Hanoi in Winter

The Hanoi 5 days getaway didnt seem long enough. Everything seem to be so rushed with not enough time to rest. Or shop (itu yang penting) - not that there is much to shop. But souvenirs is always a must.

We visited the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum/square downtown. It was cold, windy and drizzled. But nothing could dampen our enthusiasm. The mausoleum is where Ho Chi Minh's (the national hero) body is preserved. And the square is where he used to live - his house is, his office etc. It was a rather large complex in fact.

Soviet inspired hat. To ward off the cold.

The puppet show in Ho Chi Minh is funnier though. Tapi kat Hanoi lagi ramai orang putih masuk tengok.

Halong Bay is of course a must. Make sure you spend the night on the boat. A totally different experience you simply cant miss.

Imagine having this view from your cabin window or better yet from the boat rooftop for a couple days (what else could you ask for?) 

 The only masjid in Hanoi. An old building.

 Mee Pho is a must. Fyi, it is pronounced fe. Seriously delicious. Light, aromatic. At the halal Little India restaurant you have to place your order a day early. It is not on their menu as this is actually a breakfast dish.

We took a boat on the river at TamCoc. Limestone caves and hills. It rained and was windy and cold.

 We also visited a silk making factory. Interesting stuff.

 I think the machine is older than the pakcik weaving the silk.

Vietnam also exports coffee. Their coffee tastes fresh and sedap (tapi bila buat sendiri di rumah, rasa tak sama).

We had coffee tutorial with the coffee shop owner. You sit down and taste the coffee that you've chosen. If you like the taste, you may buy. Otherwise it is ok to get up and leave. There are many coffee shops like this in Hanoi.

Love the street scenes. Especially in the Old Quarter.

Come to think of it, there is a lot more to do in Hanoi than Ho Chi Minh. But there will not be any telekung or kurung or baju to shop for here, if that is what you are looking for. Instead they have running shoes, backpacks (and any kinds of bags), windbreakers. And of course the native Vietnam stuff.

Call me if you need reference for the tour guide. Our room was nice (it was upgraded in fact). The food was great and the itinerary was nicely arranged. If I have any complaint, I'd say that the trip was too packed. As it was raining (and with baby Sara in tow), a couple of our scheduled window shopping trips to the Old Quarter of Hanoi was cancelled. But no complaints.




~ xoxo