The allure of the Vietnamese capital lies in the character of its vibrant streets, colonial architecture and rich culture! We would say Hanoi is a gfeast for all senses!
We sent almost 2 weeks wondering in Vietnam, Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), frstly we ll present to you the capital of Vitetnam! Meet Hanoi!
Hanoi is one of the oldest and most interesting cities in the world, at least we believe so, Its ancient pagodas, sprawling public parks, colonial buildings and boulevards make what we call the city’s history. Long ruled by China, more than six decades of French colonisation and of course struggled for the unified Vietnam.
Life in Hanoi moves at a slower pace than in Ho Chi Minh City HCMC which is located southest. The city still owns its charming old streets, and retains its age old charisma! Everywhere you can find those street peddlers in non la, the conical hats we all know, navigate the city on bicycles carrying oversized cargos of fresh flowers and fruits, food vendorssell steaming hot oho, rice noodle broth on every street corner.
80% of vehicles in Hanoi are motorbikes, and it will certainly overwhelm you at first. Crossing the street is like…we cant really describe it guys! and it doesn’t help that there are no street lanes!! My best piece of advice is to always walk the same pace when crossing the road, and the drivers will go around you. If you slow down or speed up, then you might be in trouble…
Hanoi may be an old settlement but it ofeers new experiences as underground acts and jazz bars. Also you can find museums of history, art and culture of Vietnam! Some of the main attractions are, the Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, the lake, the Turtle tower, the town of Sapa and of course Ha Long Bay!
Ha Long Bay... is a UNESCO world heritage listed site and one of the 7 wonders, you can just take a full day trip to explore this amazing and spectacular vew! Towering limestone pillars and tiny islets topped by forest rise from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1994, Halong Bay’s scatter of islands, dotted with wind- and wave-eroded grottoes, is a vision of ethereal beauty and, unsurprisingly, northern Vietnam’s number one-tourism hub. Dont forget to check out the symbol of Ha Long Bay, Kissing Rocks!
Street Food is available everywhere and we recommend eating as much as possible! However, some tourists get food poisoning because of the water, so always make sure to drink bottled water and only eat fruit that you peel yourself. Avoid the women on the street trying to sell you doughnuts or pre-cut pineapples, because they probably used a dirty knife and/or they have been sitting there for days.
To do: Watch Thang Long Water Puppet Show, its an age old artform that originated in the flooded paddy fields of North Vietnam! Accompanied by a traditional orchestra, master pupeteers in waist deep water manoeuvre colourful puppets to tel enchanting Vietnamese folk tales!
