Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

There are 54 minor ethnic groups in Vietnam, and this is the tomb style of one of them.  The carved figures encircling the tomb are intended to accompany the dead into the afterlife.  There are sexually explicit figures and pregnant women, symbols of fertility, so the afterlife for these people must be one big party.

A style of house used by one of the groups and still used by them.

Lunch at the Hoa Sua restaurant, which is on the grounds of the museum.  It's a training restaurant for disadvantaged children who learn to cook and serve there.  After their apprenticeship, they are in high demand in restaurants around the city.  I must say the service was outstanding, with the young waiter unfolding the napkin and placing it on my lap, a service usually found only in high-end restaurants.

This is a plate of grilled chicked with purplish colour lemon leaves, one of the courses we enjoyed.  the little bowl contains a wedge of lime and loose seasalt plus pepper grounds.  You just take a pinch in your fingers if you want any.

The rest of our meal:  Thai style beef with fresh tomatoes and cucumber, fried pork with caramel sauce topped with grated coconut; hot and spicy vegetables and a bowl each of steamed rice.  In the back you can see Hans testing a bottle ofHanoi beer.  He'd tested it before and liked it.

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