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.

Cho Chau Long is a small wet market selling fresh vegetables,marine products and sundry goods located off Tran Vu Street near Truc Bach Lake.

Ga Long Bien Railway Station.

The bustling Hang Khoai Street where Chợ Đồng Xuân market is located offers a real insight of the daily activities of the local people.

This is also a great place for sampling some of the cheap street food where most of the food stalls were in the small alleys.













Towards the eastern end of Hang Khoai Street-Nguyen Thiep Street traffic junction is a cyclinder shaped building know as Thap Nuoc Hang Dau or Hang Dau Water Tower constructed by the French in 1894.

The water tank's( French:Chateau D'eau) capacity is 1250 cubic metres and has now been redundant.





Next to the water tank building is a small park with a statue of a soldier and a women that looked like the Lady of Liberty.

The wording here says 'Spiritually(Quyet Tu) Sacrifice(Quyet sinh) for the Nation(De To Quoc)'







Busy street barbers attending to customers around the park.
This place is quite cooling with lines of trees providing the canopy.








The end of Hang Khoai Street meets Tran Nhat Duat main highway road and on the left is Long Bien Railway Station.

 This stairway entrance is in between some of the shops but further down is another main access road.






A narrow road leading to the railway station with no signboard.
Street stalls lining on both sides.

Family Hostel is inside one of the alley near the railway station in Gam Cau Street.

Room rates is around USD15.
The owner possibly owns another hostel of the same name in Cau Go Street.

Main entrance to Ga Long Bien ticketing counters.

Fast Train Departure schedule from Long Bien Terminal.
To Hai Phong:(leaving/arrival) 09:30/12:10, 15:35/18:00 and 18:10/ 20:35

Hai Phong is a coastal city and has a deep water port.It is the second largest industrial centre of the north.
To Quan Trieu: 14:35/ 17:30
Quan Trieu is in Thai Nguyen Province,near Thai Nguyen capital city which is a first class city and the 9th largest city in Vietnam.
A center of heavy industries in northern Vietnam especially with the presence of TISCO Iron and Steel Company,a susidiary of the TATA Group headquartered in Mumbai,India.

To Yen Bai:13:06 /18:00
A mountainous provincial city in north central Vietnam and is an important transport hub which link to the border town of Lao Cai and into Yunan in China.

Ticket counter operating hours:05:00 till 21:00.

Hanoi - Hai Phong Express Train destinations fares: 1) Cam Giang-30,000VND -a rural district (huyện) of Hai Duong province in the Red River Delta region of Vietnam.

2) Hai Duong-35,000VND -provincial capital and a highly developed industrial zone.

3) Phu Thai-45,000VND -capital city of Kim Thành District,a rural district of Hai Duong province in the Red River Delta region of Vietnam.

4) Hai Phong-55,000VND -20km from Hai Phong is the Gulf of Tonkin and a beautiful beach in a small peninsula is Do Son beach,a tourist resort.
A casino is in Do Son Resort Hotel.

Another company Hoa Phuong with the heading title 'High Quality Car Coach' offering Hanoi-Hai Phong train service.

In the timetable also mentioned leaving Hanoi which must be the main station at Gia Lam.

Leaving Hanoi at 06:00 arrived at 08:15 and 16:05 arrived at 18:05.

Long Bien station:09:30/12:10, 16:06/18:06 and 18:00/20:00
Fares: Cam Giang=25,000/32,000VND
Hai Duong=35,000/40,000VND
Phu Thai=45,000/50,000VND
Hai Phong=55,000/60,000VND




States ticket fares and goods handling charges schedule for northern destinations.
Main operator is Vietnam Railway.

This one is a slow train(viet:gia tau) stopping at many stations along the way.
Judging from the tickets price,they must be the hard seater. Gia Lam=10,000 (Hanoi main station at Le Duan Street.) Lang Son=23,000 (bordering China's Guangxi Province)






Train schedule fares Long Bien right till Dong Dang terminal.
Fares:60,000VND. Dong Dang is about half hour journey(20km) from Lang Son City which is near China's Quanxi Province.

Dong Dang(3km to the border) is the busiest international gateway via the Youyi Guan - Huu Nghi Quan( Friendship Pass).

On the China side,you'll reached the city of Pingxiang before reaching Nanning.





Train routes from Long Bien to Lao Cai.

Fares:180,000VND

Lao Cai and Sa Pa are two important cities within the province at the border with China and is a very popular tourists destination.

Lao Cai is the last stop before crossing into China on way to Kumming(Yunnan Province) across the border, which lies at the end of the train line to China.





Trains routes from Long Bien to Yen Bai(180km from Hanoi). Yen Bai Province borders Lao Cai, Ha Giang in the north, Son La Province in the west, Tuyen Quang in the east, and Phu Tho in the south.

The province has many beautiful sceneries and natural landscape.







Long Bien Rail Track Bridge built in 1903 across Red River that connects the two parts of Hanoi.

It was originally called Paul Doumer Bridge.Paul Doumer was the Governor-General of French Indochina.

The roads on both side were specially for motorcyclists.





It was heavily bombarded during Vietnam War due to its critical position (the only bridge at that time across the Red River and connect Hanoi to the main port Haiphong).

 Some parts of the original structure remain intact, while large sections have been built later to repair the holes.

