The Crash of Capitalism
This sounds a suitable Sunday outing, but Ho Chi Minh's Mausaleum is closed. It closes for 3 months every year for essential renovations – what, to the body? Ho Chi Minh’s body will be back on November 20th. Good to have diary dates.
But we Number 22 Hanoi bus- it to the history of Vietnam museum. An attendant points to the opening times. I' I' o'en at' two he says in a questioning manner. I thank him and take this to be an opening to read it out with better pronunciation. I wouldn't dream of behaving like this a week ago but I have come across an almost universal enthusiasm to practice English. Indeed, other attendants gather round in a friendly manner to edge in on the pronunciation tips.
We are muted by the videos of the history of Vietnam – a history of war and suffering. Zany art work and surreal giant Volvo car half upsidedown which represents the inevitable crash of capitalism. Uncle Ho everywhere ..letters.. photographs.. Ho in the fields with children, with freedom fighters, with families, his last blanket and many photos of weeping Vietnamese and ceremonies on his death. We realize that the American war in Vietnam followed hard on the heels of fight of the Vietnamese for independence from the French.