Hanoi, Vietnam. What a fabulous place to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere! This city is its own definition of beauty with gorgeous lakes to leisurely stroll around, beautiful trees, and insane traffic to watch, or get a bit of an adrenaline rush crossing at a major intersection! I have traveled to several countries in Asia, and I can honestly say that Vietnam is my favorite. I remember how excited I felt when I landed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. Vietnam was one of those countries I always wanted to visit, and I finally got the chance! I would absolutely recommend Hanoi (or Vietnam in general) to anybody! I will never forget this trip!
Hoan Kiem Lake sits in the middle of Hanoi. It is of decent size, and easily walkable! The red bridge is hard to miss and looks stunning sitting above the water. I arrived in Hanoi on the late side, so my first trip to the lake (only about five to ten minutes from Old Quarter) was at night and it was rather dark. But I went back first thing in the morning to get a glimpse of the beauty and how perfectly it fit into the quaint city.
When you begin your adventure in Hanoi, make sure to stop at Hoa Lo Prison Museum to see what life was like for prisoners of the Vietnam War. Shackles and torture awaited those who came here. I remember the eerie feeling I had walking into the museum knowing that thousands of people were put through brutal conditions right where I was standing. They do not sugarcoat this information. Outbreaks of diseases, stories from survivors of being chained to concrete in overcrowded halls, and incredibly claustrophobic cells designed for anyone who disobeyed orders are some of what took place at what is nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton.
After the museum, I ate lunch at a restaurant with a great view of the five-way intersection, which contained no stop signs, yield signs, or traffic lights. It is a free for all and amazing to just sit and watch the traffic for an hour while you eat. Hanoi traffic is the real meaning of organized chaos.
One evening, I headed over to St. Joseph’s Cathedral to witness the beautiful colors it illuminates at night! Different colors danced around the old church as I waited for my dinner reservation at a near restaurant. The cathedral was completed in December of 1886 and serves the Roman Catholic church with masses still going on today. The street is lined with gorgeous flowers and delicious restaurants to eat at once you have finished exploring the area.
If you would like to do something off the beaten path and near Old Quarter, check out Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural, or Hanoi Ceramic Road! Located along the Red River dike system in the city, the mosaic tiles stretch on for about four miles! Construction began in 2007 and finished up in 2010 in celebration of the Millennial Anniversary of Hanoi. Take a stroll down the street and marvel and the magnificent work of art beside you. Keep in mind you do have to cross an extremely busy road to get there, and it is absolutely worth the visit.
With all the excitement around the city, make sure you leave time to wander around and get a little bit lost. It is completely safe, and you will get to witness the unconventional beauty of Hanoi complete with an endless number of scooters, the smells of various vendors cooking, and the sounds of people enjoying their meals on the sidewalks. Hanoi has its own definition of beauty and charm.
The attraction I recommend visiting more than anything else in Hanoi is Train Street. Train Street is frequented tourists due to the rush of adrenaline and the one of a kind experience. Here, you will encounter the thrill of a train passing within mere inches of you! It is perfect for anyone wanting to experience something unique to a specific city. The street is lined with individually crafted cafes covered with charming murals and artwork. The train passes at a different time every day, so check with the concierge at your hotel or visit Train Street and ask the café owners! They would love to have you sit at their shop and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee while the train passes through. The best way to get here is Grab Taxi. There are numerous entrance points, some of which are guarded security. If they reject you, just go around to the other side or find another entrance!
Lastly, anyone visiting Hanoi must visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, where you can view his heavily guarded body lying in state. The massive property will take you a few hours to get through, so plan to spend at least half a day here. Go early in the morning or on a rainy day to avoid the lines and crowds. It was remarkably interesting to see the leader resting, and incredibly surreal to tour the estate. I highly recommend visiting the mausoleum as well as touring the adjacent property that once belonged to Ho Chi Minh.
After traveling to eight Asian countries and visiting many cities, I can easily say that Hanoi takes the crown as the most fascinating. You simply cannot visit Vietnam without visiting Hanoi!
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