I worked and lived in Hanoi, Vietnam, from 2010 to 2011, after I retired from IBM in the US. I had high expectations, thinking that I will be able to help the local team. Unfortunately, things did not work out and I left after 9 months. I was prepared to stay 2-3 years but management have their own ideas.
Nevertheless, I had a wonderful experience in Vietnam. I made many friends and got to know the country well. Most of my friends are much younger, but I kept communications with them. Some have even visited me in the US.
For some unknown reason I felt that 2025 is the year that I'd like to visit my friends in Hanoi. I flew to Singapore in early April and planned on visiting Hanoi the second weekend of April. After checking into the Le Jardin Hotel Haute Couture in the late the afternoon I decided to take a walk near where I used to live. My address was 126 Tran Vu, by Ho (means lake) Truc (pronounced Chuc) Bach. I wrote a post about Life Around The Lake in 2020. I want to see how the lake has changed.
A side street by the lake
A new building replaced the old building where I lived
A small beautiful lake
A New Temple
Inside the market next door
My friend Vinh took me around the lake and explained many features to me. He lives by the lake so he knows it well.
Highland Coffee by the lake
One of the many pubs
Vegetable seller
Selling flowers
Pho Cuon, a local specialty
Vinh and I
Truc Bach Lake has a notable reputation among Americans. It's where the late Senator John McCain was shot down in 1967, during the height of the Vietnam War. He was sent to the infamous "Hanoi Hilton," a prison where he and other American prisoners were tortured for several years. The Vietnamese erected a memorial of Senator McCain's fall into the lake.
Remembering Senator John McCain's plane being shot down
The above inscription reads:
On October 26, 1967, the military and people of Hanoi captured U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Commander John Sidney McCain alive at Trúc Bạch Lake after his A-4 aircraft was shot down, with its wreckage landing near the Yên Phụ power plant. This was one of ten U.S. aircraft shot down that day.
My friends Ha, Nhan and Hien took me to a resort about one and a half hours from Hanoi to spend a quiet evening away from Hanoi. Maida Lodge is located next to a lake that was formed by a dam nearby. It's the low season so there were not many visitors. There are many things to do around the resort. I can imagine this will be a very busy place during the warmer months.
Maida Lodge
View of the lake, with fish traps in the foreground
We had to travel by boat because the road was under construction
Our Dinner
I checked into the five-star Melia Hotel when we returned to Hanoi that afternoon. They upgraded me to a beautiful corner suite because I booked through American Express. Later that evening Vinh took me to the Old Quarter (or Old Street, as the locals would call it). It was Saturday night so there was a night market. I used to frequent this night market when I lived here. It is interesting to see what they sell - mostly cheap consumer goods. It's a popular attraction for tourists to come and shop for cheap stuff and bargain with the sellers.
A popular hangout by Hoan Kiem Lake
Food! Food! Food!
Browsing the stalls
Meat on skewers
This woman sells noodle soup
Socks anyone?
This woman sells dessert
The next morning I went back to the Old Quarter. On the way I passed Hoàn Kiếm Lake, which means Lake of the Restored Sword. Turtles are supposed to live in the green waters of the lake but have not been seen for many years. The lake is the focal point of Hanoi and is adjacent to the Old Quarter.
The Old Quarter of Hanoi is the historical civic urban center of Hanoi. It contains 36 streets or guilds that used to make up the urban core of the city. I love walking aimlessly among the streets. The people, businesses, food, traffic, etc - it's a reflection of daily life in Vietnam. The streets are narrow so you have to watch out for the traffic. You can sneak into an alley and behold, you will find a whole row of food vendors. You never see the same scene twice.
Hoàn Kiếm Lake
Dancing around the lake
Shops making and selling noodles
Temple
Selling sweet potatoes on a bicycle
Eating noodles on the sidewalk
Selling housewares
Frying shrimp patties
A food alley
Selling mangos and oranges
Baquettes
Candies
Restaurant selling beef steak and roasted pigeons
All types of coffee
A Banh Mi (sandwich) restaurant
I had a farewell dinner with my friends on the eve of my departure. It was wonderful to see old friends. They are all doing well with happy families. It was a wonderful 5 days of visiting friends and reliving memories of Vietnam and Hanoi.
You are going to meet some gentle people there.....
You can see the lyrics of this popular 70s' song by Scott McKenzie on this YouTube video:
While on my way to Singapore I decided to stop in the San Francisco (SF) Bay Area to see my old friends Hardat and Nhu from our Grand Forks, ND, days. On a Friday I asked Hardat to drop me off at the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station in Richmond so that I can take the train to San Francisco. I planned to spend about 3/4 of the day walking around the city.
During my working days, when I come to SF I'd take some time off to walk around the city. I'd start my route at the Hilton Hotel near Union Square, walk through Chinatown, then along Columbus Avenue through North Beach (Italian neighborhood), to Fishermen's Wharf, then to Ghirardelli Square and finally back through Chinatown to the hotel.
