The early morning mist rises
from the Hoan Kiem Lake while elders perform
the slow movements of Tai Chi in green parks,
streets become filled with mopeds
and cyclo drivers (three-wheeled bicycle taxis) clamor for people attention.
This is Hanoi for you.
A city wrapped in the past,
even as it strides into the future.
Although considered to be the social and cultural center of Vietnam,
Hanoi has a far slower and less developed vibe than Ho Chi Minh City.
Luckily,
this slow pace of development has preserved
the special vibe you will live in Hanoi,
with fascinating old buildings,
green views on boulevards,
and smiling local people.
Especially,
the historic Old Quarter with
its French style streets and arts and crafts bargains is a delight.
It’s in the Old Quarter of Hanoi
that you experience the bygone charm of the city’s colonial past.
There are many recently refurbished hotels that
kept an eye to the traditional architecture and design.
Most of them face the quiet Hoan Kiem lake
providing guests with beautiful views from terraces and windows.
As a cultural center,
Hanoi has quite a lot to offer.
From water puppet shows to music and religious festivals,
dance performances and a lot more.
If you are visiting Vietnam in March,
we recommend the Whale Festival and the Elephant Race.
The former is a fishermen festival typical of
Quang Nam Village in Da Nang province,
where people worship whales
and their gods asking for prosperity;
the latter is more traditional in the countryside in
Don Village or forests near the Sevepoi River (Dac Lak).
The race track is large enough for ten elephants
running on an even ground near the forest for 1-2 km.
At the signal,
the mahouts command their elephants to go to the starting line
and will start running,
excited by the sound of the drums,
gongs,
and cheering from the viewers.
At the end of the race,
the winning one waves to the viewers
with its trunk and is offered sugarcane and banana leaves.
The more traditional Chinese New Year
is also celebrated in Hanoi with fervor and festivity.
A1,000-year-old capital,
a low-rise city of lakes and peaceful parks,
Hanoi will enchant its visitors with simple but unique moments.
But really, we are all about offbeat,
and we thought of highlighting these two festivals for you.
Interested in planning a trip to Vietnam?
Don’t think too much.
The country is a real delight.
0