Ha Noi, the capital of Vietnam, is a perfect mix of old and new, Asian and European, a dynamic unification of tradition and progressive 21st century thinking. Despite recent rapid development, the city has retained much of its traditional identity. Visit the complex dedicated to Ho Chi Minh, the founder of the country and to the Vietnamese lovingly known as 'Uncle Ho'. Make the first stop at the historic mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, an impressive monument built to serve as the last resting place of Uncle Ho. Walk through the beautiful botanical garden of the presidential palace to visit Uncle Ho's simple home, built on a rural environment Vietnamese pile house with simple design in a quiet environment, which reflects its simple, pure and noble lifestyle. Visit One Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049 from wood on a single stone pillar, designed to resemble a lotus blossom, a symbol of purity. Continue on to the Tran Quoc pagoda, Hanoi's oldest pagoda, located on a small island in West Lake. Visit the Temple of Literature in the afternoon, the first university of Vietnam. This beautiful temple, built in the 11th century, is a rare example of well preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture and stands on the back of the 100,000 Vietnamese dong banknote. The cyclo ride (rickshaw) is an excellent way to experience Ha Noi up close, because the atmosphere is lively, hectic and cozy. Your local driver will step, behind your guide, to the narrow streets of the old district, known for its '36 streets with 36 were'. Within the Old Quarter, as since the 15th century, the narrow 36 streets of the Old Quarter have names that reflect the things that were once practiced there; silk street, rice street, paper street, paint and jewellery street. Explore the fascinating maze of back streets, discover your bargaining power and leave with unusual items that will always remind you of this memorable afternoon. Close your day with a walk around the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake, "Lake of the Returned Sword," named after a magic sword that was once used by the most respected heroes to defeat the Chinese Ming Dynasty and then returned to the Golden Turtle God of the lake. Attention: The Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh is CLOSED on Monday, Friday and all afternoons
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