Christmas Day - Hanoi

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all friends, family and blog followers out there :)

It is a little weird to be away from the UK for Christmas day… However, waking up I unwrap my present from home packed at the start of the travel - It was great to reveal the familiar image of Ely Cathedral in the snow, taking me back home, in mind at least :) Thank you.
Christmas day is like any other in Hanoi as nothing actually closes… So we walk around the city to the ‘Ho Chi Min Mausoleum’ with its modernist complex and range of plants from all over Vietnam meticulously cared for all around. As you arrive you must go through a security check and there are no cameras or phones allowed inside - The guards all where white uniforms and are like the Palace guard at Buckingham Palace, it was fab to see the changing of the guard while we were waiting out turn in single file to walk past the embalmed father of the nation. An unreal experience, as we slowly shuffle past HCM who lies in state entombed within a glass case flanked by four armed guards - I was very impressed with the respect shown to HCM by all visitors and the shear size of the Mausoleum. A humbling experience and one I would recommend for all visitors to Hanoi (Bare in mind that it is only open between 8-11am so get there early). The War museum is also worth a visit as it has a citadel that you can climb and have views of the city as well as a graveyard of armaments from US forces and an in depth display on French rule and its collapse…
Finally a great place to eat in Hanoi is “Geko Café - Luong Ngoc Quyen St” (In the backpackers quarter) where you can get Duck in orange sauce which is wonderful and makes a good Christmas dinner accompanied by a bottle of red wine :) Being able to have Christmas dinner with family in Hanoi was the best Christmas present I could ask for and it has been simply wonderful catching up on Stef’s travels - I wish him well on his future travels. Also worth remembering that you can contact friends and family anywhere in the world over SKYPE - its free - and generally speaking it is good. :)