Thailand beyond solo backpacking: Hanoi

Showing posts with label Hanoi. Show all posts

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Senior assistants from one Australian college checking in at the Hanoi Youth Hostel.

A night before their arrival,hosteliers who were currently occupying were being informed to check out as the Aussie group has booked the whole dorm in advance.

The management owner Mr Trinh Van Nam was very kind enough to offer an alternative place at the same price which is their main branch at Cau Go Street.

Having stayed nearly a week in this nice hostel,I'll be catching my flight the following day so did not continue my stay.

Young Aussie students participating in The World Challenge.

This is something very interesting where youth of today can gain exposure in real world adventures beyond frontier touring undiscovered destinations.

Their living skills and environmental interactions putting into practise will enhance their knowledge which will be of great assets to them.

Chinese bikers leaving hostel with their new bikes.

They have been cycling cross-country from Kunming,Yunnan Province to Hanoi.

One of their lady friend has taken a bus home and you'll noticed that one of them has no more baggage.

Their carelessness in safe guarding their properties was very costly.

Luckily their own embassy people came to provide some assistance.

The main fault is that three of them came up to the dorm and check if there's any vacancy without having one guarding the bikes and bagages.
That was at 8:45pm when one of them approached me to enquire.

A visit to Hanoi wil not be complete without visiting the Thang Long Puppet Theater (Nhà hát múa rối Thăng Long) located at Dinh Tien Hoang Street, just across the north of Hoan Kiem Lake.

The show is amazing coupled with the good acoustics sound system.
The daily showtimes are 5.30 pm, 7.00 pm ,8 pm and 9:15pm.Sunday is at 9;30am only.
The counter closes at 6.45 pm to 7.30 pm.
Ticket prices are from 60,000-100,000VND.

Ngoc Son Pagoda Temple (Jade Temple) just across Thang Long Puppet Theater on Hoan Kiem Lake.

Built in the early 19th century,the temple was dedicated to Confucian and Taoist philosophers and the national hero Tran Hung Dao.
Tickets(12,000 VND) are purchased at a booth located on the left-hand side before you cross the bridge.

The temple opens at 08:00 and closes at 17:00 every day and its best to get to the lake as early as possible to watch the locals do their morning yoga and Tai Chi.

From the shore the 'Welcoming Morning Sunlight Bridge' (Cầu Thê Húc) leads to the island.

Buildings of the temple include the Pen Tower (Thap But), the ink-slab (Dai Nghien), the Moon Contemplation Pavilion (Dac Nguyet) and the Pavilion against Waves (Đình Trấn Ba), all of which have symbolic meaning.

For the convenience of tourist the tricycle ferries passengers all around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarters area.

Mini Electric bus with price ranging from 150,000 to 250,000VND also provide tour services around the Old Quarters.

Pretty Vietnamese ladies with their traditional costumes 'Ao Dai'

In the evening,the street side cafes came bustling with tourists enjoying their food and Bia Hoi .

During the night on Friday,Saturday and Sunday,the streets of Old Quarters from Dong Xuan Market extending till Hang Dao Street became a night market walking street.

There were many stalls showcasing a variety of products.

Entrance to residential house around Phan dinh Phung Street.

Olden days houses in Hanoi have side entrance.
They were mostly one-storey houses, only some having second storey, generally low and without windows or having very small windows (according to ancient rules under the past dynasties, inhabitants were forbidden to look at the King when he happened to pass before their houses, and especially to look at him from a higher place).

This huge castle beside Ho Tay lake near the same row with Brazilian Embassy was up for sale.

Section of the central old citadel of Hanoi which was once the former residence of Vietnamese monarchs dating back to Đại Việt, when the city was known as Thăng Long.

In 2010 the citadel was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - Hanoi".

Tunnel House. This possibly also act as an air raid shelter.

Bamboo pipe smoking is commonly seen in some of the sidewalks.
In Vietnam, it is most commonly smoked after a meal on a full stomach to aid in digestion, or along with green tea or local beer (most commonly the cheap "bia hoi").

A "hit" of thuoc lao is followed by a flood of nicotine to the bloodstream inducing strong dizziness that lasts several seconds.

It should be said however that even heavy smokers have had trouble with the intense volume of smoke and that side effects include nausea and vomiting.

My regular meal was at this shop which offers economy rice with 3 dishes costing 20,000 VND.
This is something homecooked and there were a variety of dishes to choose.

A family run shop with limited seating place so many of the locals prefer to have takeaway.
The place is behind Dong Xuan market just opposite Le Loi Middle School.

Truong Trung Hoi Co So Le Loi or Le Loi Middle School.

Le Loi, also called Binh Dinh Vuong or Thuan Thien, reign title Le Thai To (flourished 1428–43, Lam Son, Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam), Vietnamese general and emperor who won back independence for Vietnam from China in 1428, founded the Le dynasty, and became the most honoured Vietnamese hero of the medieval period.

