Scenes from the market

Following an email request, here are some pictures of the local markets.

The French Quarter by night

Last night I went out to dinner with Anthea and her parents who were visiting in Hanoi this week. Strolling through the French Quarter to the south of Hoan Kiem Lake is a very pleasant way to spend an evening.

The French colonisation of Vietnam lasted only about 70 years, but within this time they added a lot of value to the city of Hanoi. The boulevard style streetscape is reminiscent of a European city and much easier to navigate than the rabbit warren that is the Old Quarter.

There is more infrastructure and better roads, and the cafes light up at night.

Halong Bay

Tomorrow I take a tour to Halong Bay, the natural wonder of the North of Vietnam. Approximately three thousand islands are dotted around the Gulf of Tonkin. The islands feature caves and cliffs, and general ruggedness.
Unfortunately the visibility is forecast to be poor, but all reports suggest its still well worth having a look at it.

Halong means, 'where the dragon descends into the sea.' The legend says that a dragon ran down from the mountains and bashed his tail about, creating the islands.

I go by bus from Hanoi (about 100kms) and then on a boat, where I stay overnight. The bus will bring me back to Hanoi the next day.

Village with no one having third child

This article in the Vietnam News describes how the Fatherland Front has encouraged the some villagers in the Central Province of Quang Tri to use birth control to adhere to the National Vietnamese two child policy. The name of the model is, 'Village with no one having third child.'

The successful application of the model has held child malnutrition rates constant at 20% in the villages where the model is being followed, which is lower than the average level of the province.

Bonuses are being offered to 'correct individual behaviour.' The goal is to raise the standard of living in rural areas and improve the quality of life.