A short break in Hanoi, Vietnam

[chuah406]

Last week the missus and I took a short vacation in Hanoi. First time in Vietnam, we wanted to see what it has to offer and experience their culture. Hanoi is a city of 4 million people but at times there seems to be more motorcycles than people. And traffic is really heavy & disorganised. Blaring their horns is a norm. From my observation I think if you can drive in Hanoi, you can drive anywhere in the world! Some shots of these 2-wheel power in Hanoi.

#1
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2132/2148484070_8af0ba34a6_o.jpg

#2
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2391/2147690009_4256344ab6_o.jpg

#3
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2128/2148484262_d100f90a91_o.jpg

[rhizomegrazz]

the rule is... if u want to cross... just cross don bother to look at right or left, they will gv way 2u. just like kerbau... lots of thing to see overthere.. i recommend everyone go there at early morning - go tho the park at 7am (malaysia time) you will amaze on how thousands of people doing morning xcersice in everypark.. i recommend lennin park or thong nhat (spell - thong nyiat)...

[AhMah]

Good panning shots!

I tried panning those m/bikes from the bus..all koyak :(

Yeah...traffic in Hanoi is madenning, esp in the Old Qtrs..the m/bikes can come in any direction; But surprisingly, hardly see any major accident while I was there. Think the way to cross the road is to walk into the traffic; the bikes have a knack of avoiding the pedestrians:)

[chuah406]

the rule is... if u want to cross... just cross don bother to look at right or left, they will gv way 2u. just like kerbau... lots of thing to see overthere.. i recommend everyone go there at early morning - go tho the park at 7am (malaysia time) you will amaze on how thousands of people doing morning xcersice in everypark.. i recommend lennin park or thong nhat (spell - thong nyiat)...

Good panning shots!

I tried panning those m/bikes from the bus..all koyak :(

Yeah...traffic in Hanoi is madenning, esp in the Old Qtrs..the m/bikes can come in any direction; But surprisingly, hardly see any major accident while I was there. Think the way to cross the road is to walk into the traffic; the bikes have a knack of avoiding the pedestrians:)

Yes, you're right. We were advised to walk thru....somehow the bikes will avoid you. Amazing. Here in KL, they'll probably ram into you.... ;)

[chuah406]

Food is abundant in Hanoi. Every corner in town is some noodle stall, French loaves etc. But we were too cautious to try them as the hygiene factor was dubious. Beer is cheap. One cafe in the Old Quarter selling at 7,000 VND (RM1.50) for a draught beer. Bottles were abt 10,000 VND. And the coffee was heavenly, dripped into cups and stirred in with condensed milk, the flavour is fantastic. Beats your Starbucks coffee hands down... :)

#4 Local beer
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2078/2150139073_731520e80d_o.jpg

#5 Spring rolls
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2069/2150929680_c7539f1f46_o.jpg

#6 Cha ca - grilled fish
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2223/2153958442_847a16a7d7_o.jpg

#7 Dripped coffee
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2268/2153164943_4781fd03ce_o.jpg

[sampoerna]

Nice capture. Weather is nice in Hanoi at this time.

[ckii96]

Nice travel series. Keep 'em coming! :D

[chuah406]

Nice capture. Weather is nice in Hanoi at this time.

Nice travel series. Keep 'em coming! :D

thanks, guys..

We took a 1 day tour to Halong Bay which cost us USD20 pax. Travel time is a long 3.5 hour ride in a small bus. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the bay tour is really popular. You can in fact spend overnight in one of the boats that ply the route. As it was winter, temp was a chilly 15-18C daytime.

#8 View of the hazy bay area.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2160/2158116550_41efbdd62d_o.jpg


#9 A typical boat with rooms to spend the night
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/2158116390_22d9f2eed5_o.jpg


Part of the tour includes a visit to some limestone caves with stalactite formations. Not a very big cave actually and you can cover that within 15 minutes.

#10 Cave bathed in light
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2409/2158456314_fd1c90ea47_o.jpg

[asiakingtravel]

Oh, it's very nice pictures, Vietnam is wondeful