Donna's dress she made for me prior to our departure has been a godsend- it works as a morning lounger with coffee in hand to a 'going out' dress at night. On top of all that, it has a nice Asian print-thanks, Donna!

Today we ventured to Hoa Lo Prison, nicknamed "Hanoi Hilton" by US Pilot POWs during the Vietnam  War (called the American War by the Vietnamese). It was built by the French in 1896 and for most of its history, incarcerated Vietnamese nationalists during the French occupation up to the mid-1950s. In the two rooms that house the story of US POWS, the message we were given was clear: the Vietnamese treated the US POWS very well during their time there- a lot better than how the French treated the Vietnamese! It was quite strange standing in the cells that housed the prisoners (with the shackles and torture implements) while to the right and left stood postcards and other souvenirs.

Notice Eric's purse (it's really mine)- he would not wear it until about a week ago and now I can't get it away from him.