Only half of the bridge retains its original shape. Today trains, mopeds, bicycles and pedestrians use the dilapidated bridge, while all other traffic is diverted to the nearby Chuong Duong Bridge and some newly built bridges: Thanh Tri Bridge, Thang Long Bridge, Vinh Tuy Bridge, and Nhat Tan Bridge.

 Under the bridge, around forty extremely poor families live in boats on the Red River, coming from many poor rural areas of Vietnam.

 View of part section of the Long Bien Bridge from Tran Nhat Duat Road.

Noticed that there was a wall or dyke separating the main road to the other side of the communities.









This section of the bridge uses the most steel bar in construction and the engineering technology used by French engineers is superb.

The bridge span is 1,682metres. Inside one alley near the road entrance to Long Bien train station were many stalls selling glasswares,teapots,ceramic,kitchen wares and household utensils.





These chinawares teapots looked very nice.














Shopowner carrying huge piles of clothes hangers on his motorbike trying to manouvere along this narrow alley.

  Glass jars and containers.

Storing ginseng herbs inside the glass jar.

Baguette seller.





Traditional stove using charcoal is still in commonly being used.

Cho Dong Xuan garments wholesale centre

Dong Xuan Market (Vietnamese: Chợ Đồng Xuân,Chinese:同春) is the largest covered market in the central district Hoan Kiem of Hanoi, Vietnam and was built by the French administration in 1889.

 The market is in Hanoi's Old Quarters area about 600m north of Hoan Kiem Lake.
The most recognizable feature of the market was the 5-arch entrance corresponding to Dong Xuan Market's five domes.

Dong Xuan Market has been renovated several times with the latest in 1994 after a fire which almost destroyed the market and 4.5 million USD worth of stocks became ashes.

Vehicles similar to the electric powered golf cart were many outside the market.
 These E-cars were introduced by Dong Xuan Corporation and was officially launched on the 17th July 2010.
Tourists will be driven around various places such as the 28 commercial streets, 13 craft streets, 22 communal houses, 39 temples, 3 pagodas and 8 historical places around Hoan Kiem Lake and back to Dong Xuan market.

The market is run by the Dong Xuan Shareholding Company (Công ty cổ phần Đồng Xuân).
 It has three storeys which are divided into stalls for wholesale and small traders who sell clothes or household goods.

 

Foodstuffs of every kinds from fresh vegetables to Vietnamese dishes are also found at the rear of the market.

As the biggest wholesale market of Hanoi, Dong Xuan Market has to face with several problems such as counterfeit consumer goods and pollution.

 In 2003, the night market of the Dong Xuan Market was opened on the occasion of the 2003 Southeast Asian Games.








When the First Indochina War broke out in Hanoi in early 1947, a fierce struggle between Việt Minh and French forces took place in the area of the market on February 14.

To commemorate the event, a memorial was erected near the principal gate of the market in 2005.





Ethic Chinese shop selling decorative products and souvenirs.

  Ladies garments and lingeries wholesale and retail.
In 2009, Vietnam was named the sixth most attractive emerging market destination for retail investment in the world by management consulting firm A.T. Kearney.






Typical family styled lunchtime servings for shop assistants.

Vietnamese eating together culture is heavily influenced by that of Southern China.
The most common utensils are chopsticks and a flat spoon.
Table manners such as chopsticks should be placed on the table or a chopstick rest after every few mouthfuls or when breaking to drink or speak.

There is a food court on the upper level of the complex.

It looked quite confusing and messy if one were to browse through the goods displayed around the shops.

The stuffs were very cheap and most were probably source from China.

Street vendors or local retailers also come here to replenish their stocks and the whole place was pretty crowded.

Vietnam is the third most populous country in Southest Asia after Indonesia and Philippines and ranked thirteen in the world so the consumers market here do offer tremendous business opportunities.

At the moment, the population showed a fair gendered distribution,with 49.5%men and 50.5% being women.

Traditional markets remain popular with the generations who were fond of the cheap prices, the familiar booths and the opportunity to exercise their bargaining skills.

Foreign firms have been showing increasing interest in Vietnam since the government opened to its door to wholly foreign-owned retails from January 1 2009, under the country’s World Trade Organization commitments.








Korea products at one of the retail outlet.
 South Korea is Vietnam's third-largest trading partner; they were also the fourth-largest foreign investor after Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong.

Winter clothing.

The North of Vietnam experiences cool, damp winters between November and April with temperatures in Hanoi falling to around 15°C. Nice children clothings.
















 Fashionable ladies boots.

Colourful design of children sweaters.

Imagine the huge turnover of business with these goods waiting for delivery by local transporters.











Worker carting goods.













Similar to their Indonesian counterparts,these women used their head to carry goods.
















Already one huge bale of clothings were on the motorcycle back.
He's waiting for the next bale to be loaded on. Silk fabrics and ready made ladies dresses.

Freelance women workers waiting to help carry goods.






Temporary storage area,goods on transit.
There seemed to be no system of tagging the goods to individual ownership.
This can also look like a heap of garbage.










 Ladies woolen sweater.







Freelance porters waiting patiently to offer their services.













Innovative way of packing the shoes in a huge cloth bag instead of using carton boxes. This can help maximize delivery space.