Our plan for today, to get bicycles to move around Hanoi. After Monica and I, together with the Japanese traveller, Yasu taken a western breakfast in Darling Cafe, we’re out hunting for bicycles-for-rent.

Only walk a few streets from the guesthouse, three female farmers approach us. Without asking permission, they put their shoulder pole with load of fruits on our shoulder, “snatched” our cameras and said, “I’ll take photo for you.”

Before we manage to think, they persuaded (forced, would be more accurate) to sell us their fruit with ridiculous high price. A banana and few pieces of pineapple for 40,000 Dong (RM8.00).

Well, to get memorable picture is worth paying, but if would be better if the farmers don’t force. In my mind, “There is a need for more tourism academy set up in Hanoi, to teach the people how to be more tourist -friendly”

All right, to rent a bicycle, the shop owner would ask to keep you passport, as there is a lot of stealing of bicycles in Hanoi, they want you to take care their bike as though your passport. We manage to rent a bicycle 20,000 Dong each/per day.

Three of us head straight to Bay Mau Lake, which is located south-west of the Old Quarter, distance around 3km. In the Lenin Park, that surrounding Bay Mau Lake, is crowded with locals. This remind us today is the Freedom Day, public holiday as well. (For your information, Vietnam Independent Day is on 02 Sept, and celebration would be held at the Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Min’s Mausoleum Complex.)

We’d spent almost 2 hours in Lenin Park, walking round the lake and watch the locals activities i.e. fishing, dating, boating, theme park.

We took a late lunch at the famous Little Hanoi at P Ta Hien Street, which had moved from number 25, the information stated on “Lonely Planet – S. E. Asia on a Shoestring” (Chinese 1st edition), to number 9. That why we thought here’s another imitation… but it’s the real one that had moved.

Little Hanoi Restaurant actually make their new premise very nice, decorate with very Chinese-style atmosphere.

Late afternoon, we cycle all the way to Ho Chi Min’s Mausoleum Complex. A lot of local people were having their evening walk/jog at the Ba Dinh Square, in from of the mausoleum.

We’re meet a nice local tour guide, Mr. Duan, who show us One Pillar Pagoda, and introduce us about the hourly shift changing of guardian of mausoleum.

Every hour sharp, three guardians will walk out from their HQ to the entrance of the mausoleum, two of them will exchange with those another two that stand guard the entrance for an hour.

This wonderful day end after Monica and I had a very first road-side-food experience in Vietnam. We ordered “Mi Sao ” (beef noodle) and Mi Pho (soup noodle). We also try the rejuvenate tea, which sell like hot cake among locals.