Final day of the trip

So it has come down to this, I'm in the final days of this trip and for today, I've decided to pamper myself a little

Since the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is not opened on Fridays (no fate with him man), I've decided to just visit the Hoa Lo prison and the Vietnamese women museum for the morning. I must say, I was quite impressed with the women museum

I find these pictures really v captivating. So here's some photo spam 

Kids doing chores...and here I thought my rucksack is heavy

Went to the Hoa Lo prison next. I've come to realise that Singapore has a relatively smooth transition from colonial rule to independence, as compared to like the Vietnamese where HCM had to fight the French and Americans, and Cambodian where the Khmer Rouge regime took over. Should our transition be as unstable as theirs, I'm sure we won't be where we were

I have no idea what these "ladders" serve...just to make them more uncomfortable?

If I'm not wrong, one of their leg is chained to the wooden block

Self immolation to protest against the Americans 

I guess this concludes my Hanoi tour. With just half a day left, there really isn't a point going out of the city. So I went back, did a search online for a good massage parlour and facial outlet. Eventually ended at this spa and paid $45 for a 1hr40min experience (both full body massage and facial)

Happened to meet 5 nbs students there as well, and apparently they are going to be on the same flight as me tmr. So I guess I'm gonna see them tmr

The massage was rather good. Had a slightly neckache which has been bothering me and it felt better after the rub. My first experience with the hot stone treatment too...quite unique and effective. Now I'm really considering learning massage back in Singapore 

So I guess this concludes my trip in Hanoi, and my tour of Cambodia and Vietnam. I realise that there are many places which I've missed, but then again, there are always more places to go. Great thanks to the random acquaintances I've made on this trip. I dun think I'll ever bump into them again, but the memories have been crystallized both in me and in this blog. My gratitude for making this solo travel a little more bearable 

Till next time;)

Mark

PS: stay tune still! I'm going to India in a week's time and will be updating my adventure here as well! The wait will be short! Ciao