These are the troopers of private enterprise with their fresh fruit, colorful birds and possibly a fat black python just waiting for the dinner table. There are few private cars in Hanoi, the most common mode of transportation being the bicycle. There are even fewer traffic lights. As a result, crossing a busy street can be terrifying, though it is usually quite safe. Seasoned drivers have learned to weave patiently around pedestrians with the confidence, determination and precision of a jet fighter pilot.
People live, work and travel on the streets.
Hanoi's hypnotic street life is an irresistible magnet for tourists. When people do manage to tear themselves away, many head for the monstrous Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Situated in a huge park-like square in the centre of Hanoi, uniformed soldiers are in force to keep the crowds moving, maintain peace and ensure hands are kept visible outside pockets. Such extravagance would surely have upset the modest Ho Chi Minh as much as his request being denied for cremation after his death in 1969. Hanoi is a city of extravagance contrasted with stark poverty.