The timing could not have been more perfect: I arrived 15 minutes before
Hanoi's Military History Museum was set to close for the day, and ran
into a military unit taking pictures on a captured U.S. Army tank.
I jumped at the opportunity to join in for a photo shoot.
In April 2014, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a week in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a country that doesn't have the best connotation in America's history. Thankfully, our countries reestablished diplomatic relations during the Clinton administration, making it much easier to visit as an American tourist.
Getting anywhere in Hanoi might require you to cross notoriously-busy
streets, an endless amount of motorbikes, and even, the occasional railtrack.
As with every country I visit, my fondest memories are those that I share with people I meet: fellow travelers, local shop workers, and tour guides. Vietnam was no exception. I spent every day talk talk talking with Norwegians, Americans, British, and Vietnamese alike. Everyone has a story to tell, experiences to share, and friendship to give. My last full day in Vietnam was the only one I had to myself, which gave me the perfect opportunity to see what I had originally came to see: the Hanoi Hilton, where John McCain was held prisoner after his plane was shot down, and the Flag Tower of Hanoi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site marked by an impressive 100+ foot tower with their beautiful flag on top. Luckily, because of it's size, it wasn't hard to find, which made up for my horrible map-reading skills.
My objective is to get there, that way yonder.
On the way, I saw a group of locals enjoying a game
in the park...too bad I couldn't see what it was.
Directly across the street from Hanoi's Military History Museum, little girls on their adorable pink motorized cars and boys on their skateboards ride around with Lenin on overwatch.
There it is, the museum I came to see. This guard told me they would be closing
in 15 minutes (seriously, who closes a museum at 4:30???), but he graciously
allowed me to enter without paying for a ticket!
Sometimes, you have to travel abroad to gain other perspectives.
I don't know many places in the States where you can find captured military equipment.
I couldn't blame this man for not knowing a word of English, as
I don't know any Vietnamese. Thankfully, a smile is universal.
The Hanoi Hilton.
John McCain's flight suite.
If you ever stop by, this quiant restaurant near the Tower has the
absolute best smoothies. I think I ordered like five.
As always, thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed the pictures and videos!
Josh
