Hanoi, one of the most interesting & delicious Cities in the World!
I was lucky to be in the city on a Sunday. I walked around the lake and many locals were doing the same. People watching has become a hobby of mine and I enjoy seeing how people love to spend their day off.
The Ngoc Son Temple is located on this lake. It's definitely worth a walk around to learn about the giant turtles that once lived in the lake. There are only 6 of these turtles left in the world.
If you want to experience the train passing through the narrow streets of Hanoi, you should order a drink at of the cafes along the tracks I went for a delicious coconut coffee and then it was time to watch the train go by. This is the time table
Monday-Friday: 7.00; 19.45; 21.30; 22.00
Weekend: 6.00; 9.00; 11.20; 15.20; 17.30; 19.00; 19.45; 20.30; 21.00; 23.00
Next up we passed by dog being sold on the street, street murals, the Hang Dau Water Tank and eventually reaching the Long Bien Bridge. The guide really felt like this was the Eiffel tower of Hanoi, but I’ll leave that to you to decide. After too much time walking over this bridge we finally arrived at the Đồng Xuân Market. This is one of the biggest markets in the city where you can find pretty much anything you can think of.
The Note Cafe, What’s in a name? This cafe is a nice place to grab a drink while reading some of the sticky notes that travellers have put up here. Some are deep, others funny, but all of them together make for a very colorful decor. What would be on your sticky note?
Then it was time to head into the theatre for a very traditional Vietnamese show. Water puppetry originated in Northern Vietnam around the 1th century. In Hanoi you can attend one of the shows telling stories of Viatnamese folklore and legends. Accompanied by Vietnamese musical instruments and some actors, it is really an unforgettable experience.
Hoa Lo Prison is one of the best examples of the gruesome past of Vietnamese history. The "Hanoi Hilton” displays and educates on the sufferings of the Vietnamese fighters for independence against the occupying French government during the early 20th century. You get a glimpse into the prison, where cruelties were happening less than 100 years ago. It was brought back into use during the Vietnam War against the Americans as well.
Every hour on the hour you can witness the changing of the guard at the tomb of Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh was the was the Vietnamese communist revolutionary who was at the head of Vietnam's victory against the United States. You can learn more about him at the museum near the tomb. The presidential palace is located on this square as well.
Nearby is the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, which was in use during the 11th century. During the French colonial era, the royal palaces and most of the structures were severely damaged. However, it's still worth a visit today. The dragon steps are iconic.
Best Food in Hanoi
We definitely worked up an appetite on our walking tour, so we headed to Bahn mi hoi An for our first Bahn Mi. These were so good that we came back every day here. Next up the girls tried their first egg coffee which they thoroughly enjoyed, but I had one a bit later at the most popular place in town, called Cafe Giảng.
The next morning we joined the many locals on the street having a coffee at Cafe Ta Hien. This was the best salt coffee I’ve ever had and I think back to it every day. It's always a guaranteed success if you you pick a place that's full of locals every day.
To accompany it I walked to King Roti for a delicious fresh sweet stuffed bun. In the evening we saw so many locals gather to have a very strange looking desert. However, we were on our way to try some good Pho that was recommended to us next door. It was so good!
Around the City
I went on an artisan villages tour around Hanoi. I went for an AirBnb experience. In this village we could witness the entire process of the incense making. From splitting the sticks, to dying them and adding on the incense. Not only do they smell great, but they also create a very picturesque backdrop for instagram pictures. This place was like an instagram photoshoot set.
At the next village we went on a quick walk through the town with our guide before learning how the typical Vietnamese conical hats are made. After some information, we had an amazing home cooked lunch first before being put to work. Each one of us got to paint a conical hat to take home, while the lady of the house demonstrated how the silk covered ones are made.
Then we had one last stop on the agenda: a studio where they make traditional Vietnamese lacquerware. They cover a base of wood or ceramics with egg shell and other materials, finishing it off with the lacquer resulting in beautiful traditional art.
Bat Trang Ceramic Village is a small village about 13 kilometers south east of Hanoi. The village has been producing ceramics and potteries for over six hundreds of years. You can learn all about it at the Museum of Bet Trang Ceramic. If you feel like getting your hands dirty yourself, then definitely sign up for a workshop here.
The home for unique & authentic travel
