Hanoi: Day 1

Earlier in March, we contacted by email a hotel in the city centre of Hanoi to request for a proposed itinerary for a 5D4N stay in Hanoi. We made it clear that it must include a 2D1N cruise in Halong Bay.

By the time we checked into the hotel after we landed at Hanoi Airport, it was early afternoon and we had the rest of the day for ourselves. We started by exploring this "chaotic" city. The word “chaotic” is most apt to describe the traffic system of this city. For somebody who comes from a place with proper traffic system, Hanoi's traffic system is almost insane! While there is some minimum traffic system in place, it is never followed either by drivers or the pedestrians. If one wants to cross the road either via the Zebra Crossing or to wait for the traffic light to turn green for the pedestrian crossing, one would never ever be able to cross to the other side.  The fact is that drivers will never ever stop for you! You just simply have to walk right through the road confronting directly the speeding cars and motorbikes. The amazing thing is that these incoming vehicles and endless waves of motorbikes somehow know how to slow or stop at the nick of time just inches away from you to allow you to pass through without a scratch. In spite of the apparent chaotic system, it has in fact a "system". I am very certain if some traffic wise guys want to introduce a regulated traffic system, the city traffic will most likely descend into a paralysis. We were green horns in crossing the road when we first arrived to Hanoi. But by the end of the holiday, we have become confident seasoned pedestrians just like the locals!

In the late afternoon, we spent 45 minutes watching the Water Puppet Show at the Thong Long Puppet Theatre which is just 5-minute walk from our hotel. The show is so popular that it runs at every 70 minutes interval from morning till night!

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Hoan Kiem Lake which is a mere 3 minutes walk from our hotel is also a popular site for both locals and tourists. At day time, the lake looks rather unpleasant with murky water and floating rubbish. But at night, it is deceptively beautiful when the surrounding trail, buildings and pedestrian bridge are lighted up!.