Swans v. Dragons

Travel with children is a wonderful thing. The sheer, unalloyed joy they take in the smallest, and most unexpected things, the chance to watch them learn and grow, the genuine pleasures of their company and conversation, and the chance to do (and enjoy doing) the sort of things you haven’t done since you were a child yourself, and wouldn’t do without a child as guide.

Such as ride a swan boat. Basically pedalos shaped like swans, these are creations of the utmost genius. Favourites with Vietnamese tourists, teenagers and families, they’re a must for any small child.

We took one out on the Perfume River, pootling around as twilight turned to night, cruising up to a wedding party on a dragon boat, skirting bridges, admiring the clash of neon signage and traditional houseboats, the stream of motos racing across the bridge, the light on the water, the big boats ambling past, the fairylit cafes on the bank.

Z loved it. I did too. I won’t comment on his steering.

So it’s a pleasant signoff to what’s been a slightly wearing couple of days, and a nice way to celebrate International Women’s Day, which functions in this firmly Socialist state like Mother’s Day, a time for flowers and family, with kids parades thrown in.

We even managed to walk for five whole minutes without a sales pitch for a moto or a cyclo (pedal-powered rickshaw). I’ll chalk that one up to International Women’s Day, too, and give our dear departed Clara Zetskin a giant vote of thanks.