Driving Highway One: Hanoi

by Lisa Spivey, Feb 1, 1995 | Destinations: Vietnam / Hanoi
Van Mieu or the Temple of Literature, was founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly and dedicated to Confucius in order to honor scholars. Vietnam's first university was established here in Hanoi in 1076.

Van Mieu or the Temple of Literature, was founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly and dedicated to Confucius in order to honor scholars. Vietnam's first university was established here in Hanoi in 1076.

Van Mieu or the Temple of Literature, was founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly and dedicated to Confucius in order to honor scholars. Vietnam's first university was established here in Hanoi in 1076.
This is a temple on Hanoi's West Lake.
Hanoi is full of examples of French architecture, giving the city a feeling of an old French town.
The old French Ministry of Information building serves as the Hanoi Museum of Fine Arts today.

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Scattered throughout the Old Quarter are pagodas and temples such as the Huyen Thien Pagoda at 54 Hang Khoai. These places of worship are quite active even today, and people of all ages may be seen especially during auspicious lunar days. Tourists may walk into the pagodas, and are welcome to take pictures.

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The puppeteers line up in front of the screen at the end of the performance.

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Flags are hoisted to signal the start of the show - springing up from beneath the water's surface; they somehow emerge completely dry.

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