We’ve spent the past ten days exploring Hanoi. We came last week, just as our visa in Thailand ran out, and spent the first week exploring the city and finding some really good street food before our good friend, Gwyneth, flew out from the states to meet us.
Here are some of our favorite photo memories from our time in Hanoi, which ends tonight when we hop the night train and head south to Hue.
The Turtle Tower at Hoan Kiem Lake (the lake of the returned sword). Renamed by the Emporer Le Loy after a turtle came up out of the lake and took his magic sword “Heaven’s Will”. This sword had been given to him years earlier by the Golden Turtle God in order to help him during the Vietnamese revolt against the Chinese. He believed the turtle had returned to reclaim his sword.
Bun Cha, a very popular dish in the northern provinces. Bun noodles are served up with greens, herbs, and a bowl of savory broth with bits of carrots, green papaya, char-grilled pork and pork meatballs. Mix it up, spice it up, and enjoy!
Gwyneth enjoying a cup of Nau Da, or iced white vietnamese style coffee. Very strong and very rich! Be prepared to stay up ALL NIGHT if you drink this.
Cyclos waiting on the street. These bicycle rickshaws are very popular in the Old Quarter for taking tourists around. Love the old look and feel of them riding along amidst the chaos of motor scooters and cars.
Kyle trying out a Shoulder Pole, a popular means of selling all sorts of things from fruit to soups, bread, hardware…you name it, you can probably find a Shoulder Pole saleswoman selling it. This lovely pineapple seller offered for us to take photos with hers. “No Charge!” she said. Then promptly sold us several pineapples at more than market value. We didn’t care one bit!
School kids we met outside the Ho Chi Minh Museum. Everywhere we go, school kids say “Hello” and want to stop and talk to us so they can practice their English. They are always so excited when we stop to talk with them and they discover we know a bit of Vietnamese as well. So much energy and joy! Some of our best meet and greets EVER!
Tra Chanh, or lemon tea. It is a custom to sit on little plastic stools on the sidewalk of a cafe here and drink tra chanh while you catch up with your friends and watch the world go by.
Peek at the memorial at Hoa Lo Prison, site of many French atrocities towards the Vietnamese people and now a museum and memorial.
Riding scooters at night on a food tour of Hanoi. We met up with an expat chef (from NM), who took us around Hanoi and gave us some insight into the food culture here. Fun night of eating and talking.
The Huc Bridge, leading across Hoan Kiem Lake to Ngoc Son Temple on Jade Island.
What beautiful pictures….thank you for sharing them…