Ornate windows

Grey across West Lake today

Hanoi People's Committee building

Kids on a bus

The vast soulless expanses of My Dinh

Hanoi is moving a lot of its administration out to the new urban area of My Dinh. There has been a lot of planning with wide roads and boulevards, and structured precincts. While it will take 10+ years to become fully developed, it currently feels a little soulless in some areas. The benefit of My Dinh is that they did not destroy the current downtown area with inappropriate development.

Pedestrians make way for motorbikes

A citywide phenomenon, bikes are allowed to park on the sidewalk where there is a supervised attendent. This attendent organises the bikes, charges a small fee, and in return pays the local authorities for the privilege of using their land. This is great for all involved except the pedestrian, who is left having to walk on the actual road

Quan Su Pagoda

Built in the 15th century, Chùa Quán Sứ is one of the most important Buddhist temples in Hanoi. Originally built to receive Buddhist ambassadors from abroad, it is now home to the Buddhist Sangha (church) of Vietnam

Mosaic wall

Stretching about 5 or 6 kilometres along the dyke road, there are plenty of different images such as this and this. This section is of the Long Bien bridge and the obligatory doves for the City of Peace

The heat has stores flogging fans

Leaning trees

Bangles or bracelets?

Colonial building wall detail

Mobile kitchen

This guy has just packed up his family's street noodle stall. The trolley remains but these bits and pieces are being sent elsewhere, probably home for a clean

Newly planted rice fields

Kites waiting for children's money

The morning sun on Sun City

Standard government building

Golf carts take to the streets

West lake

Hoan Kiem lake

Cyclo's

Fountain

Gender specific clothing

5 star hotel anti-smoking campaign

Summer is here

Any Hanoian will tell you that the seasons change very quickly here. Only a month ago it was cold and miserable. Spring came and seemed to last a week, and now it is hot and humid as we wait for the wet season to start. It is quite a strange experience

Early morning in the Old Quarter

Clinique

Saigon near Antartica - who knew?

Building around a tree

Hot today

May Theme Day - Mailbox

Not found in the city centre, this bamboo contraption is probably not a mailbox, although it does look like it is for some sort of delivery. I am sure it is not an alter

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