I like Hanoi. The chaotic city has its own charm. The people were very busy with their lives. Bicycles, trishaws and motorbikes were "flying" everywhere. They were so busy with their own activities and that ironically made me feel safe in their midst. Am I making sense?
How can you feel that it was dangerous to walk at night when there were so many decent looking young ladies on motorbikes and bicycles enjoying themselves?
We were staying at the Old Quarter. Hanoi would not be Hanoi without its Old Quarter, a maze of streets dating back to the 13th century. We witnessed first-hand its present-day chaos, maybe just a different version of the old chaos, when specialised trade guilds were responsible for each street.
A visit to Hanoi would not be complete without taking a cruise of Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The "green" water was quite soothing to the soul. Canoeing was part of the cruise package. The price of Halong Bay-City Tour-Water Puppet Show was US$58 per person. The water puppet show was funny and interesting. You should experience it at least once in your life ;)
We were there from 24-28 February 2008. The weather was great, suitable for walking and shopping ;p Air Asia return flight was RM520 for two.
All in all it was a good holiday. If you have nowhere in mind to go for an extended weekends trip, maybe you can consider Hanoi.
I've uploaded 226 photos for your viewing pleasure. You can access them at my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/mkhasha.n.travels/. Go to the photo albums.
Njoy!!
