Thailand beyond solo backpacking: Hanoi is romantically fascinating

The journey from Noi Bai International Airport passed through the The Red River (Vietnamese: Sông Hồng; Chinese: 红河; pinyin: Hóng Hé), also known as the Sông Cái - Mother River (Vietnamese), We passed through this stretch known as Cau Thang Long Bridge span.

The river originated from Dali,Yunnan Province,China and enters Vietnam via Lao Cai Province.

As the Red River flows into the lowlands at Viet Tri in Phu Tho Province,many rivers and distibutaries began spreading out to form the Red River Delta before it empties into the Gulf of Tonkin.

The reddish-brown heavily silt-laden water gives the river its name.
The Red River is notorious for its violent floods with its seasonally wide volume fluctuations.
The delta is a major agricultural area of Vietnam with vast area devoted to rice. The land is protected by an elaborate network of dikes and levees.

Hanoi City with a population of closed to 4million inhabitants itself is located on the right bank of the Red River.

There are two main highways linking the airport and city. The route to the city via Thang Long Bridge is more direct than Highway 1, which runs along the outskirts of the city.

The main highways are shared by cars, motor scooters, with separate lanes by the side for bicycles.

The local public buses uses Highway 1 which passes by most of the smaller towns and villagers. Photo shows view of a huge modern communities after crossing Cu Thang Long Bridge.

Along the way travellers can also see the Noi Bai Industrial Park owned by the Noi Bai Development Company, a joint venture between Renon (Malaysia) and Ha Noi Industrial Construction Company which was established in 1994.

After Thanh Long Bridge,the minibus moved onto Pham Van Dong Road which is a road interchange linking to other parts of Hanoi.

It then turned into Nguyen Hoang Ton Road and Lac Long Quan Road where this beautiful entry arch to some exclusive villas and highrise apartment buildings were located.

This is Nam Thanh Long Hanoi which is being developed into Ciputra Hanoi Internationl City.

The arch with the horses on top immediately made me recalled my visit to Tanggerang City,West Jakarta,Republic of Indonesia which has close similarity .

After making some research ,this confirmed that the whole development project was undertaken by the Indonesian conglomerate PT Ciputra Property Group (Jakarta Stock Exchange Code:CTRP)

Ciputra Hanoi is in Northeast of Hanoi City, away 10km from city’s center, located on Lac Long Quan, Xuan Phu and La Thuong Ward, Tay Ho District.

The project is contiguous with Vàng Dai 2 Street which is surrounded by Red River and West Lake in the East. At Western Gate, the property gets in touch with Vanh Dai 3 Street, adjacent to Thang Long Bridge and way to Noi Bai International Airport.

Adjacent to West Lake,the natural beauty of West Lake’s landscape was well preserved to make it a garden city.

Ciputra Hanoi has area of 300ha with good infrastructure with a harmonius green environment.

It is midway between Noi Bai International Airport and Hanoi Old Quarters. With about 50 high-storey towers, the project comprises 2,500 villas, office complexes, trading centers, shopping areas and Ciputra Mall, hospitals, schools together with entertainment services, community health centers for residential size of 50,000 people.

In addition, public constructions have been completed and serving people here such as: tennis, court, swimming pool, gym, mini supermarket, baking service, parking lot and etc.
In apartment towers, large functional conference rooms are available in order to meet demands of collective meeting or personal business with capacity from 500 to 800 guests.

There are 3 gates in the urban settings.
Specific feature of three gates is that all of them are constructed painstakingly with beautiful architecture.
At these gates, uniform securities with courteous and professional style work all day and night. In the urban, town planning is like park with green grass cover and fresh flowers with many kinds are planted everywhere and mixed with beautiful fountains, statues and relievos.

Whole picture of Ciputra Hanoi is very peaceful and pure. Apartment Rental rates: * Air-cons, fridge, washing machine * 3 - 4 Beds, matresses * Lightings, hot and cold water * Swimming pool and tennis court * 24/24 hour Security * Price: 1300 - 2500 USD/month.

Foreigners wishing to stay here can contact their marketing office at 671-675 Loc Long Quan, Tay Ho,Hanoi,Vietnam Tel. 844-758760-61 Fax. 844-7580763.

The minibus journey continues near Tay Ho Lake which has many restaurants nearby.

Moving on to Tran Quang Khai Road which is within the Hanoi Old Quarter area,the road here seemed to have one side higher then the other.
These high walls dykes built was to prevent flooding by the overflowing Red River.

Throughout Vietnamese history, the dykes have played an important role in everyday life. Since ancient times, the mobilization of people to dyke construction sites helped build up the nation’s common identity.

Romance in Hanoi,a bride and bridegroom having a photo session in front of the Hanoi Opera House building.

Foreigners wishing to marry a Vietnamese citizen need to apply for marriage obtained from the Vietnamese Justice Department and the processing fee is 500,000 VND.

A letter by the local vital statistics office certifying that no marriage license or marriage certificate of the applicant is found within the state where the applicant is residing in.

The search period must be started from the year when the applicant was 18-year-old to present. In case the applicant was divorced, or a previous spouse is deceased, a certified photocopy of death certificate must be submitted. (This requirement may vary from province to province).

The Hanoi Opera House which is nearly 100 years old is situated on Le Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi; near the Red River and several hundreds meters east of Hoan Kiem Lake.

It is an old three-storey theatre with French architecture and typical Gothic and Mosaic characters reflected on the door domes and the glassed room respectively.

Theatrical performance and traditional songs and music, symphonies, opera and classical opera were held in this venue with a seating capacity of closed to 600 audiences. It is also a tourist attraction for local and foreign visitors.

