Hanoi Local Customs

Pham Quynh Anh is a Belgian of Vietnamese extraction, thus a Viet Khieu, is a talented young singer who released a song written for her over the net which has become the favourite of millions of people all over the viet khieu world.
the words are very touching and you can watch it on youtube.com look under quynh anh and hello vietnam
The English lyrics of Bonjour Viet Nam, as circulated on the Internet, are provided below:

Hello Viet Nam

by Marc Lavoine

Tell me this strange and difficult name to pronounce

that I have carried since birth

Tell me about the old empire and the features of my slanted eyes

describing me better than what you dare not say

I only know about you from images of war

A movie by Coppola and the angry helicopters

Someday I will go there, someday, I’ll say hello to your soul

Someday I will go there (to) say hello to you, Viet Nam.

Tell me about my colour, my hair and my small feet

that I have carried since birth

Tell me about your house, your street, tell me this unknown entity

The floating markets and the wooden sampans

I only know about my country via the photos of war

A film by Coppola and the angry helicopters

Someday I will go there, one day I’ll say hello to my soul

Someday I will go there (to) say hello to you, Viet Nam.

The temples and stone-carved Buddha statues for my fathers

The stooping women in rice fields for my mothers

Praying in the light to see my brothers again

Touch my soul, my roots, my land...

Someday I will go there, some day I’ll say hello to my soul.

Someday I will go there (to) say hello to you, Viet Nam.

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No, it is not voyeurism! In Hanoi, you may be surprised by the number of young couples, walking hand in hand, sitting on benches, kissing as if nobody is around. . . refreshing view to me, optimism, just beauty of life! Nothing more, and it remembers me an old song from Georges Brassens, an anarchist poet and singer, famous in France in the sixty-seventies. . . listen to Les amoureux qui se bécotent sur les bancs publics, which mocks people scandalized by what they see on public benches. . . . I blurred the faces of the protagonists, when it is possible to recognize them, I do not want to trigger possible conjugal problems!
Is it not refreshing?

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During the day, walking in the streets, you may see lots of these guys having a rest on their bike! The pictures here demonstrate following: if these guys are able to sleep on their narrow bike, they must be very dexterous in the traffic! So do not be scared when taking that kind of transportation, guys sleeping on their bikes must be good at driving. But all guys sleeping on their bikes are not taxis, so do not wake them up for a ride, you never know in what mood they wake up. . . . . Ah! The guy on the third picture is a goods transporter, he has no space on his vehicle. . . . and the biker on the fourth picture just woke up

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The Chinese invaded Viet Nam several times, the French colonised Tonkin and Annam, the Americans “napalmed” villages and cities and defoliated thousands of square kilometres of forests, but all learned to know the bitter taste of defeat!
Military training is apparently a very important custom in Vietnam, and walking in the streets you may often come across groups of young people, school pupils attending military training. The photographs here have been taken in public parks (in the morning), on several occasions south and east of Hoan Kiem lake.
I personally HATE militarism, military marches, weapons, uniforms, “homogeneous” crowds or herds etc. etc. . . but have respect for freedom, people who defend their faith, ideas, beliefs, their group or person. . . well, no space here to discuss about! Thinking about with historical background and examples is part of real tourism to me. And here, my understanding is that recent history may in some way be responsible for these brainwashing sessions, which are felt necessary by government and people. Sad but I can understand in some way
Ah, the brainwashing session is not that bad, the young people smile and wink at the foreigner looking at them!(Picture5)

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It may be all the year round and it is a very nice sight, these young people who decided to bind their destinies and show it to the world.
In parks, gardens, museums, the young people pose for professional photographers and the traveller who has the luck to be there at the right time is sometimes invited to make pictures too, or is at least allowed to make some shots; it is a bit an exotic thing to witness, and a sign of optimism and faith in future! And if many brides are dressed in white, some wear original colours like red or light violet, which is a nice colour for that special event. . . . . giving them a special charm. . . a pity for the photographing traveller they are about (or just) to marry. . . hahaha!
The traditional wedding feasts last at least three days and nights, and the young people pose for photographers before the real marriage, which takes place a few days later; imagine the couples posing after three days of feasts. . . . they would not look fresh and in good shape like that, that is why they have the photographing sessions before the marriage.
The pictures have been taken at Hoan Kiem Lake, on Ly Thai Tô Avenue, in the gardens of the Ethnological Museum. . . . . .

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Going to the reception, playing billiard on the street, making a little fire,
Near Le Tai To statue and park is an official building and, one evening, I stepped across these venerable ladies preparing to go to a reception; They arrived by taxi-bike, and then prepared their clothes and appearance before going to the building; in some way they looked very noble to me.
In the small streets between the opera house and the Museum of history, it is very quiet and people install even billiard tables on the street, other make small fires, quiet place where people have a rest from their hectic life on the busy streets.
And this lady carrying her few goods (for sale?) , she just deserved to be photographed!
Everywhere in Hanoi, are interesting street scenes, to me, watching people was one of my “fondest memories”.

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The inhabitants of Hanoi have an incredible sense of discipline! Do you see the difference on pictures 1 and 2? One has been taken before December 14th 2007 and the second one after December 14th 2007! Yes! From one day to the other the motor bikers changed from driving without helmet to drive with helmet; the law making helmets compulsory was applicable from that date and it was a surprise to see suddenly all these helmets on the streets, as there were very few, one day before; may be government and police are very strict, whatever, all these people followed the rule, and it may have a link with long historical sense of discipline. . . .
The two next pictures are also from before and after 14th of december and the last picture is from December 13th evening. . . . some shops were very busy!

If you have to drive, make sure you drive steady, constant speed and keep an eye on unexpected (though may be norm for local) objects on the street.

Saw a cow having lunch at highway, after toll plaza lol