Our day began with a fascinating visit to the Ho Citadel, a UNESCO recognized World Heritage site.
Our friends from the Thanh Hoa Department of Foreign Affairs very kindly accompanied us.
We introduced ourselves and then sang our Peace Run song composed by founder Sri Chinmoy.
We presented the torch to the gentleman who is in charge of the Citadel.
He and a colleague then launched into a song themselves.
They sang a beautifully haunting song about the rythm of nature and rowing a boat through the river of life.
The local children pass through the citadel gates everyday on their way to and from school.
On top of the Citadel gates. Dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries this magnificent stone gates served as a symbol of strength against invasion as well as a testimony to the glorious history of the Tran Dynasty.
Suhasini, on the look out for invaders.
They presented us with books all about the history of the citadel and the Tran Dynasty.
Suman found an elephant that he thought might be from Nepal.
Akanda tries his hand at some rice grinding.
A child's artistic impressions of the Citadel.
This gentleman spoke Russian and became fast friends with Akanda.
Apparently this is where the king used to bathe.
Later in the day we went boating in the Ninh Binh region.
This area is sometimes referred to as the "Halong Bay on land" with limestone castes jutting majestically from the river.
The boats took us under three very low caves which was really fun.
It was a lovely relaxing boat ride allowing us to connect with the simple rythm of life in rural Vietnam.
