Hanoi Vespa kitten recaptured. Now in chains.

Funny how an impending change of country brings on thoughts of regret at leaving and excitement at arriving, resulting in a sort of numbness and confusion.
Well today's activities sort of mirrored that. We collected some clothing ordered before Halong Bay, bought a grip to accommodate our growing bundle of purchases, re-packed & checked out of our hotel.

Headed off to walk to the Museum of Literature (yes, really) and stopped for lunch in a locals diner. Great food but I ordered fried noodles with chicken, and got FN with beef. Probably just as well as the habit here is to attack a previously boiled chicken with a cleaver, then include a handful of the resultant mince in the meal. One then chews the bits and spits out that which you consider to be inappropriate to your personal digestive system. First time I tried it, it all got the spitoot treatment. Anyway, todays beef was fine.

The Museum of Literature is an open space enclosed by high walls and divided internally in the tradition of a Chinese house. Three sections increasing in religious significance the further back you go. It was also effectively the first Vietnamese university, founded in 1040 ish. The King of the day set the exam questions and scored the answers, then personally endowed the "passees". The questions were particularly hard and searching hence there were very few graduates, all of whom have their names inscribed on large stone tablets. Interesting, huh? I thought so!

Now at Hanoi airport about to board for Hong Kong, from where the tale will continue to unfold. Can't wait.

G&S