Original Text by Pascal S Bin Saju, executive summary by darmansjah
The cold air hit us as it exits the plane at Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi, Vietnam, one afternoon. Uncle Ho's northern region of this country is entering winter. Air temperature was 18 degrees celsius. Winter peak in January-February will be more extreme, the lowest temperature can be 5 degrees celsius.
Noi Bai International Airport
Dinh Huyen Tram, the staff of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam, welcomed us in the arrivals. He guides the tourists this time since the tour of Hanoi, then to travel mascot in Halong Bay Vietnam, to the former Vietcong base on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City.
Halong Bay
Tram said, the climate of Vietnam is unique. Northern region with the largest city of Hanoi has four seasons, namely winter, spring, summer, and autumn. The south with its main town of Ho Chi Minh City has two seasons like in Indonesia.
Ho Chi Minh City
Along the road from the airport seemed a lot of projects being worked on. There is a project development and improvement of roads, buildings, and sand mining in the Red River. Concept of integrated property project built property king Indonesia, Ciputra, it appears to the left of the road and became the only one of the largest in Hanoi.
hanoi city
hanoi city overview
In the city center, a sleek shophouses and old stuff and the shady side of the path by the green trees. Traces of French colonial era architecture still made an impression on the villa and the old buildings owned by the government. It appears there are many royal palaces, monuments, and temples, which according to the Tram, it's all of the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400 years).
Ancient Hanoi
Ancient Hanoi, which is still an impression, is the heart of the old dynasties and the history-laden layer. During the war against the Mongols (1257, 1284, and 1287) an ancient city named Than Long destroyed. Than Long (ascending dragon), which means dragon suddenly appeared on earth in front of the local population.
the red river
Tran dynasty supposedly struggling desperately to rebuild the city several times changed its name. In 1931, Emperor Minh Mang named Ha Noi or town on the banks of the river-is none other on the banks of the Red River.
Spiritual heart
One place that has always promoted the citizens with pride for his city is to identify the "Hanoi is a city full of natural lakes". With that title, people want to explain the origin of Hanoi, a city since time immemorial at the edge of the Red River and the rivers that disgorge in China.
Long before the settlement, then grow as a city, Hanoi was imaged as a place to extend the Red River. The river continues to evolve to be like now. Railroads shallow gradually became a city. Part in the lake, and one of them is Hoan Kiem Lake.
Hoan Kiem Lake
That afternoon, after leaving the hotel, I witnessed many young couples on the shores of Lake Hoan Kiem. "After the ceremony, they were to the lake to be photographed in various poses by a professional photographer. During the wedding, the bride came to this lake, started a family romance, "said Tram.
Hoan Kiem Lake in summer
Hoan Kiem Lake is described as a wonderful place to meet dear ones. The best time to enjoy the nature of this lake is in the morning and afternoon. Tram said, in the morning you are exercising, doing tai chi, aerobics, and jogging.
out side Ngoc Son
Hoan Kiem means "the return of the sword". Legend "restored sword" appears in the 15th century. At that time, Emperor Le Thai To, dropping the magic sword to a giant tortoise at the lake, and then the tortoise helped the colonial state against the China-Vietnam for almost 1,000 years (the year 110 BC-938 AD).
Miniature giant tortoises can be found in one corner of the building on the lake. Tourists or visitors are always took time to be photographed beside the statues turtle magic. For the citizens of Vietnam, the tortoise is a mythical beast that is very respected, valued, and even praised.
Lake Hoan Kiem, Hanoi tourist destination the first time, was one of the landmarks of the city, like Seattle Greenlake, the United States. Moreover, the lake is considered the lungs and the heart of the spiritual city of about 6.5 million people. Because, in the northern part of the lake there is a beautiful temple, Ngoc Son. Here too there is the Cathedral of St. Joseph, an old church in 1886 the French heritage that is still used for Mass today.
The oldest university
From Hoan Kiem Lake, I go to the Literature Museum, one of Vietnam's first tourist destinations are not other marks Vietnam's first university. University was founded in 1076 by Ly Nhan Tong during the Ly Dynasty (1010-1225 AD), which preceded the construction of the temple in 1070 by Ly Thanh Tiong.
literature museum
Education center was opened to the public, for the intelligent students throughout the country. After passing the university entrance examination (examination of the principal of unity, called thi Huong), students can study for three to seven years, depending on ability level. Every month there is a test once, with three major exams in a year.
When students are considered capable, they may take the exam a second major (thi hoi). The results of this test was crucial next student status, which will become official imperial or royal, if passed.
Final exam or third major, conducted after one of the king made a mistake, the so-called royal exams (thi Dinh). King questioned and tested the intelligence of students to solve the mistakes made by the king. The University was disbanded France in 1915, having begun to colonize Vietnam in 1859.
Literature Museum in the complex there are now many traders who peddle trinkets or souvenirs typical of Hanoi, or Vietnam. The building is the result of a mix between the architects of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.
Literature Museum store 82 inscription. There are 1306 students registered in the inscription was awarded a doctoral degree. Inscriptions had been enshrined as one document in the education world heritage by UNESCO.
"Go to Hanoi is not complete if you are not to Uncle Ho's Mausoleum," said Tram. Uncle Ho is a call to Ho Chi Mihn, founder of the Democratic Republic of the (now the Socialist Republic of) Viet Nam. Mausoleum complex includes Uncle Ho's tomb, houses on stilts, presidential palace, museums and One Pillar pagoda. This complex is one of Vietnam tourism rainbow.
President of the French-style palace built in 1901-1906. Since 1954 used as a palace to receive and entertain heads of state or foreign high officials and the diplomatic meeting.
Although the presidential palace was built, Uncle Ho was more choose to live in houses on stilts, which is located just steps from the palace. He led a simple life here as a form of solidarity to the masses. In front of the stage that there is pond fish because Uncle Ho likes to eat fish.
Ho Chi Min Mausoleum,
Stage house consists of two floors. Upstairs there are study rooms and bedrooms. Simple bed space. There was a wooden cot, small blankets, mats, and fans of palm leaves. On the ground floor (under) there is a table with 12 chairs. Uncle Ho lived here since 1958 until his death.
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