The Little Hanoi: Things to do in Hanoi

This is the first time I celebrated my Chinese New Year overseas. I stayed for 4D3N in Hanoi, Vietnam. I set off on 18 February and returned on 21st. Vietnam is in winter-to-spring transition so the weather is perfect for travelling. Chill breeze and no scorching sun. The lowest degree I experienced was 19 degree at Halong Bay and highest 23 degree. I've been longing to visit Vietnam due to their superb natural scenery and their mysterious historic heritages. Actually I think Chinese New Year is a very good timing to explore this tradition culture in other countries who celebrate it as well.

This time I went with a tour instead of self-travelling. I don't really like travelling with tour frankly. You don't get to enjoy and slowly explore their culture because the schedule is fixed. I don't get to take many beautiful photos because we were in hurry most of the time. But I recommend you to get an experienced tour guide at the airport if you are travelling alone or with your friends or family. Tour guide can help you to understand their culture more in depth while you visiting some places. If you are wondering do Vietnamese speak English, they do speak very superficial English. Bare in mind, very superficial one. You have the guess the rest ;) This is how I survived for 4D3N in Vietnam because I couldn't understand what my Vietnamese tour guide saying and neither could he understand my language. My Vietnamese tour guide didn't really explain much to us. I think Google did a better job than him. So get an experienced one.

Vietnamese also celebrate Chinese New Year. Not much cultural differences I would say. But I noticed they used colourful lanterns instead of only the red ones you see in Malaysia. They have spring couplet written in Chinese too! Their public holiday for Chinese New Year is 5 days according to what our tour guide told us. Majority of them are Buddhist, so you will see many people praying at temples during Chinese New Year.

Now, let's start with my itinerary at Hanoi!

Day 1

We didn't do much on the first day. Our flight supposed to be on 1145 but the flight was delayed for 2 hours so by the time we reached Hanoi was already 1530 (GMT+7). Total flight duration was around 3 hours. After we checked into hotel, we went for dinner straight after that.

Fluffy clouds is love.

The bridge you will see on the way to the airport. Vietnam is one of the countries who drives on the right (driver seat on left).

Majority drives motorbike there.

My hotel on the first night: Gondola hotel. Not bad. Clean and cozy room.

Their plug type is different from Malaysia. You need an adapter.

Do you notice their buildings all look tall and thin?

View from my hotel.

These cute dogs are tied outside the restaurant because no pets are allowed.

Day 2: Hanoi + Halong Bay

1. Hoàn Kiếm Lake (Lake of Restoring Sword)
This lake had a story behind. It's about a prince restoring a word to a golden turtle. Hoan Kiem sounds resemble to 还剑 in Chinese. That's how the name of Hoan Kiem Lake arises. You can read the story on internet.

This is Hoan Kiem Lake.

Don't ask me what it says.

Found a vending machine beside the lake.

See how this tree grows horizontally on the lake. Its' anti-gravity power is wow!

A dead fish was found. The lake is actually quite dirty. The act of uncivilised humans causing the death of aquatic life.

You can actually see people jogging and playing tai chi beside the lake early in the morning.

2. Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of Jade Mountain)
Address: Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

The entrance to the temple at Hoan Kiem Lake.

Entrance ticket to the temple is required. But I'm not sure about the price.

The red bridge on the lake.

Such a beautiful view.

I saw this kind of flag at most of the temples.

Prayer performance.

Exit.

I only saw this kind of building in Chinese historical drama. Never thought I could see it in real life. Such an amazing art work. I guess this is a souvenir shops. I didn't walk into it as I was rushing for next destination.

Outside the temple, various transportation are available. Three-wheeled steed is one the kind.

We chose this buggy as there were 5 of us.

The driver brought us around the Old Quarter. Hoan Kiem Lake is located at an area in Hanoi called Old Qaurter. Due to Chinese New Year, many of the shops were still closed. The crowd wasn't there but you can always see backpackers around.

The one and only Mcdonald's in Old Quarter. Too sad I didn't have the time to try out their McD.

5 levels of shop lot which you don't see it in Malaysia. Their lands are expensive so they have to build it higher instead of expanding it.

The mini KFC in Hanoi! If you are a big size person, you might have difficulty walking inside the restaurant. This KFC has 2 levels. You order on the ground floor and pick up your food on the second floor.

Their KFC menu.

See how narrow their shop is. Dine in upstairs. I doubt they have enough space for tables and chairs.

