Week in Hanoi

posing with LMI seminar students

Lower Mekong Initiative Seminar

So, this week I was unexpectedly asked to teach a seminar for another fellow who suddenly resigned. I got the call from the embassy last Tuesday, and flew to Hanoi on Sunday to start a 6-day seminar. The seminar was for government officials and academics in the area of water resources and the environment, and the aim was to help them to be able to communicate in English for conferences, meetings, etc. There were 16 participants, and it was really nice to be able to work with such a small group after teaching up to 45 students at a time in Hue. Also, their English was great, they participated really well (especially the university lecturers – I love teaching teachers!), and usually did all the homework on time. Other than constantly checking their phones and making calls, they were excellent students, and the seminar turned out to be pretty interesting. Plus, I got to learn a lot about environmental issues and water resources management, especially here in Vietnam. All in all, a successful week in the capital!

Do I need to go on a diet?

Accommodations

I stayed in the university’s guesthouse, which was basically like a dorm for teachers. I was very excited to have my own fridge in my room – quite the upgrade from Hue! There was also a microwave downstairs – luxury! The third night I was there, though, I went to sit down on the bed and it broke. That’s right – I broke the bed! It was a little late, so I just took the mattress, slept on the floor, and texted someone to come fix it in the morning. Maybe I need to go on a diet . . .

near the one pillar padoga

Sightseeing

I took the extra time in Hanoi to do a little sightseeing that I hadn’t gotten around to during the orientation. I was also brave enough to take the motorcycle taxis this time – much cheaper than a regular taxis, but I’m not really sure how good of a deal I got. I wasn’t really good at bargaining with the drivers, and had no real idea how much they should be charging me. Still, hopping on a stranger’s motorcycle and trusting that you’ll end up in the right place somehow worked out.

Ho Chi Minh Museum and Complex

giant statue of the great Ho Chi Minh

My first sightseeing destination was the Ho Chi Minh Museum and Complex. The museum was a little eclectic – besides pictures and relics from Ho Chi Minh’s life, it included a lot of weird art. There was a giant table with fruit, a reproduction of Picasso’s Guernica, and a car coming out of the wall. I also felt like I would have been brainwashed a little better if I knew Vietnamese – the museum was full of propaganda about socialism and Ho Chi Minh’s life.

or this? I don't see the connection . . .

What does this have to do with Ho Chi Minh?

Outside the museum is Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum. It’s only open to visitors in the morning, which is when I was teaching, so I didn’t go inside. There’s also a one-pillar pagoda, the president’s house, and Ho Chi Minh’s house. The president’s house is quite grand, but Ho Chi Minh wanted to live in something more modest. He was famous for his modest lifestyle, and you can really tell when you see his house, which consisted of only three rooms (no kitchen and no private bathroom), although he did have some pretty stellar cars given to him by Russia and France (bullet proof, with heavy duty tires for the mountains).

one pillar pagoda

A short walk took me to West Lake, which was relaxing after the noise and traffic of Hanoi. Seriously, it’s 

never quiet there!

Museum of Ethnology and Show

Another day, I visited the museum of Ethnology. Here, you can see various costumes, artwork, pictures, housing, traditions, and ceremonies from different ethnic groups in Vietnam. I especially liked seeing different styles of clothing, and outside the museum there are different houses to explore from various regions of the country.

Can you guess why this is called a "long house?"

In the evening, I went to see the National Truong Theatre perform. There was hardly anyone in the audience, and I sat up front in the first row. The show included plays, dances, and traditional music. The costumes were quite interesting, and the music was quite unique as well – there was even an instrument that reminded me of a primitive oboe!

Wondering around the street after the show, I found a restaurant that served vegetable pho. It was my first pho in Vietnam, and boy was it delicious!

Thai Nguyen

On Friday, instead of teaching, I took a trip to Thai Nguyen with someone from the embassy. At first, I wasn’t sure if we were going to be able to go. We had planned to take a car from the embassy, but with the government shutdown, that wasn’t allowed. However, we ended up being able to bum a ride with someone from Pearson who was going there for a meeting, so it all worked out.

Thai Nguyen is another city a little north of Hanoi, and there is a regional language center at Thai Nguyen University. We went to the regional center for a brief tour and a meeting. It definitely gave me some good ideas about what to do with the regional center here in Hue . . .

sightseeing!