Day 6 - Last day in Hanoi - Trial by fire: new bike, first tour, first time in Asia

October 31, 2024

Day 6 - Last day in Hanoi

We managed to get going at the crack of dawn to Hoan Kiem, where we hoped to see locals doing what they've always done - exercise. We weren't disappointed; some practised Tai Chi, groups danced to music, couples waltzed, a group of ladies danced with red umbrellas, others jogged or cycled while some played badminton. This was all before most tourists had risen. There were even runners on the roads as we cycled into town.

We continued our circumambulation of the lake and then headed off for breakfast, for me a couple of Banh My.

The wooden bridge to the Den Ngoc Son temple

Banh My - a hot bread roll stuffed with whatever you choose.

My vendor of the day; she makes a delicious Banh My for a dollar

We locked our bikes near garbage carts rich with the smell of butyrate and headed to another terrific public artwork near Cau Long Bien. It was a tricky place to get to with a jaunt throgh a market and down a lane. Alas, a terrific place and a great find by Winston.

There were many highlights among the artworks. Here are a few.

A steel elephant by George Burchett that symbolises the importance of elephants in defending Vietnam and acknowledges the plight of wild elephants today. George is the son of famous Australian journalist, Wilfred Burchett - the first Western journalist in Hiroshima after the bomb and a great admirer of Ho Chi Minh. Robert Menzies blocked citizenship for his children born abroad!!!!

Broken plates symbolise the importance of village gates

Motorcycle wheels superimposed on historical photos of Cau Long Bien.

Perhaps trumping the art was a chance meeting with an 84 year old veteran of the American War, out walking. We couldn't get his name even with translator. We sat and had iced green tea with him. It made his day and ours.

We headed back to our bikes, passing perhaps more art and feeling like winners. It was just 9 am.

We rode back via Ho Tay where people scooped dead fish from the lake. It's likely that they died from oxygen deprivation caused by a massive algal bloom.

By the time we got back to the penthouse we had cycled 12 km and felt every one.

We ate dinner locally and really won on the food - excellent tofu in a tomorrow sauce and bok choi with mushrooms, all washed down with Bia Hoi.

Today's ride: 10 km (6 miles)
Total: 157 km (97 miles)

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