Hanoi, Vietnam

Bowl of Hot Pho awaits you in Vietnam!!

This is easily one of my favorite cities we have visited so far.  They say Hanoi was like the Paris of Asia in the 60’s.  The city streets are lined with locals eating and drinking, not in outdoor terraces like in Europe, but rather on little plastic stools on small, jagged sidewalks, alleys, or anywhere you can possibly situate yourself.  The food is also being cooked right where one set up shop, in several large, steaming pots usually with a variety of greens and other things we didn't recognize.   The buildings are old French colonial buildings that have charming cafes and small mom and pop stores.  Walking around the city is fascinating as it’s so different than anywhere else I have been.  It’s so colorful, vibrant, and busy all at the same time and has a thousand different food smells as you walk. 

feather dusters

street side dining

street side poker

bun cha

The Vietnamese work so hard all day, everyday, in the heat, in the rain, and often fall asleep at their post.  Their labor is also fascinating and so different than home.  We simply enjoyed soaking in the culture of this place and of course at a lot of PHO.  Supposedly, Hanoi is the birthplace of pho, but there is some controversy over this.  We went to a few hole in the wall places and a few actual restaurants and we found that they do NOT use plum sauce here.  So, for those of you who love that bit of sweet with your salty, you may be disappointed.  For us, the pho did not disappoint.  It was delicious none the less and as predicted better in the streets.  Another favorite was the bun cha.  Fresh rice noodles, broth, grilled pork patties, a massive plate of Asian greens including lettuce, basil, mint and perilla, and last but not least fried spring rolls.  It’s pure bliss.  Another thing I fell in love with was the fresh cane sugar juice.  AMAZING!!  Fresh cane sugar is pressed through this crusher and reveals the best quencher on a hot day. 

Cane Juice

Another thing you will notice in Hanoi is the motorbikes and bicycles.  They dominate the city and Nathaniel got some cool pics one afternoon stroll…Nathaniel also got into his first altercation here over someone swearing at me.  I didn’t do anything wrong; the point is, he was about to get into a fist fight for me and I of course told him it wasn’t worth it.  Also, the guy was like 5’4”!  I frequently like to tell my husband that he’s a big, strong man now.

Lastly, it’s so incredibly cheap here.  For perspective, we usually eat for about $3, take a taxi for a few bucks, and have amazing accommodation’s for  about $30.  This is also the first time I have EVER slept in a round bed.  Recommended ;) If you happen to make it to Vietnam, Hanoi should not be missed.

street side boba tea