It is my first time visiting to Vietnam, the 6th Southeast Asia country in my travel journal. Before joining my current company, I had visited Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia for holidays. But since last year, I visited the Philippines for the first time, and made business trips to Thailand and Indonesia. This month, I had the opportunity to visit Vietnam over a period of 4 days.
On the first day, I checked in to Sofitel Plaza Hanoi hotel at 2pm. Since I have the whole afternoon available, I decided to check out the main sights of Hanoi. Armed with a 20mins quick browse through the digital version of Lonely Planet Hanoi, I formulate a quick plan in my mind to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, follow by the Old Quarters.
The 10mins taxi ride from Sofitel Plaza to the Mausoleum is 40k VND. While I was snapping away at the amazing sight below from the taxi, the driver was trying to say something about 8am to 11am. It is only after I arrived to the entrance, and checking the Lonely Planet guide book, that I realized the Mausoleum is only opened in the morning on certain days.
There is a Korean tour group in the area. One of the tourist asked me if I am a Korean and I said 'Nope. I am from Singapore.' The area around the Mausoleum is off-limits. If you attempt to walk any closer, the guards will blow the whistle and chase after you. That is what happened to me.
I realized there is the Presidential Palace just next to the Mausoleum. It cost around 20k VND and I just bought the tickets. Below is the main palace but it is off-limits. This is the closest you can get to the building.
The palace compounds are heavily designated by signs and well-guarded. Tourists have to follow the signs or else the guards will shout at you. Below is the lake in the compound.
In one of the houses are Ho Chi Minh's cars.
After a quick walk around the compound, I stumbled upon Ho Chi Minh's Musuem. Visitors have to pay to enter. I did not notice the counter to the left of the entrance and just walked straight in.
We have the magnificent statue of Ho Chi Minh in the museum. In the museum, it depicts the founding of modern Vietnam.
While walking out of the museum, from the windows, we can see the gardens behind it. It feels very similar to the palace in France. Vietnam was previously being colonized by France, and that explained the similarity.
It is 3pm and I did a quick search through my travel guide book. The Temple of Literature is quite near to the museum and I decided to get there by foot.
Along the way, I came upon the flags of Vietnam.
After a few detour, I finally arrived at the Temple of Literature. There is a need to pay entrance fee here. So I just paid. It cost around the same as the previous 2 sights.
There are several entrances and pathways to walk through.
And I arrived at the lake.
There are large flags around the lake.
And here is the main Temple of Literature. It is said that this place is where learned scholars study. It is something like a university, built more than 1,000 years ago.
We have portraits of scholars in there.
After visit to the temple, I hop on a cab and off I go to the Old Quarters. While I was asking for directions previously, the local Vietnamese do not know 'Temple of Literature' or 'Old Quarters'. These names are tourist names. But I showed them the map and all is well.
Along the way, I passed by a few iPhone Shops (Authorised Dealers).
Most of the local Vietnamese travel by motorcycles.
Taxi ride cost is around 50k VND. And I arrived at the Ho Guom lake. The driver took me around the lake and asked me where to stop. I said anywhere and I alighted at Hang Kuay road. At the road junction, I saw this amazing picture.
Some of the posters in there seems to come from the communist era.
I realized that the people has just celebrated Sept 2nd national day, 67 years of independence.
While walking along the lake, I noticed someone is taking photos with Turtle Tower in the background.
Walking further up the lake, I came upon more statues.
While crossing the road, I saw the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. I remembered reading on the travel guide about this place. There are hordes of people going into the theatre when I arrived. The next show is starting at 5pm, which is 10mins from now. I asked the ticketing counter any tickets and she said yes. I paid 100k VND for it and off I go.
The show is 45mins long and it is really interesting. I strongly recommend visitors to Hanoi to check out the Water Puppets. It is very unique.There are 12 themes in there which include:
1) Festival drumming, 2) Dragon dance, 3) Prelude by the buffon Teu, 4) Buffalo fighting, 5) Farm-work, 6) Frog catching, 7) Fishing, 8) Van singing, 9) Phoenix Dance, 10) Quan ho singing (heritage), 11) Coconut picking, 12) Carp transformed into dragon.
Thereafter, I decided to explore the Old Quarters as recommended by the walking route map by Lonely Planet. I got lost for a while, but managed to be back on track, walking through the different roads.
According to my colleague, Vietnamese buildings are tall and slim, it is so true indeed.
And we have this old looking building with lots of fast food in it.
And we have people hawking their wares around. One of the Vietnamese favourite past-time is sitting around by the road and sipping a cool drink. This is the local version of starbucks and the drink cost 15k VND. (lime juice, etc)
I find the visit to Vietnam can never be complete without their Pho noodles. While walking during the first evening, I came upon this shop and decided to give it a try.
It looks good.
During the final night in Hanoi, my local colleague, Hong, brought us to a famous Pho restaurant call Pho 24. He told us the important thing in Pho is the soup. It taste really good.
We all ordered 'All in One' which comes up to 70k VND each.
The hotel I am staying in is called Sofitel Plaza Hanoi.
It has great views of the lake.
Here is how the night scene looks like.
The hotel breakfast is also fabulous.
