Experience Hanoi From The Comfort of Your Home
Hanoi is one of those cities that I have great memories of. Such as the city itself, the food, and the total environment.
Hanoi is known for its centuries-old architecture and rich culture with Southeast Asian, Chinese, and French influences.
At its heart, is the chaotic Old Quarter, where the narrow streets are roughly arranged by trade. Such trade like selling street hot Vietnamese noodles, desserts and coffee, and many bargains of clothing from many brands. (Imitation of brands but are in good quality). These trades have to be in designated areas unlike Thailand, you see food and clothing mix together.
In Hanoi city, there are many little temples, including Bach Ma, honoring a legendary horse, plus Đồng Xuân Market, selling household goods and street food.
This video footage I took when I was in Hanoi. It will showcase to you the following:
- The culture
- The people
- The City of Hanoi of the day and the night.
- You are able to see the famous egg coffee and the street food of Hanoi.
During my visit to Hanoi, my husband and I engage a private tour guide. He tours us around and told us the history of Hanoi and the important man himself, Mr. Ho Chi Minh.
According to our Tour guide:
Mr. Ho Chi Minh is the son of a poor country scholar, Nguyen Sinh Sac, Ho Chi Minh was brought up in the village of Kim Lien.
He had a wretched childhood, but between the age of 14 and 18, he was able to study at a grammar school in Hue. He is next known to have been a schoolmaster in Phan Thiet and then was apprenticed at a technical institute in Saigon.
“Taking photos around and inside Mausoleum is strictly prohibited”.
In 1911, under the name of Ba, he found work as a cook on a French steamer. He was a seaman for more than three years, visiting various African ports and the American cities of Boston and New York.
After living in London from 1915 to 1917, he moved to France, where he worked, in turn, as a gardener, sweeper, waiter, photo retoucher, and oven stoker.
His body is shown inside this Mausoleum in the city of Hanoi where guards are everywhere.
According to our tour guide, this car (below image) was a gift to him. This car was used to meet foreign leaders as this is a bulletproof car.
According to our tour guide, this car was Mr. Ho Chi Minh's favorite.
Vietnamese Food
Vietnamese food is delicate. They are delicious in a way that it is not a salty kind of food compare to Filipino or Malay food.
My favorite food is PHO — this is white noodle soup. I guess it can be added with beef or chicken.
There is so much nice food to eat in Vietnam. I cannot imagine how many types of recipes there were I have tried. Our tour guide was very kind to bring us around the city of Hanoi and introduce us to the many types of food. Honesty, I love Vietnamese food.
Of course, we have visited the famous “Obama” place. This is a noodle soup with fried pork.
If you are not allergic to pork, you have to go to this place.
According to our tour guide, this place became famous during the time Mr. Obama and the late Anthony Bourdin met here.
Halong Bay
If you have more time, you must go to Halong Bay.
I have the most interesting experiences in Halong Bay.
My husband and I took a tour package around Halong Bay for a night.
We enter the cruise at around 5 in the late afternoon from the pickup point. There were many others on the boat while it cruises for a while until sunset. We had a luxury room inside the boat with a private bathroom.
Halong Bay is very good for those who want to go on a Honeymoon or celebrate a wedding anniversary.
The boat will stay and dock overnight by the bay. You can enjoy the sunset and the scenic view while other boats cruise around you. But believe me, it was a peaceful environment around us.
Halong Bay is a must to experience if you like to see the formation of the stones by the Bay in Halong.
Tam Coc
We spent 9 days in Hanoi Vietnam. Because we rented a private car with our own tour guide, we were so flexible. We included Tam Coc in our trip as well.
Tam Coc is located in Northern Vietnam
I would highly recommend you include this in your trip since you are already in Hanoi.
In Tam Coc, we stayed at Ninh Binh Charming Hotel. The hotel is decent and in a great location too.
Upon arrival, we did not waste any time, we head down to the terminal where the small tin or the rowing boats was waiting for tourists.
I was speechless, mesmerized by the beautiful Tam Coc. We were floating and cruising to the spectacular landscape.
There were a few caves within the Tam Coc river, I think at least 3 caves we went in. It was just amazing.
It is beautiful to see the carves that were created by the wave of the water.
As we approach the caves, it gets darker and darker, and so suddenly, you came out into a bright light.
After the rowing boat tour, we head to climb up the long stairs to see the Mua Caves. They call it Mother Dragon being placed on the top of the sharp stone
It was windy at the time we were there, but for the sake of a picture, we have to risk a little of our life.
It was another picturesque view from the top of Mua Caves.
From here, you will see Tam Coc River.
Pu Long
Pu Luong is a natural conservation center. It has an abundance of flowers and water wheels system. The total area of 17,600 hectares.
This reservation center consists of 3 kinds of forestry.
- Plain (Rice Fields)
- Forest
- Mountainous land with bamboo trees.
During Our Journey, we are welcome with MONG and White Thai people.
In Pu Loung, the ethnic minorities of Mong and White Thai which have been living in harmony since thousand of years ago.
We visited the giant water wheels and getting to know the rice fields. Explain by our talented Tour Guide.
Our trip to Pulong by the river was a great experience. You can experience the Buffalo and children swimming together. It is a very calming and relaxing experience for us.
I also got to use the long bamboo to pedal the charming river.
After the river tour, we head back to the Lodge.
The place where we at in Pu Luong is a huge room that can fit 20 family members I guess.
What unique in this room is the use of all-natural resources.
In Pu Long, where we stayed, the house owners provide all-natural food which they planted themselves in the village. That is what we called a self-sufficient community.
The Take-Away
Traveling in Hanoi and going to the north and other parts of the villages is such a great experience if you have the time.
If you have the money to spend, go for a private tour guide for you to learn more about the area.
The best way to spend your time is with the villagers.
If you are on a budget, you can rent a motorbike in Hanoi.
My husband did a 2 weeks motorbike tour with his other 3 friends and he came back happy.
Elvie Lins is a Singapore-based photographer. An educator, motivator to others. Covering articles related to true-to-life experiences. Create travel videos to be able to share her experiences that may provide and inspired others to do better in life.
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