Wake up and Smell the Coffee/Cafe Culture
by Wild_Orchid
One of the best things that the French left behind in Vietnam is the cafe culture. On the streets, whether day or night, you will find pockets of people sitting around enjoying their cup of freshly brewed Vietnamese coffee. Even when it was way past midnight, on a deserted street within the Old Quarter, I saw young people seated on low stools sipping coffee, smoking and chatting quietly,
The one pictured is actually a shop that I didn't get to visit, but our tour bus passed by it a few times and this time, I managed to get a picture of it. How I lurve Vietnamese Coffee... the Arabica Beans which are grown in the highlands are hand - roasted with butter and afterwards a touch of vanilla is thrown in. The coffee is strong and robust with a slight bitter aftertaste that lingers on your tongue. Quite delicious when drunk with a spoonful of thick, creamy, sweet condensed milk. I miss it! ~sigh~
Bring your own sea -sickness-pills ,swimming suit
by UScutie
The bags and suitcase can leave it in hotel but bring small bags with u with when u r planning go see islands. Summer clothes are the best ,sandal ,short,T-shirt ,swimming suit ...if u want to take the boat trip go see all the caves around . Sea sickness pills are required 4 whom is not comfortable in sea .I had vomit alot because not use to with the waves.U can buy in Pharmacy around town but why lost time 4 looking when we have short time to enjoy ? Cover camera avoid the humid ,it may ruin your camera b/c humid is really high in here.If u r planning to buy Film ,look 4 expired date b/c I lost money 4 film that not working (no pictures after develope ),what is great ! VN stores they don't care and don't take back after u buy ,sorry not like US or Europe .
Ha Long Bay: Ratten Boats
by bpacker
You'll see countless of these little ratten boats once you're in halong bay. Lightweight and strangely sea-worthy, this boats can carry up to three locals at once.
A man paddles on a boat woven like a basket, slowly and silently across the green waters
Where:Somewhere in the depths of Ha Long Bay
One of a kind puppet show!!!
by Audrey118 about Water Puppet Theater
It cost a mere 3 dollars for first class seats and comes with paper fan and cassette!! For so little price, it was trully an authentic entertainment. I have seen all kinds of puppet shows...but this is very different.
There are several shows daily, we took the 8-9 pm show.
I had read about this ancient entertainment, which dates back as far as 11th century.
Water puppetry is popular during the flooding seson, mostly in Red River Delta provinces.
Many many puppets were used in the performance; it really intrigued me by the ability of the puppets hands to move and wave, the legs to flip etc. The puppet show is accompanied by a small orchestra, all local Vietnamese instruments, and very very unique ones, complete with narration...albeit in Vietnamese. The story line used based on local life, like fishing, mythical animals dances and possibly a historical ones as well etc.
Mr Toads Wild Ride - Cylco style
by tampa_shawn
For trips outside of the Old Quarter but inside the city itself cyclos were my favorite form of transportation. The Cyclos in Hanoi are wider than the Saigon version so two fit Westerns can usually cram into one…although they are pretty inexpensive so you can easily hire one for yourself.
Cyclos are amazing contraptions where you are sitting IN FRONT of the driver who is on a bicycle behind you so you really feel part of the crazy street traffic without the vulnerable feeling of being on the back of a motorbike (also available). The breeze often kept you cooler than in taxis (Vietnamese have an aversion to using AC in cars they think it takes too much gas)
When taking a cyclo make sure you agree on a price BEFORE you get on and write it down. If your putting two people in one cyclo make sure you get the price for both people…or you will get to your destination and find the price has doubled. I found it easier to hire the cyclos by the day or by the hour then by the trip. Most of the sights in Hanoi don’t take a lot of time so having the drive wait while your in the museum.
From a letter home
It's not quite lunchtime so we are off for another one of Mr. Toad’s wild rides on a cyclo to see more of Hanoi. There is just no way to describe the traffic here. We actually saw our first red light this morning and we almost took a picture since it is so rare. Imagine thousands and thousands and thousands of bikes and motorcycles on the roads with no stops signs or apparent rules. When you hit an intersection, everyone just keeps on going. On a 4 way intersection on a one or two lane road you may have 100 motorcycles in the intersection at once...all going different directions...about 50% coming straight at you. I really enjoy being on the cyclo (where you sit in FRONT of the driver in a buggy) and are part of it all.
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View of Halong bay from the deck of Victory Star!
Impressive form for 6.00am
Best Pho
Pushing condoms in a traditional society
