HANOI - VIETNAM

Hanoi in Vietnam has an estimated population of about 6.5 million and is the capital and second-largest city of Vietnam. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam. Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam.  The city is located on the right bank of the Red River. Hanoi is located at 1,760 km north of Ho Chi Minh City.  October 2010 officially marked 1000 years since the establishment of the city. On this occasion, Hanoi was named by Frommer’s travel guide as one of the world’s “Top Destinations 2010”, which coincided with our trip there.

This is the view out onto the lake and the City, from our Hotel, the Sofitel Plaza.

Looking towards the east, with the Red River in the background.

The presence of water in the form of rivers, lakes and canals is widespread in the City.

Many of the locals of Hanoi spend most of their work and leisure time right out there on the sidewalks and streets of their city. 

A typical street, seen while walking to the City centre.

A sidewalk butcher's shop. Small animals may be slaughtered right there in the street (as was the case with the chicken we saw being killed).

A game of Chinese chess always generates a lot of interest and many passers-by will stop, squat there and watch with great involvement.

One is frequently reminded that this is a Communist country.

A monument to the heroic fallen. Public gardens and parks are extremely well looked after, often by very elderly workers, as is seen here.

Bicycles have been largely replaced by scooters and motorbikes, while cars are still relatively few in number.

Dong Xuan Market, or "Cho Dong Xuan", is the oldest and largest market in Hanoi. It is located at Dong Xuan Street, at the end of Hang Dao Street.

Inside the Dong Xuan Market.

Getting closer to the City centre, there are more tourists, more traffic, more noise and commotion.

The Huc Bridge on Sword Lake ("Hồ Hoàn Kiếm"), one of the major scenic spots in the city, serving as a focal point for its public life.

The Huc Bridge (meaning Morning Sunlight Bridge) leads to Jade Island on which the Ngoc Son Temple (Jade Mountain Temple) stands. The temple was erected in the 18th century. It honours the 13-century military leader Tran Hung Dao who distinguished himself in the fight against the Yuan Dynasty, Van Xuong, a scholar, and Nguyen Van Sieu, a Confucian master and famous writer in charge of repairs made to the temple in 1864.

Outside the Jade Mountain Temple.

The altar inside the Jade Mountain Temple.

For westerners' eyes, this image is an iconic one, typifying the mysterious orient!

Numerous picturesque vistas along the shores of the lake allow good photo opportunities!

Turtle Tower (Tháp Rùa) in the middle of Sword Lake.

Văn Miếu (Temple of Literature) is a temple of Confucius. Although several Văn Miếu can be found throughout Vietnam, the most prominent and famous is that situated in the city of Hanoi, which temple also functioned as Vietnam's first university.

The inner courtyard of the Temple of Literature and buildings of the temple complex.

The Temple of Literature is popular with students at all levels of education. They devoutly pray for academic success and make offerings of food, flowers and incense.

 

The image of Confucius on the main altar of the Temple of Literature.

The Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, conveniently located across the road from the Temple of Literature.

"Spring" (1961), a beautiful coloured woodcut by Nguyen Thu in the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

"Hamlet No 9" (1975), a gouache by Dang Chung in the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

A bust of President Ho by Tran Van Lam in the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. Many "heroic", "nationalistic" and "chauvinistic" pieces of art are found in the museum, however, there is also a wealth of antique art, contemporary pieces and some examples of magnificent lacquerwork.

Although taxis are very cheap in Hanoi, walking is the best way to get to places and one sees some amazing things when on foot.

A good hotel is a must when staying in Hanoi and we were very pleased with the Sofitel, having a club room there. Although the hotel is not as central in the city as many others, it is quiet and has magnificent views over the large West lake.

A DRIVE TOWARDS WHITTLESEA

Melbourne's outer northern suburbs are considered to be one of Australia's fastest growing corridors. The high population growth occurring in areas 25-35 km from the city centre in the north continues  to drive demand for housing and has resulted in this being one of Melbourne's growth hotspots. Melbourne's growing northern metropolitan fringe is changing the character of what was a sleepy, bucolic area with acre lots and larger farms into a densely populated suburbia with town centres, schools, health and educational facilities that are servicing the increasing population.

Pockets of nature and recreational facilities are being preserved, such as this, the parklands around the Yan Yean Reservoir, which is the oldest of Melbourne's water dams.

Marshland adjacent to the dam.

Picnic grounds, barbecues and recreational facilities around the reservoir ensure many people visit this beautiful parkland.

A beautiful pink passionflower (Passiflora spp)

Autumn is fungus time!

A striking, large oxalis, which looks more decorative than weed-like...

Beautiful vistas of surrounding farmland from the picnic area of the Yan Yean parklands.

The Yan Yean Reservoir with a total water storage available capacity 30266 megalitres.

Wood-fired barbecues (with wood supplied), two large rotundas and picnic tables are provided.   

An Eastern Rosella, of which there are large numbers in the park.

Rose hips add a note of colour in the green-gray of the bushland.

A rather picturesque shed in one of the properties close to the reservoir. Half-acre and acre lots are still to be found in this area, as well as some small farms.

Farmland and farm animals 25 km from the city centre is a wonderful thing to have in a big metropolitan centre like Melbourne...

But for how long more, as the suburban sprawl forces subdivisions of properties.

He was a very friendly horse!

A Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), also known as the Rose-breasted Cockatoo, is a very common sight in this area.

There is something very serene and relaxing about cows grazing away in paddocks...

And they are such docile-looking creatures!

Some magnificent old gum trees can be seen in great abundance in this area.

The Anzac memorial in Whittlesea, a town about 40 km NE of the city, with a population of about 5,000 people.

Each plane tree planted along the main street in Whittlesea is dedicated to a fallen Anzac who came from this area.

Whittlesea lies outside the urban growth boundaries of the "Melbourne 2030"  metropolitan development plan. It is therefore expected to maintain its rural character. 

Mill Park Library opened in 2002 at a cost of $8 million, and was the first library in Victoria to be designed on the concept of a hybrid digital/print library. It serves the northern outer suburbs.

This iconic library building on Plenty Road has a spacious children’s library, a fully equipped training room with 12 PCs, an extensive Local History collection and a quiet reading area.

As well as material in English, the library offers community language material in Italian, Greek, Maltese and Chinese.