Hanoi, the capital, is our first stop. A tireless city, awakening early morning following rhythm of Tai Chi. People of all ages gather in parks to exercise or jog. Only after taking care of your body with a healthy workout session, the working day may begin. The traffic of scooters and bikes starts spreading, people walk with loads of any type of goods, heading to the market. An it never stops till late night, when the time for rest finally arrives.
Hanoi offers several interesting destinations, including the old historic center and the city center where most of the hostels, bars, restaurants and commercial activities are located.
The Pho Gia Ngu fish market is very unique. Markets are what make Asia so special for us. Lively, colorful, sticky at time. Pho Gia Ngu is no exception. A multitude of people sell fish, cut it, wash large tanks to stored it… and then, amidst of all this hustle, more people eating pho – the traditional Vietnamese soup with chicken or beef – undisturbed, uncomfortably sitting on typical plastic seats.
Another stop you must not miss in Hanoi is the Ho Chi Min Mausoleum, where you can admire the great leader… embalmed. Arm yourself with patience, and get ready to face a long line of Vietnamese who go there to pay homage to the father of modern Vietnam.
Another very interesting place to visit is the Temple of Literature, as it is a rare example of the traditional Vietnamese architecture.
Lastly, the Hoan Kiem lake draws a line between medieval and modern Hanoi. The lake shores, embellished with gardens, are a pleasant place to wander while observing the city life. If you come early in the morning, it will be easy to see people engaged in a Tai Chi session.
And if you want to dive even more into Vietnamese culture, we suggest go seeing the water puppet show! I cannot remember exactly how long it lasted, but it seemed like eternity to me. They also gave us the CD at the end of the show! I think I still have it somewhere, but I hid it so well that I do not even remember where it is.
Hanoi is a great base for discovering the wonders of Northern Vietnam such as Sapa Valley, Halong Bay and the less famous but impressive “Perfume Pagoda”.
Perfume Pagoda
About 60 kilometers away from the city, you will reach the Vietnamese countryside where farmers wear the typical conical hats. In a short time, on small canoes, you’ll get to the starting point for the trail (a hike with a 100% humidity rate) that in about an hour and a half leads you to the entrance of the pagoda. For those who do not want to walk (during summer, the heat makes the hike very exhausting), you can opt for the cableway. Obviously, we walked!
Along the way, you can buy drinks and juices, but despite any help, you will arrive at the top completely soaked, as if someone had thrown a bucket of water on you; the humidity is impressive, but it also helps creating a charming atmosphere. We felt like being in a Indiana Jones movie: the Pagoda located inside a cave hidden by the dense vegetation, on top of the Mountain after climbing a steep path.
The darkness of the walls. Ancestors’ statues brightened by the hundreds of candles. The scent of incense that invades the whole area.
The most practical way to visit the Perfume Pagoda is by taking part in a day trip from Hanoi. All the agencies of the Old District offer daily excursions, with departure scheduled for the morning and the return in the early afternoon.
