
Fruit Selling Ladies of Hanoi
After breakfast at Lapis Hotel we took our backpack with some essentials like water, raincoats and sun tan cream and headed out into sunny Hanoi. With the city waking up to a Sunday morning the streets were still calm compared to the mayhem of motorbikes and cars that we had witnessed on our arrival the night before. We could see some ladies with their non la (cone hat) pushing bikes along the road. The backs of the bicycles and the saddles carried large baskets, artistically topped with pyramids of fruit. Some of the fruit we immediately recognised others we had never seen before. The women would stop upon seeing us and offer us their goods, however we declined having just had a large breakfast at our hotel.
Vietnamese Breakfast
Walking along the pavement heading for Hoan Kiem Lake, we noticed, mostly men, sitting on the little plastic stools drinking tea, reading newspaper or chatting to each other. Some of these street side stalls also served hot soup with noodles, pho bo, the standard Vietnamese breakfast.
French Colonial Architecture
In this charming area of Hanoi we passed many grand buildings, very noticeably influenced by French architecture and almost all of them date back to the French occupation of the country, over 100 years ago. Some of these stunning houses have been restored to former glory and appear to be occupied by wealthy companies and government offices. Others, however, are in a sad state of disrepair and left to their crumbling condition waiting to be demolished and replaced by flashier, modern buildings.
The Local’s Houses
In between these mansions we could see the typical long and narrow houses of the locals with only windows at the front, overlooking the streets. In between the houses we found narrow, dark alleyways that were rather gritty looking and therefore not inviting at all. The houses are often narrow throughout the north as the land was taxed in the far past on street frontage so people avoided a wider house preferring deeper plots.
Hoan Kiem Lake
Once we arrived at the southern end of Hoan Kiem lake, we noticed the roads were closed off to noraml traffic and everyone was walking on the wide streets. Next to the little park that circles the murky lake children were driving along on battery powered cars and scooters. Jerome would have loved this when he was little and I am sure that for most children local or tourist alike this would be a fun treat. The benches in the park were packed with locals enjoying their day off from hard work and some of the women wore their gorgeous ao dais (traditional dress). Peeking out between the leafy trees was the ramshackle turtle tower, which was built on an islet in the lake and has become one of Hanoi’s most photographed sights.
Vietnam Telecom
Walking west we passed the grand library and a large hospital. The street was also lined with many shops including some toy stores selling incredible fake copies of Lego sets and other toys. Again and again we noticed the guards in green uniforms looking bored in their huts or outside the gates of mansions and office buildings. Another unmissable feature of Hanoi’s street scene was the vast amount of telephone wires that were literally everywhere. They would crisscross the streets, sometimes hang so low that we had to duck underneath them, and always gather around a telegraph pole, that looked like a tree hung with black spaghettis. How anyone would make sense of the wire salad is still unknown to us but they certainly give Vietnam a unique feature.
Further Discoveries of Hanoi
Leaving the charming French Quarter and Hoan Kiem lake behind, we continued our stroll towards the Imperial Citadel, the Military Museum, the beautiful Temple of Literature and the Ho Chi Minh Complex.
Follow us on Social Media
FACEBOOK: wanderlustplusone INSTAGRAM wanderlustplusone
TWITTER: wanderlustplus1
Our favourite Hotels in Vietnam:
Hanoi
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Stay in a traditional colonial building near the Old Quarter welcoming guests since 1901. The heated pool is the perfect place to rest your tired legs after exploring the city.
Lapis Hotel
Lapis Hotel offers exceptional value and amazing views from its rooftop pool over Hanoi. Don’t miss the delicious breakfast.
Hue
Pilgrimage Village and Boutique Resort
Set among verdant jungle, the resort offers a tranquil spot to stay away from the bustling streets of Hue.
Azerai La Residence
Incredible views of the Perfume River and its central location make the Azerai the perfect place to stay and explore the nearby Imperial City.
Near Hue
Vedana Lagoon Resort & Spa
Treat yourself to an overwater villa at this serene resort near Hue and be pampered in their excellent spa. Take the complimentary bikes to explore the nearby fishing villages and beaches.
Hoi An
Atlas Hotel
Enjoy the cool architecture of this boutique hotel and explore the historical town and its sights, all within walking distance.
Tropical Home Villa
Fancy a more intimate setting then you should consider a stay at this beautiful villa near Hoi An’s night market.
Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort
Wake up to the sound of the waves lapping onto Cua Dai Beach outside Hoi An and combine sightseeing with relaxing on the sandy shores.
What a wonderful insight into daily life, very perceptive.
Thank you I am glad you enjoyed it.
Looks very charming! It is a real colonial area from what I can tell from the building’s architecture. Also the wires are bit like here in Japan! So many and all interwined ahaha P.S. I love Pho <3
It is quite a charming part of the city and I would definitely stay there again as much as we loved the Old Part of Hanoi it was less touristy.
The wires so reminded me of Japan, funny you had the same thought, they are well organised in there though compared to the mess they are in Vietnam.
Ooh wow, great post and once again wonderful photos, it always amazes me how magical ‘daily life scenes’ shots can be!
Thank you! Tourist sights are definitely a must when visiting anywhere, but I find it most fascinating to watch people go about their daily routines, especially here in Vietnam where life is very different to how we know it.
I love this post! We share a very similar perception of what Vietnameseness is 🙂
Thank you! Surely the sights are a must but experiencing daily life and meeting the locals is my favourite part of travelling abroad.
I have been to Hanoi and you have captured it GORGEOUSLY. Thank you! Such evocative memories you’ve dredged up. Keep it up, and savor it as you are.
Thank you Chris, I am glad you enjoyed it and that it brought back some memories, I hope only good ones…
Where else did you travel during your time in the country?
Vanessa
Be still my beating heart!!! <3 I adore Hanoi so much, particularly the French quarter. You've captured it perfectly!
Thank you, I am glads you enjoyed the post and photos. We really fell in love with Hanoi and hope to return sometime soon.
Wonderful photos!
Thank you 😊 I am happy to hear you enjoyed the walk
Hope to do some slow travel in Vietnam soon. Thank you for your evocative photos and text.
Thank you! I hope you will! It is a stunning country to visit.
What a wonderful post – loved it!
Thank you 😊 I am happy you enjoyed it
Wonderful post and photo – loved it..
Thank you!
Danke Ben! Hoffe Dir haben unsere Fotos von Hanoi gefallen. Nach Thailand haben wir es bisher noch nicht geschafft, aber wer weiss, in der Zukunft liegt noch viel unbekanntes was wir noch entdecken wollen.
Gruss,
Vanessa