Sightseeing the Hanoi Way

We've taken it easy today. We took a taxi this morning and then have been lounging around part of the afternoon (watching cartoons on the Disney Channel no less). But that's now...
This morning started with a leisurely breakfast in our hotel and then a taxi ride to the northwestern part of Hanoi. There we stood in line with hundreds of other people (tourists and locals alike) to view Ho Chi Minh's embalmed body in his mausoleum. It was kind of creapy and anticlimatic. I was told to change out of my skirt (which was knee length) into pants before leaving the hotel and Thao was told that her sleeveless shirt was okay. When we got to the mausoleum she was told that she could either buy a new scarf for about $3.50 to cover herself up with or "rent" for free dirty shirts to wear over. She bought the scarf.
Afterwards I walked over to the house in which Ho Chi Minh lived (it's a little house on stilts) and walked through the gardens.
Then in direct opposition to our previous activities we visited a Buddhist Temple called the One Pillar Temple because it's built on, yes, you guessed it, one pillar. It was very simple and quite lovely.
We then walked to the Temple of Literature which is actually a temple complex. It's large and has been in that spot since 1070. Parts of it have been rebuilt and added onto since that time. There are beautiful stone "stele" or tablets which date from the 15-18th centuries.
Afterwards we visited the Hoa Loa Prison Museum (better known to most Americans as "Hanoi Hilton.") Only part of the prison remains as most of the complex was torn down to build a fancy, Western style high rise (in which we ate lunch). The prison is absolutely moving though. Inside was John McCain's flight suit which he was wearing when he was captured and pictures of him smiling at the physicians taking care of his wounds. There was definitely a slant to the museum with a distinctive "look how good we took care of the American pilots while they were here" message.
Now we're back at the hotel and pondered visiting the market to buy more souvenirs but I think we're both tired and a tired of being in the sun so we're spending the afternoon inside.
Tomorrow we head to Nha Trang (a beach destination) for 2 days of fun in the sun before we return to Ho Chi Minh City.