, old people, vendors, motorcycle and
bike taxis and uncountable sidewalk eateries. It seemed that every person, adult
and child, were,
in their own way, an entrepreneur, each offering every imaginable kind of item and
service...big and
small...from fine hand carved furniture to light bulbs...from shoe shining
to massages. We sampled food from push carts full of local cuisines and snacks to fine Asian gourmet
dining in elegant restaurants.
Hanoi is an
exciting and vibrant city and, as we soon learned, it was full of well preserved
history; museums, libraries, palaces and temples and abundant war relics proudly
exhibited
it's glorious and at times tumultuous past. In the company of my new buddies we
explored the city in a playful and high spirited attitude like a trio of kids,
wandering both
day and night in and around this buzzing city of millions. Laughing, playing,
eating, drinking, touring and doing our best to intermingle with the ladies and
locals...we had a great time. The locals worked from dawn to late night all striving to make another
Dong, (local currency). Mix in a a
few million motorbikes zinging and zagging in every free space or road and
sidewalk and you can get a vague concept of this vibrant city. We wandered
around on foot mostly, occasionally taking a taxi or hopping on the back of a
scooter, having realized quite expeditiously that walking without getting ran over was a major challenge
and driving would
be suicidal. Hanoi was never boring to say the least and very visual, as everywhere there were stunningly
gorgeous women. All fashionably adorned and with perfect posture and Asian elegance...they were beyond sexual...they were visions of feline perfection.
So many women...so little time.
One of our most favored modes of transportation was the bicycle taxis for
two...cheap and a hair-raising adrenalin pumping ride through the heavy traffic
of trucks, buses, carts, cars, people and a million crazy motorcycle
riders...some of the small scooters with up to 5 people piled on them. Our second
day journey was to the war museum, where we could view the weapons used in the
USA-Vietnam war and see the thousands of war pictures depicting the real truths
of the American's war atrocities. After 2 hours none of us walked out of the
museum with our immature beliefs we had previous held about the war. A war fought
entirely for the benefit of the powerful American war industries and for
increasing the income for people like Nixon, Johnson and the "good ole boys" of Texas and
Washington, along with their puppet masters; Texas Industries, Bell Helicopters,
Hughes Enterprises and the rest of the murder for hire companies. Even now with
the so-called war on terrorism in Iraq...only the names and dates have
changed...the greed and the dying remain the same...
After 5 days it was time to venture from Hanoi so, wanting some control over
our journey, we took a taxi for $80 USD to our next destination...Ha
Long Bay...the small, but stunning city on the east coast of Vietnam.
Click here
for Hanoi Pictures
Click here for
Vietnam Political & Economical Info
Click here to read our
2007 Review of Ha Long! (coming soon)
This review was written by Michael Smith on July 4th 2007. The review and all of
it's contents are the property of Travelers Digest and may not be copied or used
in any way without the written permission of Travelers Digest.
