Hanoi

We were expecting 80 degree F. weather when we came to Hanoi on New Years Eve (the lunar new year - 26th January), but I was certainly glad that I hadn't packed away my NorthFace jacket. We arrived in Hanoi late in the afternoon, walked around a bit and had supper.

After supper we attended the water puppet show.

The puppeteers at the end of the show.

A few of us hardy ones decided to bring in the New Year at the City Square. We sat for 3 1/2 hours on the 6th floor of a building in an open air restaurant overlooking the lake that John McCain came down in when he was captured by the North Vietnamese. Apparently he had two broken arms and would have drowned if not for being rescued by the Vietnamese.

As the evening progressed more and more people filled the square.

The people had hot air lanterns that they lit and let float. You could see pinpoints of light across the sky.

A stage was set up in the square and there was various types of entertainment.

The fireworks started at midnight. It was a misty night so they didn't look very brilliant.

It was an exiting trip back to the hotel. Our guide had planned on grabbing a taxi, but no taxi could get near the city center. There were thousands of motor scooters for us to dodge. We walked over half-way back to the hotel before we caught a cab. By the time we got to the hotel it was 2:00 a.m. and we had to be ready to leave at 8:00 am in the morning.