If you can find one at all, a traffic light is merely a suggestion. To cross, you inch out slowly into the middle of the street, trying not to surprise anyone. In return for your consideration, they'll try to drive around you.
Vietnam is the most football-crazy country in the world. The night Vietnam won against Singapore, what else to do but race motorcycles around the lake? This went on well past midnight.
This is how you buy your food in Vietnam. There's amazing variety of food – cooked, uncooked, or still clucking.
By strange coincidence, the name means "to be prosperous".
We promised to photograph it during our visit. The lake is in the center of the city, and quite nice.
There's a legend about a turtle and a sword.
There's Ngọc Sơn, a Buddhist temple, and a small museum here, which includes an ancient, mummified turtle dredged out of the lake. There's also an exhibit on Trần Hưng Đạo, the general who prevented the Mongols from overrunning Vietnam in the 13th century.
Right near the lake, some might call the style hyper-realism.
The oldest university in Vietnam, dating from 1070. Yes, the water is green.
with the names of successful doctoral candidates. The turtle is an animal which symbolizes the scholar.
In those days, these were diplomas - a bit big to hang on the wall.
Actually, a bunch of schoolgirls, who we overheard rehearsing a song. Like little girls everywhere, they have a scary command of detail. They asked if we would take their picture.
How far you go into the temple has to do with your achievement as a scholar. They made an exception in my case.
Built by the French, this is a wonderful museum, devoted to Vietnam's 53 ethnic minorities. Our tour guide touched every single exhibit that wasn't behind glass. In the courtyard, there are reconstructions of traditional house. This one is from the Yao, who also live in southern China.
See no evil, hear no evil, but gossip all you want.
Many tribes are related to the Thai and Lao, again, with similar groups in southern China where the Thai originally came from.
Many families share the same house, which has no windows. Notice the modern buildings around it, also multi-family, though at a 90-degree angle.
The front door and stairs. I believe the left stairway is the male one.