Like good tourists, we made our way to Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum. I was hoping he was laid out like Lenin, kept lifelike inside a glass box, hands folded on chest, beard groomed onto his green uniform.
But it was not to be. You could walk to within 20 feet and stare at the guards that watched the front door, but that was it.
Luckily the grounds behind the mausoleum were interesting in their own right. First, the presidential palace, which was originally built by the French in colonial times. It was beautifully maintained.
This is where Ho Chi Minh lived for 5 years. It is now a museum, like a 1950's time capsule. You can look in to see Mr. Minh's living room, dining room and study - pictures of Lenin and Marx hung on the wall above his desk.
This is where Ho Chi Minh lived for 5 years. It is now a museum, like a 1950's time capsule. You can look in to see Mr. Minh's living room, dining room and study - pictures of Lenin and Marx hung on the wall above his desk.
We walked down a small street named "Mango walk", at the end of which is a pergola where Mr. Minh welcomed guests. It is a beautifully lush and tranquil place.
There is a small lake on the grounds that is stocked with fish.
We walked around it slowly. I felt my pulse slow with each step - it was really relaxing.
Stands of pomelo trees, bursting with fruit line one side of the lake.
Some tree roots poked up through the lake's edge.
Upon exiting, we noticed a small group of soldiers being drilled. If you click on the photo, perhaps you can see them - they blend in well with the surroundings.
A few hrs later, back towards the old town, I saw this billboard. Mr. Minh must be in his mausoleum, spinning around and around. A Dove billboard? Capitalism everywhere here in Nam.
The grocery store even had a flat screen tv, imploring shoppers to buy more.
4 comments:
I used to joke that instead of sending the military to a country we wanted to become more "democratic," we should send a big ad agency. Cheaper, not so much bloodshed & destruction, at least the infrastructure. I guess I really meant "capitalism," not "democracy," huh?
You need more than the ad agency, you need the stuff to actually sell. The supermarket we went into looked like any other I've been into in the western world.
At the Institute meeting this am, I learned that Ho Chi Minh was present at the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, after WWI. Did you find that out on your visit?
Sal, I had no idea about that. That is really strange.... But then again, maybe not so strange...
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