Delving Into History: Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi, Vietnam- This tantalizing city is a must-go for people who thirst culture, tradition and undeniably delicious food. Working 9-5 everyday, I'd say traveling is one of the best, well I bet, the best way to break the hard ice. I absolutely dread routine. And wow oh wow this trip spiked the energy and excitement within me! A week after Lawrence's birthday, we were all ready for Hanoi! It was winter and superrr freezing at about four to eight degrees. This place is wet and humid on most days but temperatures drop drastically come January! What a big struggle it was at the beginning for someone who was so used to tropical weather! But why let the weather get in the way of an awesome adventure, right? That was the least of my concerns! It's time to set forth and just get lost in this city whose history is ever living.
Hello from Lawrence and I!
Old Quarter
You might picture old French colonial ruins and such but that's not the idea of it, really. Prepare for surprising finds in this part of the city. In every corner there were small shops selling just about anything...from Knock off designer bags and shoes to souvenirs which took me a long time to make something out of (say, the balancing wooden dragonfly.) Another nice spot you can visit is the famous Hoan Kiem lake. It is a symbolical and special part of Hanoi. I suggest doing some research for you to understand why this is so. If you want to dig in deeper to Hanoian history further, check out Hoa Lo Prison. There you are going to be in total awe of the relics from the France - Vietnam War like the eerie guillotine which was used to behead Vietnamese revolutionaries (iskurryyy!), there are also old prisoner uniforms, some photos of American and Vietnamese prisoners. Visit the room where they slept and see the well - preserved shackles. Get the whole feel of it. You're going to feel sorrow and pity at some point. It's quite creepy especially when you imagine how their life was like way back with the suffering and all but if you like creepy then that shouldn't be a problem. lol We wanted to stay here simply because this is the place to be, especially if you want to be one with the city and its people. I'd say this city has a more refined style than its southern counterpart. The sound of hundreds of scooters going around the city was music to our ears. If you think the Philippines isn't pedestrian friendly, then wait 'til you get here! Nonetheless, Hanoi is the heart and soul of Vietnam.
Heading to our usual breakfast place!
St. Joseph's Cathedral. The oldest church in Hanoi.
Cold and drizzling outside.
A picture of Hoa Lo Prison
The guillotine.
Streets of Hanoi
Now let's talk about food and coffee!
Rice and Pho were omni present. Every bowl of the delicious, flavorful and foodgasmic Pho made us fall in love with Hanoi even more. There are some fast food chains around. That is, if you're into that. Don't expect a lot of those though. Hey, you don't go all the way to Vietnam just to have a burger or some pasta, right? Taste and savor the food. You'll understand exactly why Vietnamese food is so loved around the world! Prepare for a major gastronomic adventure! I've listed down some (of the many) places that'll definitely melt you off your seat.
1. Pho Gia Truyen at 49 Bat Dan : We frequented this place almost every morning during our stay. It's a good idea to go there early because the place is always jam packed with people.
2. Bunbo Nam Bo at 67 Hang Diei. In Hanoi Old Quarter where everything was nearby, including this place. Their dish is one of a kind and a must try. Not your typical Pho for they use sauce instead of the usual traditional broth.
3. Bun Cha Nem Cua Be at 67 Duong Thanh. Also a restaurant in Old Quarter. Shoot. Their food is the bomb. I loved it so much that even as I type now my mouth is watering. haha! If you want to take a break from the noodle soups, this you must visit. Their meal consists of vermicelli noodles, fish sauce, garlic, herbs, leafy greens, chili, crab or shrimp rolls and the oh so juicy and yummy pork slices. Definitely a must try when you're in Hanoi!
Hoan Kiem Lake at 6:00 pm! Look at those red lights!
Cha Ca La Vong after a long walk! It'll take your breath away!
There is a boundless stretch of cafes and noodle houses in just about all streets and you could try each one if you wished! This is a haven for coffee lovers like myself. The crux of what you can visibly see is probably boils down to their deep history, love for food and distinct coffee culture. One by one, we tried the different cafes and well, got high on caffeine. So, these are the two, which I personally, favored among the rest. char!
1. Giang Cafe. Much famous for their egg coffee. I know you have never thought about having egg in your coffee but hey, I must say, it's hella' good. Creamy, sweet and frothy. The egg mixture is poured on top of the coffee and boom! It's coffee heaven! 2. Cong Caphe. There are numerous Cong Caphe branches in Hanoi so you just can't miss this. This is our go to place for whenever we need an energy boost after dinner. They have such cozy and homey ambiance, perfect for super duper cold weather. This is one add on to your list of Vietnamese coffee experience.