I was dropped off at the El Cerrito del Norte BART station. I took the Red Line that will take me through Berkeley, Oakland and across to downtown SF where I'd start my walk around the city.
BART System Map
BART Train
El Cerritos del Norte BART Station
Bay Bridge from the Ferry Building
Mohandas Gandhi statue near the Ferry Building
Looking towards downtown
The BART trains are quiet and clean. I had to wait for about 20 minutes. The train was not crowded. It was beautiful ride seeing the scenery of the east Bay. After Oakland the train went under the SF Bay and surfaced at the first stop - Embarcadero. This is where I get off. I want to go to the Ferry Building so I can use the restroom and see the view from there.
The ferries go to several places in the Bay - Oakland, Alameda, Angel Island, etc. The most popular destination for tourists is Marin County, where it stops at Larkspur, Sausalito, and Tiburon. If you have never ride the ferry to these places I highly recommend it. They are touristy towns, especially Sausalito, but it's a beautiful ferry ride across the Bay, with a view of downtown SF and passing Alcatraz Island. Sausalito is your typical tourist town, with gift shops and restaurants catering to day trippers. Marin County, where it is located, is one of the most expensive counties in the United States.
I was going to walk from the Ferry Building to Pier 39, then to Fishermen's Wharf. However, I saw the tram running along the Embarcadero. I waited for about 20 minutes before one came and I took it to near Pier 39. Along the way there are many piers that offer cruises to neighboring areas, like Alcatraz. Pier 39 is a very popular pier for shopping for tourists. There are shops selling many things and there are quite a few restaurants too. I dropped in there because I want to use the restroom. On the way out I checked out the sea lions on the floating platforms.
Tram along The Embarcadero
Pier 39
Alcatraz Island
Sea Lions at Pier 39
The SkyStar Wheel
I continued on to Fishermen's Wharf where it is normally crowded with tourists. I was surprised at how sparse the crowd was, even though it was Spring Break. I walked past the sidewalk vendors selling dungeness crabs and clam chowder soup.
Fishermen's Wharf
Chowder Hut
Sandwiches with dungeness crab
Dungeness Crabs
Fishermen's Wharf Sign
Charter Boats for fishing
There are many things to see and do around Fishermen's Wharf. Souvenir shops and restaurants are everywhere. The famous seafood restaurant Scoma's is here.
San Francisco has been hit hard by the pandemic. It is taking longer to recover than most big cities. For some unknown reasons the tourists are staying away. Many businesses have moved out of the city.
Next I started to walk towards Ghirardelli Square, a very popular shopping center. But, when I saw a couple of swimmers swimming in the Aquatic Cove, I was mesmerized. I wish I can swim in there but I don't know if I can withstand the cold water. I've been here several times in the past envying the swimmers.
But then I saw a short line waiting for the cable cars and decided to wait in line. The San Francisco Cable Car System is the iconic representation of San Francisco. With its many hills it is difficult to walk or use horse carriages to navigate through the streets. It was originally intended for residents. Today it's mostly for tourists. Riding a San Francisco cable car is a must-do experience for tourists. Because of its popularity sometimes the wait can be up to 2 hours.
Park where the cable car starts
Ghirardelli Square
Cable car and operators
Inside the cable car
I waited for about 30 minutes before finally getting on one of the cable cars. My plan was to ride the cable car to as close as possible to Stockton Street in Chinatown. The grip operator told me to get off at Washington and Mason Street. Incidentally, this is where the Cable Car Museum is located so I went in and checked out the exhibits. This is the first time that I've been in there. It was fascinating learning about how the system works.
The whole system is run by a system of pulleys and cables under the streets. The operator adjusts the speed of the car by gripping the cables. Naturally, there is a lot of wear and tear on the cables and they have a system of detecting and replacing flailing cables. It is not the most efficient or cost effective transportation system but it is what makes San Francisco unique.
After I got off the cable car I started to walk towards Stockton Street in Chinatown to get lunch. I know there are several take-out restaurants that sell dim-sum and other Chinese food. As I walk towards Stockton Street I came across the Chinese Historical Society of America. It's a small museum documenting the Chinese experience in America. I did not find it very interesting and stopped there for less than 30 minutes.
I finally came to Stockton Street and was surprised to find it crowded with local residents. I thought most of San Francisco and Chinatown are sparsely populated after the pandemic. People were going about their business shopping and eating. I found a take-out restaurant with a couple of small tables and bought a lunch of noodles, chicken and vegetables. It was about $8; and I could not finish it.
View of Financial District from Chinatown
My $8 lunch - noodles, chicken and green beans
Shops along Stockton Street
The last leg of my journey takes me from Chinatown to the BART station at Montgomery Street. I waited for the red line and took it to the El Cerritos del Norte station. My friend Hardat was waiting to pick me up at the station. It was a beautiful day going through what I have done several times in the past. San Francisco is always one of my favorite cities.
