Hanoi – My Introduction to Vietnam

Wow. Hanoi. Wow. My (DW) first time to Vietnam so I had no idea what to expect and I must say it’s turning out to be a unique and wonderful place.

Looking out to Hoan Kiem Lake in the Old Quarter of Hanoi

We arrived via plane in the late evening. Thankfully we pre-booked our airport transfer through the hotel at a cost of 15 US dollars and a duration of 45 minutes. I would recommend anyone coming to Hanoi to pre-book your arrival transportation for two reasons, the first is that it’s nice and convenient to have the driver waiting for you, the second is that there are quite a few running airport scams which could involve a taxi taking you to the wrong hotel or not using the meter and demanding more money at the end of the ride.

We stayed at the Heart Hotel Hanoi which has a great location right next to Hoan Kiem Lake in the Old Quarter.  The room was okay and the location good but I personally would not stay here again. The price, about 40 US a night, seemed quite a bit more than nearby hotels. Also the shower was a terrible design and tended to leak everywhere.

The Old Quarter of Hanoi is an assault on your senses, non-stop blaring horns keep your ears busy all day and night, street food vendors keep your nose and taste buds busy, an endless amount of shopping gives you plenty to look at and walking across a busy street will ensure your nerves are in working order. Crossing the street was a bit hectic at first but is best done slow and steady so the motorbikes (coming from every direction) dodge you accordingly.

Vietnam Telecom hard at work. 

A photo can't do justice to the madness that are the streets of Hanoi.  Right of way might be decided by who can honk the most or loudest. Lights are often ignored and one way streets are open to interpretation.

While in Hanoi we did quite a bit of shopping where the streets are organized by what they sell, for example we spent quite a bit of time on a street that sells silk item, a street that sells eyeglasses, a street that sells paintings and a street that sells wood products. We also saw some temples, the best being The Temple of Literature where we spent a warm afternoon outside. Last and not least we ate some really good food. I'm sure we'll be writing more about Vietnamese cuisine in future posts.

Roaming around the Temple of Literature

See all of our photos from Hanoi: https://picasaweb.google.com/117257906652666550268/Hanoi?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Cheers for Now –

Pamela and Dave