Last day in Hanoi

Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum

THURSDAY 21 JULY 2011


After a leisurely breakfast, I collected tonight’s train ticket from a tour agent and then got a motorcycle ride to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where ‘Uncle Ho’s’ embalmed body was lying. His last wishes were that he be cremated and the ashes divided between the north, centre and south of the country, each site marked by a simple shelter. He had been embalmed anyway and put on public show in 1975. Admission was free, but security was tight – they took a bottle of water away from me, bags were screened, and cameras had to be left behind.

I then visited the nearby presidential palace where Ho lived and worked from 1954 to 1958 and the simple stilt house where he lived from 1958 to his death in 1969. His cars from the 1950s were also on display.


I got a motorcycle ride back to near my hotel and walked around the shops and changed some money before going to a café for lunch. I have seen some amazing things being carried on motorbikes, from long metal bars, bamboo, a tray with a five course dinner on it and a pillion holding a very large plate of glass! When going on the back of bikes, I have found that the best policy when things look dangerous is to just shut my eyes!

I spent the afternoon relaxing at the hotel and waiting to go to the station at 6.30 p.m. for the night train to Hue.  As soon as I was on the train, I realised I had left some of my clothes at the launderette!  I rang my hotel to ask if they could pick it up and send it on to me.