Hanoi i'm in love.

I didn't expect so much when we make a plan to go to Hanoi for new year holiday, all i know i want to see Halong Bay so bad. Since they suffered from a war, i thought Hanoi more or less will be similar to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. Poor and still struggling to build up the country. To my surprised, it wasn't that bad at all. The city is big, clean, famous for their crazy traffic and of course a very good food.

It was winter when we arrived in Hanoi, another thing that i only know few days before we fly. I packed 2 sweaters and few long pants as a precaution, I've been telling myself, how cold it can be isnt it? To my surprise, the weather was between 15-10 degree Celsius  which is freezing cold for a light sweater. I indulge myself with a super quick shopping for one thick coat and a scarf to add on to my layer of clothes.

We took hotel package with An Hung hotel which include trip to Halong bay and Hoa lu for 5D4N. Our hotel located at old quarter which is so close to hanoi night market and shopping area. Night market in hanoi open every friday to sunday from 8pm to midnight. Most people sell clothes here but you also can find pirated DVD, shoes, soft toys, costume jewelery, phone casing and souvenir. Hanoi provide extensive shopping choice in every corner and every street BUT i found it a bit pricey and a bit difficult to bargain since they didn't speak english so well.

 (Look like china women, but it warm me..)

(Nice, cozy and clean)

I really love food in Hanoi, especially their spring rolls. During new year eve dinner, new friends that we met on-board of halong bay cruise suggest we meet up and have dinner together at Hanoi garden restaurant and this is the night where i ate the best fried seafood spring rolls in my life. The taste was so well balanced and juicy without me reaching for chili sauce or mayonnaise. In my opinion, as a muslim i didn't worry about food at all since there's a lot of seafood in Hanoi.

(Spring Rolls)

 (Squid in spicy sauce)

(Lemongrass Prawn)

Our trip to Hanoi already shorten by 2 days tour to halong bay and 1 day to Hoa Lu. We only have one day to see the city since we leave Hanoi at 9am on our last day. After take a short rest upon arriving in the hotel, we decided to see the city on foot. We went to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature and Museum of Ethnology. 

 (One pillar pagoda)

Nothing much here except this remaining structure which survived vietnam war. 

 (Entrance to Temple of Literature) 

 (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum) 

Heard this place is actually tomb and only open from 7.30am to 10.30am

The place where you can learn about vietnamese people. There's 50 different tribe in Vietnam. Its really interesting here since you also can see more than 10 replica of different type of tribe house. 

Walking around hanoi city is really interesting. You can see there's a lot of street vendor selling various food. From seafood, grill chicken leg, noodles soup, sandwich, baguette etc. Typical hanoi house consist of narrow but 3 to 4 storey house. We've been told that its because land in hanoi is very expensive. Traffic in Hanoi is chaos, people honking all the time.

 (Typical house and shop)

(Traffic)

TIPS

~ We've been told that there's a lot of snatch thief. Avoid to use your cell phone on the street. Use sling bag instead of handbag and have it in front of you all the time. 

~ Average traffic speed in hanoi is 14km/h which give them ample time to break. Traffic will come from all around you. All you can do is stop panicking, stay calm n cross the road when you think possible and stop(even in the middle of the road) when you cannot. People will honk all the time so be aware since this signal for you to move from their way. Never run on the busy road since you might not know what coming from right, left, in front and behind of you. 

~ Don't forget your travel adaptor. Hanoi use european adaptor since its colonize by the french. 

~ You can use US dollar here but its easier if you have Vietnamese Dong since its most preferred.