Last day in Hanoi

This morning we went to the Water Puppet Theatre, the show lasted 40 minutes and was fascinating. Water puppets originated in the paddy fields, and this theatre was created in 1969. The puppeteers are very skilled, we saw tales from Vietnamese life and customs.

After coffee, watermelon juice and a snack at the Avalon restaurant we retuned home. Later n in the afternoon we ventured out into the heat to look at the nearest lotus pond. It is lotus season here, some of the ponds are in full flower and ladies are selling them all over the  city from the back of their bicycles. 

....and I have discovered that  the yellow strands I have seen drying are not saffron, but the stamens from the lotus flower which are dried and used to make a 'tea'. In fact they use the major part of the lotus plant, apparently the seeds  are like water chestnuts and I have seen the central disc being dried too......

I am almost packed, just the last minute things to put in after I have had a shower and changed this evening. I have not been able to check in online, maybe this is because the first flight is a code share  with Vietnam Airlines.

This maybe the last blog for this trip........it has been great to see the family and to visit a new country. I shall look forward to returning and hopefully seeing more of Vietnam. The people are lovely and I am know there are lots more places to explore both here in Hanoi and in other  parts of the country. The heat has prevented me from venturing to a lot of the tourist sites.

Typical street scene