Discovering Vietnam – Part 1: Hanoi – Journeys Within Tour Company

By: Anna Baldwin, Operations Manager

Having just returned from an amazing two weeks in Vietnam, I’m dying to share with you some of the highlights of my trip. Since there are so many highlights to share, I’ve decided to break them down for you by area. Where better to start than with the capital city itself – Hanoi?!

I once heard this city described as “a city with a blend of Parisian grace and Asian pace,” which I think could not be a more accurate description. In the Old Quarter you can find tall, elegant buildings decorated with everything from bird cages to bright pink flowers. In some places you could almost be wandering the backstreets of Paris itself, until you stumble upon a hidden labyrinth of dusty streets overflowing with markets, cafes, haggling vendors and, of course, an endless flock of motos effortlessly weaving around fearless pedestrians.

If moto-dodging gets too much for you, wander down to the quieter banks of Hoan Kiem Lake. If you get her early in the morning, you can witness locals partaking in their daily exercise rituals, which involve anything from running the perimeter of the lake to the mesmerizing art of Tai Chi.

For those who want to learn more about Hanoi’s history, there is a range of museums to choose from which give you insight into the historical importance of this city throughout the centuries, going as far back as 3000BC!

For a break from the city, spend a morning cycling around Dong Ngac, one of the ancient villages situated just outside Hanoi centre. This village, a cultural heritage site, celebrates the educated and heroic people of the neighbourhood recognised by kings of the past.

After doing morning Tai Chi at Hoan Kiem Lake, sampling Hanoi’s famous Pho (noodle soup) sold at every street corner and exploring the city’s countless museums, why not end your day with a performance of one of the most celebrated art forms in Northern Vietnam – water puppetry? During ancient times, the people of rural Vietnam believed spirits controlled all aspects of their lives. They therefore devised water puppetry as a form of entertainment to satisfy the spirits. Although nowadays the performances are conducted in modern, air-conditioned theatres with a pool, in ancient times, the local people would use natural ponds and flooded rice paddies to stage these unique spectacles.

Here are a few of my visual memories to take away with you…