hanoi, vietnam

Greeting us on the way to our guesthouse is the honking of the cars. What a music to our ears. Later, during our stays in Hanoi, it serves as our lullaby at night as well. Driving in Hanoi is definitely adventurous as there is countless time we fear for the car to ‘kiss’ or ‘molest’ others.

Motorcycles are a lot, a LOT. Everywhere regardless on the street or road, they are THERE. They carry not only people but stuffs your mouth would become O when you see it.

Traffic in Hanoi streets is a chaos. It’s scary the first moment you step on the street. We even get close to the locals or people who are crossing the roads as shields to cross together.

There is only one rule to cross the road. Step your foot forward and walk. NEVER ever retreat or step back. Don’t bother to look at the cars or bikes (occasionally must also look). Or the honk. They will watch out and avoid you.

It might seem intimidating at first but once you got the gist, crossing Hanoi roads is a breeze. You might even get addicted in crossing the roads.

We arrive in the late afternoon due to delayed flight. Weather reported to be around 16 to 18 Celsius. However, we feel comfortably warm just in shirt and pants. The locals are dressed in layers. We are sweating for them.

Vietnam is an hour behind Malaysia. We change some Vietnam dongs with our guesthouse. The exchange rate is USD 1 = VND18 000.

The beautiful Hoan Kiem lake in its sunset mode.

The crowds are waiting for the turtle to emerge with the sword.

Mobile vendors are everywhere, balancing the scale, selling everything from fruits to vegetables.

The man is carving epitaph on the tombstone.

Our want to miss also cannot miss dinner, the famous Cha Ca La Vong a.k.a. the grilled fish though it is more like the fried fish. They serve only one dish, you know what. VND 100 000 per person not including drinks and towels.

It comes with vermicelli, peanuts, sauce and some kinds of greens. It is quite oily with mild taste. Not bad, actually. However, once is enough for lucyriver.

We take a taxi to go to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. The fare from our guesthouse is VND 40 000.

We do not go into the mausoleum as we presume that Uncle Ho has still not returned yet from overseas. Many people are queuing to go in until we are thinking perhaps he has come back? To go in, we need to go through the security check. No camera is allowed in the mausoleum.

Some police or military guards, lucyriver have no idea, guarding the front field of the mausoleum. DO walk in from here. It is quite challenging and adventurous too.

We encounter little kids on their field trip. They are so cute and become the attention of the day with lots of snapping and flashing of the camera lights.

Later, we went to the One Pillar Pagoda which is behind the mausoleum. Nevertheless, we still cannot find the stilt house even after several inquiries. The locals’ English is limited unlike those working in the tourism.

Next, we proceed to the Army Museum, VND 20 000 and the Literature Temple (Van Mieu), VND 10 000. Both need entrance fee and a bit of walking.

We encounter some graduates taking graduation photos at the temple, dressed in their graduation gowns.

Inscriptions of successful scholars' names on the monuments carried by the turtles on the back. Hehehe...

Two beautiful and graceful ladies wearing the 'ao dai', the traditional dress for women.

St. Joseph Cathedral

There are several water puppet shows from afternoon till night. The theatre is located near the Hoan Kiem lake. We bought ordinary seats, VND 40 000 per ticket.

The show is full house. Lucyriver only manage to snap this opening music performance. More than half of the time, the show is less than an hour, lucyriver am dozing off.

What a waste of ticket! Perhaps it’s afternoon or perhaps it’s really tired. Or perhaps the whole show is in Vietnamese.

We stay at Hanoi Guesthouse for three nights. The triple room is USD 21. The pick up and send off (airport) is USD 18.

On the last night, they move us to Hanoi Lakeside Hotel as the guesthouse is full. It is quieter, nearer to the lake and also has many eateries along the street. The price of the room is still the same.

Sylviaorange books the guesthouse through internet. We also take Halong Bay and Sapa package from them. Halong Bay day trip, USD 22 and Sapa 4 days 3 nights + Bac Ha Market (Sunday), USD 104.

Breakfast is included. French bread or beef/chicken noodle (pho).

When we go to Sapa, we leave some of our bags with them. If necessary, they will also let you use their empty room to bath after check out.

The staff are friendly and will provide you with a map and advice.

Travel Itinerary

Nov 24, Tues – Hanoi

Nov 25, Wed – Halong Bay day trip

Nov 26, Thurs – Hanoi, Water Puppet Show, Sapa night train

Nov 27, Fri – Sapa Trekking and Homestay

Nov 28, Sat – Sapa Trekking and Hotelstay

Nov 29, Sun – Bac Ha Market, Hanoi night train

Nov 30, Mon – Hanoi

Dec 1, Tues – Hanoi

Lucyriver say:

The locals, especially the seller, would be saying one price but later when paying quoting another price (higher). We once walk away from a seller and the food that we have ordered when the price is not what we expected. Bargain is a must no matter if the seller says no discount. There will always be discount as there are many others selling the same things.

On the streets, if you are stopping to read the map, men will approach you to ride on their cyclos.

Mostly when you ask the locals the direction, they will do their best to tell/direct you.

Be alert when standing on the pavement. It is their motorcycle parking space.

In Hanoi streets, there are ‘talking trees’.

Some locals may not want their pictures to be taken. We snap and walk away.