A local tending the flower bed at Hoan Kiem Lake |
My recent trip to Vietnam for a short vacation was a bonanza
that I could never have imagined before I landed on this once war torn land
that had seen incessant war with United States till 1974. Now the ravages of
the war have been forgotten and in its place stand a modern country surging
ahead by keeping its unique culture and identity intact. There was a nip in the
air with constant shield of clouds and cold breeze that kept blowing to keep
the day temperatures in the range of 14-19deg C!
Mosaic Ceramic Wall at Hanoi |
Tai Chi Session in morning |
Hoan Kiem Lake is located in the midst of the Old Quarter
and has an Old Pagoda and the entire market place surrounds it! A walk around
the lake makes an impression on the tourists of the love of locals to maintain the
gardens and cleanliness. There are abundant eats and touch of the local culture
that can be flavored here. During my entire stay I did not miss a walk around
the lake in the wee hours of the morning, where literally hundreds of young
men, women and children can be seen engaged in Tai Chi, yoga, brisk walks and a
few joggers! They sway to the music in the morning when most lazy bones are
still dreaming in the beds and in the evenings the pairs can be seen dancing /
salsa and tapping their feet to the lilting music! It gives a feeling of never
ending carnival as the multi -hued neon lights reflect the beauty of the city
from the shimmering water of the lake.
Flower Clock at Hoan Kiem Lake |
The markets around the lake are the nerve center of the city
with each market stuffed to the capacity with wares like silk, china,
porcelain, embroidery, shoes, clothes and every possible thing one can imagine.
The lingering aroma of local food, skewers with exotic meats, on every street
cannot be missed!
I managed to eat some of the finest noodles, and rice –spring
rolls having a crust thinner than paper with stuffing of vegetables! The
Highlands and coffee made from egg have made this place immortal and Vietnamese
coffee can leave you asking for more!
Most of the locals especially the younger generation understand
English but it is a challenge when dealing with middle aged people to break the
ice!
Halong Bay |
We made a day trip to Halong Bay which is 170 km away from
Hanoi well connected by road and it is no surprise that unsurpassed beauty of
1200 odd small islets in the midst of Indo China Sea make this place in the
enviable list of UNESCO Heritage sites. According to a legend when invaders
long ago wanted to attack Vietnam, the gods sent dragons to defend them. The
dragons started spitting out jewels and jade. Under a spell of magic the jewels
turned into rocky islets obstructing the passage of invading ships. After
winning the battle the dragons decided to stay back for peaceful life on earth.
One can go Kayaking around and also visit the fishing villages on bamboo raft!
The Dong Thien Cung stalagmite caves lit with multi colored lights leaves one
spell bound! The nature has crafted wonders beyond imagination besides the
alluring landscape all around.
Dong Thien Cung Cave at Halong Bay |
Onward and return journey to Halong Bay is punctuated by a
brief stopover at Hai Duong where one can see beautifully crafted pottery and
statues besides a lot of local products on sale.
Ceramic Pottery at Hai Duong village |
Besides these there are several attractions like Water
Puppet Show, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Opera House, Pottery and Silk villages, St
Joseph Cathedral and small alleyways in Hanoi worth exploring! With loads of
memories of this lovely destination we boarded the flight for return.
PS- All pictures were clicked during the visit
PS- All pictures were clicked during the visit
Hanoi looks like a wonderful place. Love the Dong Thien Cung Cave at Halong Bay and the Ceramic Pottery. The Flower Clock at Hoan Kiem Lake is a breathtaking scene. My road crossing skills are super, all thanks to the traffic in Bangalore.
ReplyDeleteA lovely place to take a break, Rachna! For Indians crossing road is easy anywhere:)
DeleteHey Rahul, I can't believe I was the first one to comment. And thanks for sharing this wonderful post. I sometimes wonder whether I will ever be able to visit these places?
ReplyDeleteThanks fo being he first! My best wishes for all places you dream to visit:)
DeleteThat was a fantastic trip Rahul,even i enjoyed it a lot.
ReplyDeleteBut that art of road-crossing--if i practice it here i will end up as a mashed potato
I am happy you enjoyed the details of Ha noi! Road crossing is a skill though nothing to be proud about!
DeleteMy husband often goes to Hanoi on business trips...this post would make a great reference in case he gets time for sightseeing :)
ReplyDeleteI had hopped from Singapore so you too can make it any time:) thanks for that comment and I can promise your husband would not regret!
DeleteIt looks like the travel to the city is beautiful, bridge and the ceramic mural wall must be a sight. I would love to go to the bay. Beautiful clicks, Sir.
ReplyDeleteHanoi has really captivating sights Saru and is well worth a visit!
DeleteIt was a treat to take us on a virtual tour of Hanoi.Fabulous visuals.
ReplyDeleteA big thanks Rama for the kind comment!
DeleteEach country has its USP.
ReplyDeleteIn India,we seem to be realising our potential.I am sure,even Hanoi has its pluses.
Thanks for sharing lovely pictures and info
Agree with you Mr Chowla! Am happy you liked the post!
DeleteHanoi sounds so tempting. Ans yes, this post will be bookmarked for the future.
ReplyDeleteThanks Purba that you liked the post! The place is well worth a visit!
DeleteVietnam looks wonderful! Nice shots.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lady Fi!
Delete