This morning started out with a 4 mile run around Hoam Kiem lake. Afterwards we met for egg coffee again at the note cafe. I left a note for my children:
Many of these little cafes have winding staircases that go upstairs to sitting areas.
We walked to the Hanoi Hilton, where prisoners of war were held during the Vietnam War. It was constructed before 1900 by the French during their colonial occupation here. It housed those who dissented from the occupation. The conditions were pretty awful and the history of Vietnam and how their villages were destroyed by the French and his prior we treated is terrible. This one quote is from a dissident.
The main entrance.
Here are some pictures of places within the prison. The French guillotine was used to execute prisoners. Eventually, Vietnam won its independence back from the French.
The prison was used later to house prisoners of war during the Vietnam war. They had a lovely section about many of the pilots including John McCain. We are in Vietnam so it covered how the bombings affected the people in Hanoi. I have always believed our involvement was wrong and looking at the pictures and information was very moving.
In the tour you could purchase from a gift shop including postcards of propaganda from that time. One specifically called out Nixon bombing babies. Others were photographs from that era. Some were promotions for various industries.
Later in the day we have tickets for water puppet theater show and a Hanoi food tour.