Hanoi

Brief Reflections on a short Hanoi Vietnam Visit

 The embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh, who brought Communism to Vietnam, is preserved in a glass encasement, protected by a military honor guard.  Strict rules regarding photography prohibited me from going inside. Chris did, since she was willing to follow monitored behavior enforced by the guards. Visitors must remain silent, hands must not be in pockets, nor arms crossed.

 Hanoi Citadel

Vietnamese military during the Vietnam War had its headquarters in this location, with underground tunnels protecting them from the wars air raids. Today it is one of Hanoi's attractive impressively maintained gardens.

 Many memorials dot Hanoi...

U.S. Military war airplanes have been restored and displayed campainging Vietnams war success

 "Hanoi Hilton"

During the Vietnam War U.S. prisoners were sent to the Hoa Lo prison where U.S. POWs endured miserable conditions, poor food, and unsanitary conditions. This prison was sarcastically nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton" by American POW pilots, shot down over North Vietnam on bombing raids. 

The Hanoi Hilton (yellow building) was used by the North Vietnamese Army to house, torture and interrogate captured American pilots.  When these prisoners began to be released after the war, their testimonies revealed widespread abuse by their captors.

Senator John McCain (photo and his pilot uniform pictured below) was shot down over North Vietnam in 1968 and was a prisoner for six years.  Hundreds of U.S. military prisoners were held by the North Vietnamese army during the war.

 John McCain photos and uniform

Prison cells...

U.S. B52 Bomber Museum

A B52 bomber shot down by the North Vietnameese army is displayed outside the museum

 Chinese supplied anti-aircraft guns

This visit to Hanoi brought many memories back of the Vietnam War, and the history of that time.  I lost two friends to the Vietnam War.  Many innocent lives were lost from this lingering war across South East Asia and America during the 1960’s and 1970’s. While Communism still governs Vietnam, seeds of a blossoming liberty begin to sprout and branch as this photo reflects.