In the last few nights, I enjoyed Vietnamese tea as well as Vietnamese spring rolls. While at the airport, I searched and found the cafe offering Vietnamese spring rolls and green tea. Thus I ordered them again. It really live up to expectations.
On the first day, I checked in to Sofitel Plaza Hanoi hotel at 2pm. Since I have the whole afternoon available, I decided to check out the main sights of Hanoi. Armed with a 20mins quick browse through the digital version of Lonely Planet Hanoi, I formulate a quick plan in my mind to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, follow by the Old Quarters.
The 10mins taxi ride from Sofitel Plaza to the Mausoleum is 40k VND. While I was snapping away at the amazing sight below from the taxi, the driver was trying to say something about 8am to 11am. It is only after I arrived to the entrance, and checking the Lonely Planet guide book, that I realized the Mausoleum is only opened in the morning on certain days.
There is a Korean tour group in the area. One of the tourist asked me if I am a Korean and I said 'Nope. I am from Singapore.' The area around the Mausoleum is off-limits. If you attempt to walk any closer, the guards will blow the whistle and chase after you. That is what happened to me.
I realized there is the Presidential Palace just next to the Mausoleum. It cost around 20k VND and I just bought the tickets. Below is the main palace but it is off-limits. This is the closest you can get to the building.
The palace compounds are heavily designated by signs and well-guarded. Tourists have to follow the signs or else the guards will shout at you. Below is the lake in the compound.
In one of the houses are Ho Chi Minh's cars.
After a quick walk around the compound, I stumbled upon Ho Chi Minh's Musuem. Visitors have to pay to enter. I did not notice the counter to the left of the entrance and just walked straight in.
We have the magnificent statue of Ho Chi Minh in the museum. In the museum, it depicts the founding of modern Vietnam.
While walking out of the museum, from the windows, we can see the gardens behind it. It feels very similar to the palace in France. Vietnam was previously being colonized by France, and that explained the similarity.
It is 3pm and I did a quick search through my travel guide book. The Temple of Literature is quite near to the museum and I decided to get there by foot.
Along the way, I came upon the flags of Vietnam.
After a few detour, I finally arrived at the Temple of Literature. There is a need to pay entrance fee here. So I just paid. It cost around the same as the previous 2 sights.
There are several entrances and pathways to walk through.
And I arrived at the lake.
There are large flags around the lake.
And here is the main Temple of Literature. It is said that this place is where learned scholars study. It is something like a university, built more than 1,000 years ago.
We have portraits of scholars in there.
After visit to the temple, I hop on a cab and off I go to the Old Quarters. While I was asking for directions previously, the local Vietnamese do not know 'Temple of Literature' or 'Old Quarters'. These names are tourist names. But I showed them the map and all is well.
Along the way, I passed by a few iPhone Shops (Authorised Dealers).
Most of the local Vietnamese travel by motorcycles.
Taxi ride cost is around 50k VND. And I arrived at the Ho Guom lake. The driver took me around the lake and asked me where to stop. I said anywhere and I alighted at Hang Kuay road. At the road junction, I saw this amazing picture.
Some of the posters in there seems to come from the communist era.
I realized that the people has just celebrated Sept 2nd national day, 67 years of independence.
While walking along the lake, I noticed someone is taking photos with Turtle Tower in the background.
Walking further up the lake, I came upon more statues.
While crossing the road, I saw the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. I remembered reading on the travel guide about this place. There are hordes of people going into the theatre when I arrived. The next show is starting at 5pm, which is 10mins from now. I asked the ticketing counter any tickets and she said yes. I paid 100k VND for it and off I go.
The show is 45mins long and it is really interesting. I strongly recommend visitors to Hanoi to check out the Water Puppets. It is very unique.There are 12 themes in there which include:
1) Festival drumming, 2) Dragon dance, 3) Prelude by the buffon Teu, 4) Buffalo fighting, 5) Farm-work, 6) Frog catching, 7) Fishing, 8) Van singing, 9) Phoenix Dance, 10) Quan ho singing (heritage), 11) Coconut picking, 12) Carp transformed into dragon.
Thereafter, I decided to explore the Old Quarters as recommended by the walking route map by Lonely Planet. I got lost for a while, but managed to be back on track, walking through the different roads.
According to my colleague, Vietnamese buildings are tall and slim, it is so true indeed.
And we have this old looking building with lots of fast food in it.
And we have people hawking their wares around. One of the Vietnamese favourite past-time is sitting around by the road and sipping a cool drink. This is the local version of starbucks and the drink cost 15k VND. (lime juice, etc)
I find the visit to Vietnam can never be complete without their Pho noodles. While walking during the first evening, I came upon this shop and decided to give it a try.
It looks good.
During the final night in Hanoi, my local colleague, Hong, brought us to a famous Pho restaurant call Pho 24. He told us the important thing in Pho is the soup. It taste really good.
We all ordered 'All in One' which comes up to 70k VND each.
The hotel I am staying in is called Sofitel Plaza Hanoi.
It has great views of the lake.
Here is how the night scene looks like.
The hotel breakfast is also fabulous.
In the last few nights, I enjoyed Vietnamese tea as well as Vietnamese spring rolls. While at the airport, I searched and found the cafe offering Vietnamese spring rolls and green tea. Thus I ordered them again. It really live up to expectations.
