One of the Last Bastions of a Closed Society

Hanoi can be considered one of the last bastions of a "closed society". Now that it has opened up to the world, droves and droves of tourists are flocking into the city especially around the Tet Festival when it's winter in the northern hemisphere. Its mysticism that caught the imagination of the western world has attracted people from all walks of life to seek its beauty, culture and history.

Hanoi's display of architectural designs from the simple abodes to the grandest buildings reflect its rich history dominated by the occupation of eastern and western powers. It's historical past can be gleaned from its varied museum exhibits. Museums worth checking out are the Vietnamese Museum of Ethnology, the History Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Military Museum. Vietnam's exotic cultural heritage representing the various oriental tribes that dwell in its mountains and hills are masterfully displayed at the Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi.

Among Hanoi's many attractions are the city lakes. Hoan Kiem is the most visited because of its proximity to the Old Quarters which by itself is a perfect place to experience a glimpse of Vietnamese culture. Ho Tay or West Lake, Bay Mau and Truc Bach Lakes cover some interesting places. The Tran Quoc, Chuc Tan and the Tay Ho Pagodas are all within the Ho Tay lakeside. Close by is the Lenin Park within the Bay Mau area. Somewhere within these lakes is a pagoda or a temple.

It is amazing that Hanoi has been able to preserve its century old temples, pagodas, churches and colonial houses. On every block there's a temple or a pagoda where some date back to as early as the 11th century. Unless one is really into Buddhism or history of religion or architecture, one may get into a saturation point visiting places of worship. Worth visiting are the Temple of Literature [1070], One Pillar Pagoda [1049], Tran Quoc Pagoda [17th century], Quan Than [11th century], Ba Da Temple [15th century], Hai Ba Trung [1142], Tay Ho Pagoda and Ngoc Son [1843]. These places are easy to identify because of the big colorful square banners hoisted by their gates. St. Joseph's Cathedral [1886] was definitely a show-in for church architecture and it's very close to Hoan Kiem Lake and the old quarters. The Cua Bac Catholic Church at Phan Dinh Phung looked very medieval with its criss crossing beams and looming steeple and the Protestant Church at Pho Phung Hung is right within the old town.

Trekking is one of the best ways to really explore the city. However, there are bicycles and motorbikes for rent which are actually very useful in navigating Hanoi's narrow alleys and streets. A good alternative would be to take a bus where one pays 3,000 dong to any point within the city and 6,000 to 8,000 dong to places outside the city limits. Taxicabs and trikes are abundant but it is important to know the exact price and currency being quoted before jumping into one of them. Altogether, Hanoi is a lively city one should never miss around this region.

For more information on Hanoi, Vietnam visit http://hanoimicroblog.com and http://vietnammicroblog.com

Satellite Dish Parts: Some Available Designs and Internet Based Market

Writen by John Harrison

To install a satellite system correctly and effectively professionals need Satellite dish parts. A good number of them are available in the market. Let us take a quick look at some design...

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