Things To Do in Vinh

To truly honor the memory of Ho Chi Minh, visitors to these sights are obliged to buy a bouquet of flowers to lay at three separate places: 1) at the foot of his statue in the central square in the city of Vinh, 2) at his birthplace, and 3) in the nearby village of Kim Lien, where he lived for many years. It costs 20,000 VND per bouquet, and to do the full obeisance costs 60,000 VND. Worth it? Your call. Going without flowers is, of course, okay, but foreign visitors who follow the tradition get much more respect from the Vietnamese groups. A visit to these sights is a somber one, and foreign visitors should refrain from goofing around. Docents at each sight speak Vietnamese only, but some will hand you an information card printed in English. Note: Especially if you're with Vietnamese friends or tagging along with a group, pretend you're listening; walking away while the docent is speaking is considered rude.