Daniele’s students were so nice to stroll us around Hanoi for a full day. It was awesome.
We went for a fast breakfast close to the university, then the Ethnology Museum (you don’t want to miss this, it is very interesting), a lunch in a local bia hoi just east of Hoan Kiem lake, a taste of the famous egg coffee (why not) and then a walk to the Hanoi Flowers Festival in the Old Quarter. Thank you!
Ethnology Museum
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is both a research centre and a public museum exhibiting the ethnic groups of Vietnam. Vietnam is a multi-ethnic country, which is composed of 54 ethnic groups (I had no idea). Perceiving the importance of having an ethnographic museum to preserve and present the cultural heritages of ethnic groups, the Government decided to establish a museum of ethnology in Hanoi, the construction lasted from 1987 to 1995, when it was finally open to public. Probably the most interesting thing about the museum is the outdoor space, where the most popular architecture styles have been rebuilt in real size. The Ede long house, the Tay stilt house, the Yao house half on stilts, half on earth, the Hmong house whose roof is made of pomu wood, the Viet house with tile roof and the Giarai tomb. Between the houses, there are trees indigenous to the area of each house, zigzagging paths and a meandering stream crossed by small bridges.
This delicious cup arrived…Egg coffee is served in a mug with a bowl of hot water. Light? I don’t think so, incredibly good? Oh Yes!
 |
We finally arrived to the Flowers Festival, which was held on the east side of the lake. The 2012 edition was the 3rd one organized in Hanoi, usually it last 4 days (Dec30th to Jan 2nd). The main subject for this year was the World Heritages in Vietnam. It is incredible what Vietnamese artists can do with flowers!