Caphe Cong. Warms your heart.
Cafe Giang and the famous egg coffee.
Our new found friends. and it's Zuki's birthday!
Caphe Cong's vintage, Harry Potter-like ambiance.
Reminiscing on the heart melting coffee makes me want to go back. Five months forward and I still can remember the amazing aroma and taste of it. Blissful!!!
Sights and One of the Seven Wonders
Ha long Bay is a prominent tourist spot in Hanoi. You must not miss this astounding place! We booked for Legacy Cruise because : 1. They have good feedback. 2. We don't totally want to scrimp on this experience. It's not that pricey but neither is it cheap. It's above the average and was way more than I expected. and 3. It'll also get you to Bai Tu Long Bay. The coaster picked us up on time and yay for the friendly tour guide. There wasn't a dull moment because he was very talkative and was open to questions.
We were truly blessed with good weather during this part of the trip. Take a look of some of our photos! The guide taught us how to make fresh spring rolls. The people on board were friendly and it is another one added to the bucketlist!
The view from above.
Oh my!
Floating Houses that are soon to be removed by the government to preserve the area.
Bai Tu Long Sunset (on kayak!)
More, please!
Friends from Spain and France :)
Eggshells, A Village, Temple and Some Silk
A day after our two-day cruise we were scheduled to have our tour in Duong Lam ancient village. This place is another must see as it boasts about the ancient houses that date back about 400 years ago. Aside from that, it also has a number of temples. We visited Mong Phu Temple. That and many other temples and houses are well-preserved by the government. Our guide also took us to the Eggshell Lacquer Art Store and I bought some coasters for keeps! What's so special about it is that it takes weeks, even months to finish. Each work of art undergoes such a long process but the end product is elegant and one of a kind! Next is the Van Phuc Silk Village. It cradles the best Vietnamese silk. If you have a love for scarves, here's a good place to buy another one for your collection. :)
Fancy!
At the ancient village's entrance.
Shop owner: Eggshell Art
The nice man who gave me ginger-filled candy.
Inside the Pagoda.
Silk!
Lunch inside the ancient house.
Authentic Vietnamese Wine!
This village girl makes ginger bons :)
Hello handsome!
Art from Egg Shells.
Such a tedious process!
coasters for your collection :)
With the owners of the century-old house.
Wine!
Wished I had a real cam!
What else is there? If you happen to stay in Hanoi for 5 days or so, you can visit Ho Chih Minh's Mausoleum. It's some 3 kms from Old Quarter and there is really no need to get a guide for this. Oh and before I forget, there's a dress code: no shorts, sleeveless tops and etc. This huge block of marble is President HCM's final resting place. Inside lies his pale body inside a class case. Don't break the solemnity and always keep respect. The guards are very strict so you can't stay long inside. Keep the line moving ...or they will remind you to do so. lol (which was what happened to me!) Bags and cameras are a no -no which is exactly why you need to deposit those at the entrance. Just nearby is the Presidential Palace and Stilt House. The latter sits across the Presidential Palace. It is made of wood and is the place where President HCM spent the last years of his life. There's a huge pond a few meters away. Not everybody knows this, but he did love to fish! The vintage cars he used are on display as well. :) Complete the stay with Thang Long Water Puppet Theater, definitely a cultural highlight that was once exclusive to Northern Vietnam but has now gained popularity all over the world. Puppets are maneuvered and supported by rods and perform on water while the puppeteers are behind a bamboo screen (like the ones we have here in the Philippines), remaining unseen. The play is accompanied by Vietnamese Orchestra and the song goes hand in hand with the puppets as they act out the stories. It surely makes you feel like a kid again!
Water Puppet Show!
Shisha with them :)
President HCM's cars.
Outside the presidential palace.
Those are just some of the many things we did during our short stay there. We unexpectedly had an additional day because we TOTALLY MISSED OUR FLIGHT since I forgot about the time) . It was so crazy I can't even....¯\_(⊙︿⊙)_/¯ But I still enjoyed our last day! We cherished the last few hours, happy because we know that we will be coming back to that city very soon. I love everything about Hanoi and I hope you will, too! XX,