The word 'Middle School' is commonly used in China so this implies that this must be a Mandarin speaking school.
Most Southeast Asian chinese schools also use the same wording.

The majestic Saint Joseph Catholic Church. In the late evening after school dismissal,you can see lots of young school children hanging around the compound waiting to go home.
There were three schools nearby.
Gecko Backpackers Hostel is a short distance from here.

The State Bank Building or the Central Bank has a dome shaped top that resembled the Vietcong cap.

Shop selling ethnic products.

SWAROVSKI,a major outlet in the sale of crystal jewellery accessories.
Location:Avalon Cafe Lounge Building near Dong Kinh Ngia Thuc Square,north of Hoan Kiem Lake.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Old mangrove trees in Hanoi Old Quarters

Hanoi's Old Quarters has a history spanning over 2,000 years and represents the eternal soul of the city.

Huge mangrove tree trunk that still existed along this Thanh Ha Street potruding in front of some of the shophouses reminds one that Hanoi was once a swampy area.

Mangrove roots not only provide support in unstable soils and to withstand currents and storms, but also breathe air.

To avoid suffocation in the oxygen poor mud, mangrove trees snorkel for air.

They develop aerial or air-breathing roots. These take in aboveground air.

All aerial tree roots have on their surface, special tiny pores to take in air .

Only air can get through the lenticels, not water or salts. All aerial roots also contain large air spaces.

These not only transport air, but also provide a reservoir of air during high tide when all the aerial roots may be underwater.
The function of aerial roots are to absorb air and to provide structural support in the soft mud. Roots for absorbing nutrients are tiny and emerge near the muddy surface.

Bamboo and rattan products were along Thanh Ha Street.
This old mangrove tree was contained to prevent it from further extending onto the building.

Very old Confucian temple nestled in between the old shoplots.

Confucius was a Chinese philosopher born in Qufu,a city in southwestern Shandong province, People's Republic of China.

The philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, and sincerity.

He also championed strong family loyalty, ancestor worship, and respect of elders by their children.

View of the temple's altar.

A list of temple's programmes from January till December.

Statue of a deity,a kind of Chinese hero worship.

Multi-layered lantern.

The emperor's mace.
Ancient Chinese battefield armoury. These weapons were used horse-to -horse fighting.

Noticed that each of them has a hook beneath it which is used to disable the weapon of the opponent.
Hence protecting himself, protecting his horse, attacking his enemy, and attacking his enemy’s horse is of upmost importance.
He will remain on equal footing with his adversary only while he is mounted.
If the horse becomes disabled or the enemy knocks him off the horse, he is lost.
Of course, attacking the enemy is uppermost in his mind.
A long weapon such these fulfilled all these requirements.

A pair of Chinese traditional parasols designed for a ceremonial purpose.

These are altars of God of Longevity.

Offering Bia Hoi to Chinese god.

Bia Hoi is the popular draft beer of Vietnam.

Garden sculptures.

A pair of carp fish sculpture beside the table altar representing properity.

The National Flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

This must be the Vietnamese name of the temple. Di Tich, Dinh thanh Ha.da Xep Hang,Cam Vi Pham.

While in Hanoi,tourists must also visit the first university of Vietnam.

Văn Miếu or Temple of Literature, known as "pagode des Corbeaux" during the period of French colonisation, was founded as a Confucian temple in 1070.

The Temple of Literature is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 to 11:30 and 13:30 to 16:30.
Admission is 12,000 Dong with a small guide brochure costing an additional 3,000 Dong.
Take bus No:02,18,23,32,34,38 or 45 and stop near Embassy of Thailand along Nguyen Thai Hoc Road and it's just nearby.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Floating restaurants at West Lake Ho Tay

Long Bien Bus Station is located near Tran Nhat Duat; near Yen Phu; near Hang Dau; near Hang Khoai; 0.1 kilometre away from Nguyen Thien Thuat Road.

A short distance northward on Yen Phu Road is an open shelter bus stop for bus number 4,8,15,17,36,50,54,55, and 58.

Hanoi city buses number 7 and 17 at Long Bien terminal connect Noi Bai Airport with Hanoi city center.

The bus stop is just on the right side of the terminal exit.
Buses run every 15-20 minutes from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Bus number 7 connects the airport to Kim Ma bus station.
Bus number 17 connects the airport to Long Bien bus station.
The travelling time is about an hour tothe airport as there will be many stops long the way and packed with standing passengers as well.

Viet Hotel at Hang Than Street,Ba Dinh District. Ba Dinh is the political center of Vietnam.

Most of the government offices and embassies are located here.

It was formally called the "French Quarter" (Khu phố Pháp), Han Thanh street is the origin of Hanoi's famous green rice flake cake(Vietnamese: bánh cốm ).

Chua Hoe Nhai Zen Buddhist Temple at Hang Than Street.

