Reasons why you should go to HANOI

Hanoi – the heart of Vietnam, through the history of Vietnam, this city has changed, suffered and been rebuilt. But still there is some things old, some things that you only feel while staying in Hanoi. Long ago, when I met a Japanese man who worked in Saigon and traveled to Hanoi for a business trip, he told me “Sai Gon is friendlier to foreigners, but if you want to learn about Vietnam culture, come to Hanoi”. Wandering around old quarter, seeing streets, buildings, pagodas and local people, crossing crowded streets, and trying the local foods beside “Pho”, those are what you should do to explore the enchanted city.

Hanoi is a charming city mixing of old and new Vietnam culture, of oriental and French colonial architecture styles. The age-old area – Old Quarter is embraced by skyscrapers of business districts, the French colonial buildings stand next to Buddhist pagodas. The Old Quarter is the ancient commercial streets of Hanoi, each street named after original business hundreds years ago. The name has 2 parts: the first work “Hang” which means row or street, the second word is the name of product, such as Hang Bac sells jewelry, gold and silvers (“Bac” means silver, Hang Bac means Street that sells silver goods). Don’t be surprised if you find many coffee houses, bars, restaurants, boutique stores and galleries in this area, it’s a way local folks showcase their cultures, feel free to walk in, admire the beauty of traditional costumes, crafts and art, and ask questions, Hanoians are more than happy to answer you.

Many tourist-favorite attractions are within walking distance from Hanoi Old Quarter: Hoan Kiem Lake, Water Puppet Theater, Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Museums and so on. (I can say that Hanoi is the city of Museums, from old and beautiful Nation Museum to the newest museum that I crossed this morning – Police Museum). Walking around street can be exhausted sometimes, cyclos are available on every street corner, and they will take you for a city tour or from one attraction to another attraction. Some of the cyclo drivers can speak English, they love to tell you about the city and you might realize how much people here love the city.

The city is the home of Vietnam culinary tradition with the harmony of Yin-Yang philosophy. The cuisine relies on the balance of 4 main tastes: sweet, salt, sour and piquancy, and Vietnamese people love to add fresh herb as it is said to be good for their health. Pho is the most famous dish of Vietnam, it is the must-try for any foreign tourists, the second must-try is fresh spring-roll, then Cha ca, Banh My, Bun Cha…The list goes like forever, if you have time, take a food tour and try some local dishes that might never be on any lists, you will be amazed of how delicious they are.

It’s how I feel about Hanoi and I hope after you travel to Hanoi, you will love this city as much as I do.

Image Credit: @Nguyen Tu Thang