Vietnamese innovative ways of product advertising using the bicycle.

The living standards of people in Vietnam have risen dramatically in recent years.

Because of this, changes in consumption are evident everywhere.

From Saigon to Hanoi, an explosion of luxurious department stores, hawk their wares, providing wood for the fire of capitalism.

Nowhere has felt the burn more then the nation’s once sleepy capital, where high-end departments store are crammed with commercial- ized youth clamoring for the latest and greatest brand name products.

Bata shoes shop at the corner of Ba Trieu junction with Trang Thi Road nearby Hoan Kiem Lake. Further down Ba Trieu Road near Hai Ba Trung road junction is the British Embassy in Hanoi.

A building painter having a tough time painting the the dome shape window canopy.

His right hand is holding on to the rope while his left hand is struggling to complete the task.

If he was to complete this part,someone is needed to shift the rope to the other position.

The building management must be reluctant to engage a skylift crane to make life easier.

Turtle Tower (Vietnamese: Tháp Rùa) in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake.

According to legend, Lê Lợi ,the emperor of Vietnam had a magic sword given to him by Kim Qui, the Golden Turtle God.

One day, not long after the Chinese had accepted Vietnam's independence, Lê Lợi was out boating on a lake in Hanoi.

Suddenly a large turtle surfaced, took the sword from Lê Lợi, and dived back into the depths.
Efforts were made to find both the sword and the turtle, but without success.

Lê Lợi then acknowledged the sword had gone back to the Golden turtle God and renamed the lake Hoan Kiem Lake (or Ho Guom), "The Lake of the Returned Sword".
Public bus 09 and 36 stop at Le Thai To Street just beside the lake.
ANZ Bank is just nearby.

Accomodations off Le Thi To Street includes: Golden Sun Lake View:Bao Khanh Road,off Phu Doan
Hanoi Imperial:Bao Khanh Road,off Phu Doan Hanoi Backpackers Hostel the Original: Ngo Huyen off Ly Quoc Su Road
Splendid Star Hotel: Tho Xuong,off Phu Doan Road Hanoi Impressive Hotel: An Triu Road,off Ly Quoc Su
Hanoi Green Mango Hotel: Hang Quat Road,off Luong Van Can

City View Cafe (Tel:+84 4 934 7911) on the 5th floor building along Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District near the Thanh Long Water Puppet Theater is among the many rooftop restaurants and bars with a panoramic view of Hanoi city.

Other places with rooftop panoramic views include:
The Rooftop Bar and Restaurant, 19th floor, Pacific Place, 83B Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoàn Kiem District, Hanoi. +84 4 3946 1902. Located on the corner of Ly Thuong Kiet and Phan Boi Chau, opposite the offices of the UNDP.

Summit Lounge, Sofitel Plaza Hanoi, 1 Thanh Nien Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi 10000. Renowned for having the best view in Hanoi with spectacular panoramic views of the city skyline. 4.30pm till 12 Midnight.

The Level Executive Lounge, 20th floor, Melia Hanoi Hotel, 44B Ly Thuong Kiet, Hanoi. +84 3934 3343. Guests can enjoy picturesque views over the rivers, parks and lakes of Hanoi from this lounge.

The Sunset Bar, InterContinental Hotel, 1A Nghi Tam, Tay Ho, Hanoi. This is the place to be for cocktails and a romantic experience that's unmatched anywhere. To get here you'll take an evening stroll along a torch-lit bridge and drink in the dramatic view as you head toward this bar set on its own island in Westlake.

Lake View Sky Lounge, 18th Floor, Hanoi Daewoo Hotel, 360 Kim Ma, Hanoi. +84 3831 5000. Extension: 3225/3045/3400. Daily 5.30pm - 1am.
Admire the sweeping panorama by day, or the wonderland of twinkling lights by night.

Park View Restaurant and Lotus Bar, Top floor, Ocean Hotel, 48 Tran Nhan Tong Street, Pho Hue/Hom Market, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi.
Authentic Vietnamese cuisine in this elegant roof-top restaurant. Overlooks Hanoi's biggest park as well as the stunning Thien Quang Lake.

Sky View Restaurant and Bar, 10th floor, Star View Hotel, 120 Quan Thanh Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. +84 4 3715 0555.
Lovely resturant located on the top floor with a stunning view over Hanoi and West lake.
Close to Hanoi's Old Quarter and some Hanoi attractions such as the One-Pillar Pagoda, the Museum of Vietnamese Art, Temple of Literature, the Ho Chi Minh Complex as well as Westlake.

Elegance Cafe & Restaurant, 12th floor, Hanoi Elegance Diamond Hotel (formerly Hanoi Elegance Hotel 5), 32 Lo Su Street, Old Quarter, Hanoi . +84 4 3935 1632.
Panoramic views of the Hoàn Kiem Lake, the Red River & Long Bien Bridge. Terrace, Quan Bia Minh, 7 Pho Dinh Liet, Hanoi. +84 4 934 5323.
View life from the picturesque 2nd floor balcony.

Sky Lounge, 16th floor, Hotel Nikko Hanoi, 84 Tran Nhan Tong, Hanoi. +84 3822 3535.

Ngoc Mai Restaurant, 17th floor, Ruby Plaza Building, 44 Le Ngoc Han, Hai Bà Trung, Hanoi. Vietnamese. Great views. On the top floor. Puku Cafe, 1st floor, 60 Hang Trong, Hoàn Kiem, Hanoi.

Popular Rooftop cafe. Along western Hoàn Kiem Lake. Festa (Ly Quoc Su) Rooftop Terrace, 39C Ly Quoc Su, Hanoi. +84 4 3243 1589.