Buddhists in Vietnam belong mostly to the 3 forms of Mahayana School of Buddhism - Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism and Vajrayana. Actually, it is a combination of Pure Land and Zen Buddhism that dominates Buddhist life in Vietnam.

Pure Zen practice is followed mostly by monks and nuns while Pure Land Buddhism is preferred by more common people.

View of inside compound of Chua Hoe Nhai temple which belongs to the Buddhist Soto sect.

This is one of the two major sects of Buddhism in northern Vietnam .

Moving northwest from Yen Phu bus terminal is the Truc Bach Lake adjoining Ho Tay Lake(West Lake).

Across the Sofitel Plaza Hotel towards Truc Bach Lake were many cafes and seafood restaurants which were family run.

The afternoon lunch hour was packed with locals enjoying their steamboat beside the lake.

Truc Bach Lake has appeared from the seventeenth century when people in Yen Hoa village (now called Yen Phu) and Yen Quang village (now Quan Thanh street) built a dyke to change a corner of West Lake into a small pond with purpose of breeding fish.

Truc Bach lake is also surrounded by historical sites and structures. Quan Thanh temple is situated on the southwest corner of the lake.

On the east, there is Chau Long pegoda in Chau Long street, which is said to be built in King Tran’s reign and to have been home for a princess, daughter of King Tran Nhan Tong, who led a religious life.

Also, there is An Tri temple, which is dedicated to a worship of Uy Do, a hero in a war against Nguyen invaders.

Truc Bach Lake together with Ly Tu Trong park creates a harmonious natural sight and a beautiful landscape for Hanoi capital.

View of Sofitel Plaza Hotel.

West Lake being the pride of Hanoi is the green lung of Thang Long.

Located in the northeast of Hanoi,Tay Ho district covering an area of about 500ha and a shore length of 17km.

West Lake and Truc Bach Lake originally used to be one lake but in 1620 a dam was built to separate the lakes into two by Cố Ngự dam.

West Lake is beautiful and very impressive because of its immense blue surface and full of fresh air.

In the morning the whole area could become very foggy.

Nha Khach Truc Bach at Tran Vu Street is a luxury restaurant.

The area around here has many embassies including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, Poland, Hungary and Canada.

One notable 23-storey high rise building at Dang Dung Street nearby is the Skyline Tower which has a breathtaking view of the whole lake,a 360 degree panoramic view.

The building has luxury residential apartments and commercial suites.

Thang Long Hanoi,1000 years Nam Van Hien(culture) anniversary celebration. This was the biggest celebration in Hanoi beginning 1st October 2010 lasting for 10 days with the last day being the grand Liberation Day of Hanoi.

A magnificient display of fireworks was at the My Dinh National Stadium which also features 8000 local artists showing their artwork with the theme:"Thang Long Hanoi,the city of the ascending dragons."

Tay Long 2 Floating restaurant.

Local bus No:14,33,45 and 55 stopped at Thuy Khue Street.

This Harley Davidson motorbike was fiercely decorated.

Floating restaurant with upper terrace viewing platform.

Towards the north-west of Ho Tay Lake is Sen Cultural Park West Lake Cuisine which is the biggest international buffet restaurant in Hanoi.
Location is at 614,Lac Long Quan Street at the end junction of Xuan La Street

Lac Long Quan Road is a very long stretch starting from the main road junction of An Duong Vuong-Au Road area.

Bus 25,33 and 55 do stop nearby.

Dragon Boat Tay Long 3 Restaurant.

Happy House Restaurant and Bakery on a boat docked to the south shore of Truc Bach Lake.

This one looked like a White Castle but couldn't see the restaurant name.

There is a modern Westlake Water Park towards the northern end of Tay Ho Lake quite near to the main road junction of Au Duong Vuong-Au Co.

Bus 33 and 55 bustop near side street 612 Lac Long Quan.

The waterpark was opened on the 19th My 2000 and entrance fees is 60,000 Dong on weekdays,80,000Dong on weekends.

Nha hang Du tuyen Ho tay Potomac Restaurant and Bar.

Located off Thuy Khue Street,Ho Tay. Nha Hang Dac San Banh Tom Ho Tay. Duong Than Nien Street,Ho Tay,Hanoi.

This is the most popular restaurant among the Hanoians as during lunch time it will be fully packed.

This place is famous for the Ho Tay shrimp cake.

View of Nha Hang Banh Tom dining area.

Tran Quoc Pagoda was founded on the bank of the Red River by King Ly Nam De who named it Khai Quoc (National Founder).

Much later, it was moved to its present site beside Hanoi’s Ho Tay (West) Lake during the reign of King Le Kinh Tong (1600-1618) and renamed Tran Quoc (National Defence).

The current building is the result of major renovations in 1815, but one of its effigies dates back to the early 17th century.

In the garden, there is a Pipal Tree (ficus religiosa, but known throughout history as the Bodhi tree) reputedly grown from a cutting of the original tree where Buddha sat and gained enlightenment.