Old Quarter – The Old Quarter can be quite a daunting maze. The narrow streets are named after the produce that it sells or used to sell, each street specializing in the production and sale of one type if good. Some of this is still in evidence but generally the crafts and trades have given way hotels, cafes, restaurants and tourist shops. 
The quarter still maintain a fine balance between tourist trade and the old trade. It is hoped that this unique area will be conserved with the old trade living and working the area, and not to follow what Singapore did with its Chinatown of preserving only the façade. All in all, the Old Quarter is a good area to stay, eat and a good base to explore the city. I have enjoyed the breakfast of delicious pho in Trong Khach (63 Hang Thieu) not far from my hotel. I also find a lovely corner in the room upstairs of a stylish French café/bakery “Baguette & Chocolat” (11 Cha Ca), which I wrote this post.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's Museum - Despite understanding the communism tradition of worshipping their leaders, I still find the displays and the attitude incomprehensible. The mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square area are clean, lawn are will trimmed, guards with well-pressed uniform are alert and quick to remind visitors to march in file, take off their caps, keep their hands by their sides, etc. The effort and resources spent to glorified the work of one man and the state propaganda is just too much for my cynical mind..
The Temple of Literature - the temple is a lot larger than I thought. Though built in 1070, it is still in pristine condition. I think ethic Chinese visitors shouldn't miss this temple. A lot of the history, culture and tradition depicted in the temple are what have been told to many young Chinese children. 
Museum of Ethnology - A little out of the way, I took a motorbike taxi to the Museum of Ethnology and it is worth the visit. The modern museum has a large collection of artifacts, photographs and documents of the practices and rituals of the various ethnic groups. Chinese, being an ethnic group in Vietnam are also displayed. There is even a short documentary showing the practices of the ethnic Chinese Vietnamese during Tet (Chinese New Year). Most of the Chinese practices are similar, if not with little variation. I find it bizarre that my culture is place under the microscope of a museum. A group of Caucasian tourists crowded under the small TV screen with interest. I wonder what they are thinking.
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