VIETNAM , HA LONG BAY (day 66)

Even though VIET NAM flies its own flag, a red background with a large gold star in the middle, it is a COMMUNIST  country. The HAMMER AND CICLE fly right along with the flag of VIETNAM. Apparently only 5% of the people belong to the COMMUNIST PARTY (CP) & they are the people who either work for the government, (they get priorities) or are in the army (they get taken care of). Interesting, although we were told that the CP maintains a low profile, in a quiet way they have complete control of the country, including the presence of huge monuments, depicting the COMMUNIST way of life  placed, strategically around in the cities. Our guide who is 26 yrs. old could only tell us about the improvements in the way that the people live now compared to the way that they lived before the COMMUNISTS took control......? Actually, when you think about it they have a terrible history of oppression and war.

The population of is 91.5 million, 55% of the total population are farmers, they do not own the land, the government rations small plots of land to them to farm, & 25% of the people mine coal. The coal is not exported they use it o power their electric plants. The other 25% work in factories such as CANNON & SAMSUNG or own their own retail shops. The property taxes are very high and it  is very difficult to get a mortgage. The main exports are coffee, pepper and rice.

Apparently, 70% of the population is without religion of the other 30% most follow ANCESTOR WORSHIP, some are BUDDHISTS, and very few are CHRISTIANS.

The ship anchored in HA LONG BAY yesterday at 6:30 AM by 8:00 we were in tenders on our way to the mainland to board vans that would take us to visit HANOI for the rest of the day, twelve hours.

VIEW FROM THE BUS

RICE FIELDS ON THE WAY TO HANOI

VIEW FROM THE BUS

PRIVATE HOMES ARE NARROW AND 3-4 STORIES HIGH PROPERTY IS SOLD BY THE SQ.  FT. (the picture below is renovated example)  SO PEOPLE CHOOSE TO BUILD HIGH RATHER THAN WIDE.

In the background you can see the totally new high-rises, that are beginning to take over the landscape in the city.  

ONE OF THE ENGRAVED TABLETS THAT LINE THE SIDES OF THE HALL IN TEMPLE OF LITERATURE (ANCESTOR WORSHIP)

THESE TABLETS ARE 14TH CENTURY, SINCE HERE WERE NO BOOKS, THEY CONTAIN ALL SUBJECTS THAT THE SCHOLARS NEEDED TO MEMORIZE AND REPEAT BACK TO THEIR INSTRUCTORS

YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY ARE ALL MOUNTED ON A  TURTLE 

THE TURTLE STANDS FOR LONGEVITY 

OUR GUIDE "Q" EXPLAINING TO US HOW WHE THE INCENSE IS BURNED AND WHEN THE SMOKE RISES THAT THE SMOKE CARRIES YOUR GOOD WISHES TO THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED

STATUE OF CONFUSIOUS TO WHOM OFFERINGS ARE MADE IN THE TEMPLE OF LITERATURE

HO CHI MIN'S MAUSOLEUM

CONTAINS HIS EMBALMED BODY FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW

More VIET NAM TO COME...