Hanoi

Backpacking Vietnam: Day 001 and 002 (23,24 July 2019)

Hanoi

During my first semester break in February, I had visited Cambodia. During this trip, I had met travellers who had been exploring all of Southeast Asia. I must have heard of backpacking in Vietnam then and since they offered e-visa to Indians, it was an easy destination to pick for my next semester break. After my second semester, I had a month long break. I decided to head east again. For more details on formalities and travel guide, please refer to my Travel blog. 

I landed in Hanoi on the 23rd of July 2019. I took a shuttle bus from airport to the hostel in town. Apart from booking the Hanoi culture hostel for two nights, I had not done any research on this country. I did not even know what places to visit. But, that is how I like it. In the hostel, I met a few travellers who spoke to me of how they have been traveling. This gives you an idea on the route most backpackers take in SE Asia. That is how I like traveling - Make plans as I go along. 

After settling down at the hostel, I took a stroll along the neighbourhood. Hanoi seemed like a blend of modernity and the ancient past. On one end there were shops selling latest electronic goods and on the other, you would find women wearing Nón lá (headgear made of palm leaves or bamboo), selling fruits and vegetables on two traditional bamboo baskets tied to a pole, so as to, balance over the shoulder. 

I walked to Hoan Kiem Lake at the city centre. It was peaceful out there. There are small buddhist temples around the lake. In a park nearby, children were skating. 

I stopped at Banh Mi 25 to have my first Banh Mi in Vietnam. I had a vegetarian one and it taste so good. I also tried a cream bun which was tasty too. 

At night I headed back to the lake and sat there for a while. Two men from Bangladesh spoke to me. 

Having got a feel for the city, next morning, I set out to explore Hanoi. I visited the temple of literature which is one of the ancient universities in the country. 

I next visited the famous one pillar Pagoda. Here, school kids were having a en plein air art session. It was refreshing to see that in the times were kids are trained to become engineers and doctors from an early age, art is being promoted here. 

I visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Presidential palace. 

I next headed to the West Lake. On the way, I met a fruit seller whom I had seen the earlier that day near hostel. She recognised me and smiled. I bought some fruits and requested her to hand over the basket to me so that I could take a picture holding it. She took off her hat and put it on my head. 

At one end of the West lake is Trấn Quốc Pagoda. It is impressive. 

For lunch, I tried a very nice restaurant, run by a family.  I tried their Chả Giò or Nem Rán  (Fried veg spring rolls). It was delicious. 

I walked along the French quarters and observed the colonial era architecture. There are a few museums here which I chose to skip. 

For dinner, I went back to the same family owned restaurant where I had had my lunch. I tried Dau Sot Ca Chua  (Rice noodles with Tofu curry). It was very tasty. I also tried egg coffee which surprisingly is very creamy and delicious. The egg white is added and whisked along with the coffee decoction. 

I had the option of watching Water puppet show that evening but many travellers I met told me that it wasn’t good. So, I skipped it. 

After dinner, I took a stroll along the neighbouring streets. By the road, many shops sell fruit juices. I tried a Mango smoothie. Short stools are placed on the pavement to sit. Locals love coming in large groups, along with their friends and family and sit on the pavement, sipping on a beer or a smoothie and chat until late night. 

I loved my stay in Hanoi. It was a good introduction to the country. But, it was time to move and I had made other plans. I had booked a bus ticket to Sapa next morning. 

To Be Continued...