Ho Chi Min vs Ho Gi Min?

Ho Chi Min was a longtime leader of Vietnam.  Hoagieman (Ho Gi Min in vietnamese) is my dad; originator of the Steinberg Hoagie at Primo's.  At the moment I can't decide who impresses me more.  Communist vietnam has been pretty interesting and delicious so far, but Primo's are super delicious.

okay, so today has been pretty interesting.  I went around hanoi and checked out some sights with some people i've met in my hostel.  Matt and Marla are visiting from the Philippians (matt is originally from Montana, and Marla is originally from the Philippians.  And also Gabo (not 100% that's how its spelled but i think that's how he is pronouncing his name)  although he sounds spanish, he's from Chicago.  But we first went to check out Ho Chi Min aka Uncle Ho (seriously).  And when i say check him out, I mean they literally have him embalmed and on display in a glass case (sorry, no cameras aka pictures allowed).  While waiting in line everyone pushes and cuts and runs around you...so in typical american style, we start dropping elbows and destroy some little people (well, not really).  Its so hot out that people are passing out while waiting in line.  I'm quite moist at this point.

after this we went and grabbed some lunch of...well i don't know what it was, some sort of rice noodle and grilled chicken in a cool soup as well as some sort of deep fried rolls.  We then went to some Temple place where things and stuff happened.   It basically was a nice lil garden.  basically, most museums and places are closed from 2-4 so we had time to kill.  we then went to the Ho Chi Min Museum where the bottom floor has lots of photographs and letters people wrote and the upstairs is bizarre art (i'll post pictures eventually).  it was a weird combination of history  and art museum.  We unforutunately missed our chance to go to the Hanoi Hilton and History Museum as they close by 430.  The hilton is actually what they call the POW camp here which was a former residence for non President John McCain.  Maybe i'll have a chance to go on saturday.

Just booked a two day cruise to halong bay.  its suposed to be one of those "cant miss" thingies.  so I guess we'll see how that goes.  It's kinda expensive by vietnam standars but i figured it would be worth it.  But tonight I"m finally going to get some Pho for dinner.  can't wait.