Thursday 28 November
I went to two really
interesting museums – the Women Museum and the old prison. The first had
various boyfriends looking somewhat dragged there by the girlfriends but, in
fact it was a fascinating place. One floor was all about family culture in
Vietnam, especially on the traditional approach to marriage which is so much a
merging of families. With great rituals of visiting the prospective groom’s
house; visiting the prospective bride’s house and all ending with a huge feast
. Another room dealt with the worshipping of the Mother Goddess. It describes
the Hau Dong theatrical ritual used to incarnate important gods for the
audience, aided by the Hat Van music played by Cung Van musicians. A whole new
world to get a handle on!
The next floor had a room on
the heroines, particularly military heroines of Vietnam and stressed the
importance of women in the resistance to the French and Americans. It was a thoroughly
worthwhile visit and led on quite neatly to visiting the Maison Centrale
prison.
This was built by the French and was later used by the Vietnamese to house captured US airmen. The visit takes one through rooms where people were shackled and put in solitary confinement. There is also the death row section and a room with a guillotine. It was all more than somewhat sobering, especially with the cells filled with models to give an impression of what being an inmate would have been like.
This was built by the French and was later used by the Vietnamese to house captured US airmen. The visit takes one through rooms where people were shackled and put in solitary confinement. There is also the death row section and a room with a guillotine. It was all more than somewhat sobering, especially with the cells filled with models to give an impression of what being an inmate would have been like.
Later that evening I went to
the Vietnam National Tuong Theatre for a performance of this traditional theatre
and music. There was only a handful of people in the audience which is a shame
because the performance was informative, entertaining and of a very high
quality.
Finally and to end a day of
contrasts with a contrast I went to the Swing bar. It was heaving and according
to the poster outside Tuan Hung was playing his Anh Nho Em (I miss you) album. Apparently
he is well famous in Vietnam but I’m afraid his 5 piece band left me a bit unwowed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WawqjcMuDMg
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