Ho Chi Minh

The mausoleum for President Ho Chi Minh, known to Vietnamese people as Beloved Father.  He had wanted to be cremated, but they couldn't bring themselves to do it and so he lies in state here and can be viewed weekday mornings, except Friday, which is why the steps are so empty.  Queyn our guide tells us that on other days, the queue is at least 40 minutes long.

HCM wanted to live simply and so this house was built for him.  It has only a bedroom and office above the stilts.

Hans is standing outside HCM's bedroom, not that you can see much.

An orchid, which has affixed itself to this tree.  It draws its sustenance from the moist air.  No wonder it's flourishing!

Those brown spikes sticking up through the greenery are the roots of the large tree standing in the back.  I have no idea what kind of tree it is, but the roots don't grow higher than about 30".  The white paint around the trunk is to repel insects.

Lotus dancers near the HCM complex.  The colours of their dresses mimic the lotus, and they are each holding the petals they will use in their dance.  We hung around for awhile, but it was much ado about nothing as the dance didn't appear imminent.  So we left.

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