Vietnam People's Army (VPA) Soldiers Before Chasing Me Away, Uncle Ho Mausoleum, Hanoi, Vietnam
After visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, the official tour continues to past the Preseidental Palace built by the French at the turn into the 20th century, and the stilt house where Uncle Ho lived in the 1960's. In this land of paradox, Uncle Ho is preserved in the Mausoleum although his wish and philosophy was cremation. He refused to live in the Presidential Palace, instead living out back in a modest stilt house modeled in ethnic minority home style. And these soldiers on the tail end of the official tour route doing weapons check did not want their pictures taken, generally not being appoached by touring visitors. Although they may feel visually and conceptually intimidating, all my numerous encounters with soldiers and army officials was quite polite and ultimately friendly. In non-warring present day Vietnam the peoples' army is utilized as a general public service body as well as in traditional military capacity. It maintains political and economic responsibilities in addition to it's military role. Service is compulsory, with military authority extending through self defence forces, the militia, and local forces that act on their level to protect the people.

Vietnam People's Army (VPA) Soldiers Before Chasing Me Away, Uncle Ho Mausoleum, Hanoi, Vietnam
After visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, the official tour continues to past the Preseidental Palace built by the French at the turn into the 20th century, and the stilt house where Uncle Ho lived in the 1960's. In this land of paradox, Uncle Ho is preserved in the Mausoleum although his wish and philosophy was cremation. He refused to live in the Presidential Palace, instead living out back in a modest stilt house modeled in ethnic minority home style. And these soldiers on the tail end of the official tour route doing weapons check did not want their pictures taken, generally not being appoached by touring visitors. Although they may feel visually and conceptually intimidating, all my numerous encounters with soldiers and army officials was quite polite and ultimately friendly. In non-warring present day Vietnam the peoples' army is utilized as a general public service body as well as in traditional military capacity. It maintains political and economic responsibilities in addition to it's military role. Service is compulsory, with military authority extending through self defence forces, the militia, and local forces that act on their level to protect the people.
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