What I did in Hanoi
At the end of January/ beginning of February I had my last vacation of the school year before I returned to the U.S. My friends and I had a lengthy discussion about where we should visit, but a plane ticket to Hanoi, Vietnam was too cheap to pass up. So it became our destination, and it honestly surprised me because I didn’t think I’d love it as much as I did. The trip was way too short, and I know now that I definitely want to return sometime in the future. Out of everywhere I’ve travelled in Asia, so far Hanoi is the most different, but quite charming. Here are the activities and spots I’d recommend to anyone wanting to venture to Hanoi.
I believe it’s mandatory to go on a food tour if you head to a foreign city. Tour guides are friendly and tend to be sensitive to food allergies or restrictions. I have enjoyed every food tour I signed up for, but they can be hit or miss. The Secret Food Tours itinerary, however, was highly appealing, and only fell short in one area: the banh mis. My travel mates and I agreed that the banh mis were too sweet, and not the best display of flavors a banh mi usually has to offer. I LOVE banh mis. I’d probably go as far as say they are one of my favorite sandwiches, but that means I have high standards for them. Fortunately, later on we found some banh mis up to snuff at Hoi An Bami Bread.
Food/drinks from this food tour:
papaya and dried meat salad
pho
banh cuon (meat stuffed rice pancakes)
bun cha
banh mi
egg coffee- LIFE CHANGING
bia hoi (street beer. Super cheap, super sketchy, super awesome)
Located in the Old Quarter, Ngoc Son Temple offers a slice of peace from the bustling city. There is a story that accompanies its origins which recounts a legend of an emperor who was gifted a magical sword to defeat the Chinese Ming Dynasty invasion. Once defeated, the emperor returned the sword to the lake, which prompted the return of a Golden Turtle God (for more information check the link above). A pretty neat backstory if you ask me.
*There is a small fee to get into the temple grounds. *
If you are interested in experiencing the traditional Vietnamese art form of water puppets, the Thang Long Theater is a popular destination. A show is one hour and comprised of several short stories. Live music and some singing or exposition in Vietnamese accompanies each story. It’s kind of funny, but if you aren’t familiar with the stories, then they can be hard to follow. The admission is roughly $4.50 (about 104,000VND).
Hitting up a jazz club has been on my itinerary for the last few vacations. It’s another way to relax while getting a feel for the city you’re visiting. The classically warm beats of jazz music are welcoming no matter where you are in the world. The music here was great, and there are plenty of alcoholic drinks to choose from if that’s what you like. I don’t remember seeing a menu for food, although we did get some cheese and nuts, but I am not sure it was worth it. To sit back and enjoy the music I think the staff expects you to order something though, otherwise there is no admission price.
Live music starts after 21:00*
Train street is a popular destination for tourists, but there actually isn’t a whole lot to do except be impressed by how close the buildings bordering the tracks are. To be fair, we found a cafe with egg coffee <3 and some banh mis. Some of the walls of businesses are brightly painted, which makes for great photo opportunities. A train does in fact run through this area, which means you’ll have to plaster yourself to a wall so as to not get hit. Since train street is really in more than one location, I can’t pinpoint an exact time for when the train comes through any given area.
If you want to go inside the actual mausoleum, it is open from 7:30-11:00AM. After that you are free to tour the grounds but not allowed inside. If you decide to enter, you must dress modestly, covering your shoulders and knees. I also hear that the line can get pretty long, so plan accordingly. There is also a security checkpoint for any bags you have on you whether you are touring inside or outside. The best part though, it’s free! We did not make it in time to see inside, but I’m sure it would have been really interesting. Oh, and this is the actual place where Ho Chi Minh himself is buried.
Pretty much on the same green space as Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, this small temple is worth checking out if you are already at the Mausoleum. There are some comical drawings illustrating what happens if you commit different sins. Sadly, I don’t have any photos of them. If you enjoy exploring temple grounds (like me), just want to take a quiet walk, do some light shopping, or simply admire the architecture, you can do all of those things right here! *Since it is a temple though, going inside buildings requires you to cover legs and possibly shoulders.
Inside this French architectural building is a diverse collection of Vietnamese art. It houses ancient to modern pieces ranging from statues to paintings. I’ve included my favorite pieces right here, which happen to be paintings because I am a painter myself. What struck me with some of the pieces from the 20th century was the liberal use of the color red. Red carries a lot of weight, often becoming a symbol or strategic choice because of its bold hue. Vietnam was and still is a communist state, so I inferred that this could be the reason for the color choice. But it can also signify strength, passion, and anger (among other things), creating an intense dichotomy with the more serene subject matters.
I would highly recommend this museum, as I find its diversity and subject matter intriguing from an artist’s perspective. Of course, it’s for everyone, and there is a lovely cafe/gift shop right on the premises as well.
Cost: 40,000VND (USD$1.70)
Hours: 8:30-17:00
Amidst the traffic and lively city is The Temple of Literature: A peaceful reprieve from an exciting trip. Open from 7:30-18:00, and only about USD$1 (10,000VND) to get inside, it’s well worth a visit if you’ve already traversed to The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum or the National Fine Arts Museum. Once a prodigious university for scholars, this significant cultural landmark is rich with Vietnamese history. The Temple of Literature is dedicated to Confucius himself, and has become a memorial to learning. Grab a book or some homework and go check it out!
The Lotte Center is a multipurpose building with an observation deck on the 65th floor. If you like tall buildings and seeing the city from a bird’s eye view, this is a great place to do so. It’s US$10 (VND230,000*) normally, but from 8:30-10:30AM and 22:00-23:00 the cost is only US$5. When we made it to the top the extent of pollution was apparent from the haze spread over the buildings. Still, it’s worth a breather from the bustling Old Quarter (you’ll need to take a cab to get there). Also, there are two areas with glass floors, which is currently trendy. Just be sure to take off your shoes.
*Price is approximate