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N Vietnam 2012
Day 1 - 24th May - Hanoi: Archaeological Sites (Part 2)
Next, I headed for the Citadel.
What have the French ever done for us?
Flag Tower from the other side - some shack
I'd no idea what this sign meant, but followed it into the citadel area.
World Heritage plaque
Car Park, and Vietnamese women wearing the traditional Ao Dai with Branded Bags
Citadel Gate
Flag Tower from Citadel
I'd though only ang mohs wore the hat. Apparently not.
Doan Mon Gate from front
Chinese characters on Doan Mon Gate
Some remains behand gate
More remnants
Colonial building
Gate Tower
View of Flag Tower
I found myself concluding that as with many things in Vietnam, this was just a third rate knockoff of a Chinese original
Apeing the Chinese continues today - note the man with his shirt pulled up
Another gate
There was an exhibition on the city.
"Hanoi municipality imposes Western norms on the use of urban space"
Frenchified English
Bell. Again with no information in English.
Another colonial building
Apparently this area also housed the UNESCO outpost.
Dragon urn
Exit way for compound
Dragon steps
Bonsai setup
Vietnamese sign saying ???
UNESCO Drum. I had no idea what its significance was
More Bonsais
Another exit avenue
I also saw the Di Tich Hau Lau (Hau Lau monument) but as with the Flag Tower it was barren. It also had no information in English.
Sign only in Vietnamese
"Di Tich Quoc Gia Dac Biet"
Site sign
Another UNESCO sign: for Kinh Thien Palace Relic
Rundown gate for compound
Next I checked out an archaeological site just across the road.
Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be much beyond the foundations.
Photos of the site (onsite?!)
Power to the site seemed to have been cut - I entered a room with some explanations but there was no lighting and the airconditioning was off.
On the important discoveries
Historical Periods
Hypothesis about the Roof
There was a "Photography Room"
Unfortunately the "Photography Room" was empty...
...except for a
There was an area with excavations, but they weren't impressive (at least this and the previous area with the gate and colonial buildings were free to enter).
Morning communist ritual
Some English on the sitel there was little information in Vietnamese and none in English except what I snapped
Covered excavations
Shards. It's like the place was burnt to the ground and only the foundations were left.
Technically photography was not allowed but the staff were few and indolent, and some Japanese or Koreans (I didn't note down which) who looked like businessmen were snapping away.
"Thang Long Archaeological Site"
Vietnamese people weren't very friendly. They mostly looked indolent and didn't respond when I said hello (xin chào). Maybe it's better in winter.