Travel Asia

Written on February 22, 2009 – 5:14 am | by traveler |

Hanoi is a city of charm. The unhurried pace of its lifestyle brings an aura so distinct from other Asian capitals. It is a little bereft of frenetic urban semblance, with which the orient is known for. The green awnings over its wide boulevards rekindle poetry more than remind tourists of their next itinerary. As the French colonial villa brandish the old-world lure, romantic lakes within the heart of the city afford a valid excuse to daydream once more.

This hamlet of old has traces of civilizations dating as far back as the New Stone Age. In the course of its history, this settlement west of the Red River was a placid spectator in the rise and fall of foreign and local empires and kingdoms around it for thousands of years, until the city itself rose to become a capital of Dai Viet (Great Viet), or what is commonly known as Ly Dynasty in 1010 AD. Since then, Than Long (Dragon Rising) renamed it Hanoi, and it played crucial roles in the country’s evolution.

When visiting Hanoi, it is preferred to stay at the periphery of the legendary Hoan Kiem Lake. One reason is for early risers to catch a glimpse of locals going about the traditional tai chi by the banks before the sun breaks into a misty morning. This shaded lagoon was naturally designed for leisurely strolls, as the view of elegant colonial buildings loom across the water and the scents of freshly baked baguettes, brioches and croissants are suspended seductively in the air-courtesy of cafes along Cha Ca Road in the Old Quarters.

Hanoi’s Old Quarters is a vivacious market place since the 13th century. It is famous for existing alliances between particular products and the names of the streets where the commodities are sold, such as Silver Street, Silk Street, Paper Street and so on. This practice has been going on for hundreds of years, and a little has been changed. Because the alleys are so narrow, it’s a must to look out for motorcycles and cycles, as they whoosh an inch away from your torso.

On a small island in the northern part of Hoan Kiem lake accessible by a wooden bridge is the 18th century Ngoc Son (Jade Mountain Temple). Nearby is a nighttime theater for water puppet shows, complete with a live orchestra and a lure to unearth centuries-old secrets in the magical art of water puppetry. Still within the lake, on an islet south, is Thap Rua (Tortoise Tower), a landmark often used as a symbol of Hanoi.

A little less than two kilometers west from Hoan Kiem is Ba Dinh Square, site of Tran Quoc Pagoda which is one of Vietnam’s oldest pagodas, the Quan Thanh Temple, The Presidential Palace, The House on Stilts, the Ho Chin Minh Museum, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. A visit to this final resting place of the 20th century Vietnamese communist leader will take you through a long flight or marble stairs before entering an eerie room, where a glass sarcophagus of the embalmed body of the president is ensconced.