We often complained about Malaysian drivers' attitude of double parking but here, they even triple park hahahaha. I felt a little grateful when I saw this outside KFC. At least this hasn't occur in Malaysia yet.

3. Temple of Literature

Address: Hồ Giám, Văn Miếu, Đống Đa, Hà Nội, Vietnam

This is a temple of Confucius. This temple hosts the Imperial Acedemy, Vietnam's first national university.

The road name of this temple.

As usual, you need entrance ticket ;) Price not known as it was bought by our Vietnamese tour guide.

Entrance ticket selling counter.

Oh my, see the huge crowd.

Kapsida! ('let's go' in Korean)

'无字碑' which means a monument with no characters on it. According to the dramas I watched, certain method has to be used to revealed the characters on it. But I'm not sure whether it works in real life.

Flowers are seen everywhere in Vietnam. Lovely!

Crowds everywhere.

Students believe getting blessings from the elders in a new year can ace in exam. Elders sending blessing to the youngsters by writing their wishes on a red paper.

The trees here are really unique in a way. I guess it has been here for over 100 years or more.

Another subtemple inside.

These are actually the magnified version of Chinese chess.

The area in front of the temple is used for examination.

Notice the lines on the floor? These are exactly the same as the lines on Chinese chess board but are the magnified ones. You can play Chinese Chess on the floor now!

Peach flowers are everywhere in Vietnam because spring is coming! I suddenly realized one thing. I finally understood why people use spring day and peach flower interchangeably to describe one with new relationship. Aha!

Entering another subtemple.

Blessings for good luck in academic.

The replica of the whole temple. The temple is actually expansive. Ancient architecture was amazing.

Chinese lantern.

I don't know why people throwing coins onto the roof.

Artifacts.

They believe by writing their names on the red wall can score better in exams. In Chinese we say '金榜题名'.

According to some documentary I've watched, they talked about how ancient Chinese architectures can resist high magnitude earthquake by taking the example of China Forbidden City. Their technique to build the roof is one of the reasons behind. You can watch if you are interested too.

Once the time for exam is up, they will hit this drum to alarm the students.

The old man is the one who has written all those calligraphies hanging on the wall.

After this, we went to Halong Bay by van. The whole journey from Hanoi to Halong Bay took us 4 hours plus. It was really a pain in my gluteal muscles. I will post about Halong Bay in my next blog post. Stay tuned!

Day 3: Halong Bay + Hanoi

I will save Halong Bay for the next. Let's continue with my Hanoi itinerary :)

By the time we returned to Hanoi from Halong Bay was 1545 (GMT+7). We checked into the same hotel again (Gondola Hotel) and headed to our next destination.

1. Lotus Water Puppet Theater

Address: 16 Lê Thái Tổ, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Water puppet show is one of the Vietnamese culture.

Entrance ticket is needed too ;)

I forgot to take an English one, sorry. It's about the flow of the puppet show. It took about 50 mins for one show.

The performance stage. The puppets are actually performed on water. Similar to our shadow puppet show but this one is using water instead of light.

Fairies dance.

After water puppet show, we headed to our best dinner of the whole trip.

2. Restaurant Sen

Address: 614 Lạc Long Quân, Nhật Tân, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội, Vietnam

It is a must try in Hanoi. They served varieties of food. From local Vietnamese food to Japanese food and Western food. The price is around RM100+ per pax. I seldom have buffet as it is a waste of money as I don't eat much.

Frankly speaking, the table is too small for 5 of us.

Salad station.

Place to get all your Japanese food cravings fixed.

Oishii~

She was making the spring roll wrappers.

Vietnamese sweet potato cakes.

The famous Pho in Vietnam. It is similar to the kuey teow in Malaysia but this one tasted much more better. They have beef and chicken option. It is a must try in Vietnam.

Vietnamese spring roll. Erm it just tasted so so to me. Their food are relatively dry compared to Malaysian food. (I actually miss Malaysia food when I was there)

Vietnamese pancake. Weird taste it had.

Desserts are still acceptable.

Outside the restaurant was a really beautiful night view. They have live band too.

The tables and chairs used are relatively small and short compared to what we using in Malaysia. This is their street food culture. The food they sell are usually pho or other kind of noodles. This stall was relatively clean compared to other stalls I saw along the street in Hanoi.

Day 4

1. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Address: Hùng Vương, Điện Biên, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Closed on: Monday and Friday

Opening time: 0730-1100 and 1330-1600 (GMT+7), Summer

0800-1100 and 1330-1600, Winter

Vietnamese really respect Ho Chi Minh. They love him from the bottom of their heart.