Being an owl at night
markets
Quang
Ba Flower Market and Long Bien Wholesale Market are the places to go for a true
taste of Hanoi's nightlife.
Once
night falls, Quang Ba shines out like a beacon. Filled up with radiant flowers
glowing under the dim yellow lights, the market stays up through the night and
is at its busiest at 3-4 a.m. when retailers are rushing back and forth with
fresh flowers.
Sitting
under Long Bien Bridge in Ba Dinh District, Long Bien Wholesale Market is less
romantic than Quang Ba but more vivid. To some extent, this bustling market is
where you can get a broader picture of the country's traditional morning
markets as thousands of vendors come flooding from Hanoi and its surrounding
areas to trade their goods.
… Or an explorer in
the Old Quarter
If
the two markets above are where you meet Hanoi's night owls, Hoan Kiem Lake is
where you can find its classic early birds. Come rain or come shine, there's
always someone taking morning exercise by the lake. Wake up early for a morning
walk around the lake, and you will be rewarded with a quiet, calm atmosphere
before the city wakes up and waves of vehicles flood the streets.
“Describing
Hanoi's oldest district is somewhat of a waste of breath,” CNNGo editor Chris
Anderson said about Hanoi's Old Quarter.
“No
need to ramble on about where exactly to go in the Old Quarter either, as the
weaving and winding streets are best explored by aimless wandering. No
destination. No pre-planned route. Just left, right, or straight ahead,” he
suggested.
Spend
some time down the old streets here and learn about the history of Hanoi. You
will be surprised to see how the city has expanded into what it is now from the
first 36 streets in the Old Quarter.
… Or an adventurer at
the ‘railway hamlet’
You
will be amazed to see how calm locals here can be. How would you feel if trains
were ploughing past just inches from your front door?
As
long as there are no bells ringing as a warning that a train is coming, the
residents use the tracks to park their bikes, sell their goods and even sit
down for a chat.
"Crazy", "the one
and only" or "nowhere to be found but Vietnam", are how foreigners
have described this "railway hamlet" in Dong Da District.
Going back in time at
the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
If
you want a deeper knowledge of Vietnam, this is the place for you. The museum
is home to 15,000 exhibits and 42,000 movies and photos featuring Vietnam's 54
ethnic groups.
Enjoying a cup of egg
coffee
"When they not drinking beer,
they're sitting down for coffee,” is an observation that has been made about
Hanoians.
And
once you’re in Hanoi, it would be a huge mistake if you did not treat yourself
to a cup of this surprising coffee: a perfect mix of coffee, condensed milk and
egg yolk.
Heading
to Giang, Dinh or Lam coffee houses and “pull up another tiny chair amongst the
locals and enjoy this unique Hanoi-style coffee,” as suggested by Nick and
Dariece, the couple behind the travel blog "Goats On The Road".
Sitting on the
sidewalk for street food
This
is something all locals do for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just an afternoon
snack. It is so easy to feel the vibe of Hanoi: find yourself a small plastic
chair, sit down and place your order. Away you go!
Taking a walk across
Long Bien Bridge
Standing
over the Red River for more than 100 years, Long Bien Bridge is a part of
Hanoi’s soul. The 2,290-meter (7,513-feet) bridge was built between 1899 and
1902 by the French and was the first steel bridge to cross the river.
The
best time to take a walk across the bridge is in the early morning or late
afternoon. Don’t forget to bring along your camera to capture the magnificent
scenes down the river.
Attending the flag
lowering ceremony at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The
ceremony takes place every night at 9 p.m. Come and see how Vietnam remembers
its revered president.
Photo by Cario Angles.
Strolling through the
city at night
When
most parts of Hanoi are fast asleep, the city loses its pubescent energy and
takes on a quiet and mysterious persona. This is the perfect time for those who
want to see Hanoi from another perspective, one that is not disturbed by the
noise and crowds.
By VNE