Walking around Hoan Kiem Lake or discovering the city by bus are only two out of ten things you need to do when you choose Hanoi as your destination.
Below are ten memorable experiences of tourists coming to Hanoi.
1. Visit the market early
The Quang Ba market and Long Bien wholesale market are the two places you should pay a visit when coming to Hanoi. Those are open almost all the night with the main products as flowers and food. Not only vendors or buyers are present here, but also many tourists who are seeking for a different aspect of the unique culture in Hanoi.
2. Walking matutinal around the Hoan Kiem Lake
“Lake of the returned sword”
Triston Yeo, a famous fotographer who identifies himself with Vietnam once pointed the “Lake of the returned sword” as the best thing in his visit here. You can not only contemplate the tender and fond beauty of the nature, but also the daily activities of the Hanoian like doing physical exercises, either in sommer or winter. You can stroll along the lakeside to enjoy the fresh air or just relax on a bench to observe or even participate in the nourish practices, aerobic,…
3. Eating street foods
Fried nem chua - one of the street food favorite in Hanoi
Hanoi is well-known with its peddled wares and restaurants on the street. Whoever arriving here will be surprised of all the kinds of foods being sold here, from the bowl Pho morish Vietnamese taste to fast foods like fried sour roll, mozzarella sticks, cane juice or even those dishes that made the name of the ancient capital like Banh Cuon Thanh Tri or Bun Cha… No matter in which season you come here, there should always be a wide selection of delicious dishes waiting for you, just be shrewd to choose for yourself these for the right season to experience the complete culinary of Hanoi in the street stalls.
4. Contemplating Hanoi from the height
If you come to Hanoi, do not forget to choose for yourself an ideal place to contemplate the city from the height. It may not be a new way, but brings you about some surprising things. Depending on the chosen time and place that you are able to take a look at the city at daytime or in the evening. The advice is to try at both point of time at one location to figure out the difference.
5. Walking around the old quarter
The old quarter of Hanoi has always been an attractive destination for visitors. In spite of the chessboard design, the streets are parallel and perpendicular to each other, it is not always the case that one finds his way out of this “labyrinth.” Walking around the small bustling streets or visiting the souvenir shops deep in the lane should be an interesting experience for every visitor. If you are feeling tired, just look for a coffee shop with a balcony to take a view of the boisterous life beside toy cup of coffee.
6. Watching the sunset at the West Lake
Westlake immerses in sunset
Located at the north of Hanoi, the West Lake is a place quite attractive too many tourists. Many people are coming here to taste the specialties that they could nowhere else find, but there are not a few people to mix with the peaceful atmosphere. In particular, in the afternoon, the West Lake becomes mysterious in an orange color all over to the horizon. You can stop to hold the memories in your pictures.
7. Travel in Hanoi by bus
Besides the scooter and rickshaw, the city bus is another transport that you need to try in Hanoi. The cheap price is not the only reason, but the bus is fascinating also because of the diverse route, passing almost all the popular destinations of Hanoi. With two quite eye-catching colors red and yellow, the city bus is contributing to create a picture of the trip for each person.
8. Participating in the flag lowering ceremony (Le Ha Co) at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
If you cannot wake up early to witness saluting the colours (Le Keo Co), than you still have the chance to participate in the flag lowering ceremony at 9:00 PM in every evening at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. This is a sacred ritual which is awaited by many national and international tourists, even by local people. All the activities are stopped at the time the loudspeaker are announcing that the flag lowering ceremony is coming to a start. The national Flag is lowered by an army of 34 soldiers arriving from the right side of the mausoleum in the music of the song “Bac van cung chung chau hanh quan” (Uncle Ho is still marching along our side). A great number of tourists in Hanoi could not hold their surprise in front of many locals standing solemnly and observing how the flag is little by little lowered.
9. Walking on the Long Bien Bridge
Long Bien Bridge - witnesses to history
It is not merely connecting both sides of the Red river, the Long Bien Bridge is the historical witness of Hanoi, visited by many tourists coming to the capital. This bridge was built in 1898 with 3 lanes, and the middle lane devoted for the train. With an ancient appearance and impression thanks to the architecture, Long Bien Bridge has shown up in many times in the writings of international authors as well as projects of young Vietnamese. Travelling in Hanoi, you should try a walk on this bridge in the morning or late afternoon to guarantee an interesting and unforgettable experience.
10. Discovering Hanoi by night
"Hanoi is probably most beautiful at night"
At daytime, Hanoi is a bustling and boisterous city, but at night it is the totally opposite way. The streets colored with souvenir shops at day are now replaced by silence, the noisy center is now covered by uncommon peace. You can stroll along the streets, the destinations, which just before still busy, to enjoy another atmosphere in your trip to Hanoi
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