Hanoi Local Customs

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Mid- Autumn Festival is for the children especially, that's why in Hang Ma street - the joss-paper street of Hanoi , is all in red colour. Traditional toys and modern toys are selling here from the 1st of August lunar month.
Vietnamese people have moon cake for this festival. So sweet I must say! But it's worth to try. :) Favourite toys of children that day are star - lanterns and masks.

There are several traditions in Vietnam how to be lucky in the future. One of the nicest is to go to Van Mieu, the Temple of Literature, and pray for good luck for your exams. You can do that by patting the tortoises' heads. They are already patted blank, so I guess it really works... If you've got a more important exam to pass you may consider planting a poinsettia (a flower that usually flourishes in December so that it is also called "Christmas Star"). In December, Van Mieu's lawns are full of these flowers. However, I don't know whether planting them is legal. Don't sue me if it's not!

When I was in Mausoleum, most of the visitors are local people and they use handerchief as a mask cover their nose and mouth.
They wear it not only on the street (it's because of the dirty air) but also in the museum.
Our taxi driver explained it because they never smell aircon so they wear a handkerchief because it makes them sick.

A common mode of transport in and around Hanoi is by the use of motorbikes. Nights are pretty romantic in Hanoi and it is not uncommon to see young couples cruise around on motorbikes under the moonlight (because the streets are barely lit).

I guess the "om" hug is a way of dating and spending time with your lover. While most of the time the rider is male, sometimes, it is the female that is the rider and the guy who is the pillion rider. You have to wonder who enjoys the ride more?

Thanks for Bpacker for enlightening me on the "om" hug.

You will encounter many interesting people in the streets of Hanoi. For example, we came across this group of men who were playing some kind of board game right on the side walk itself.

As I didn't know what game it was, I figured it to be some kind of street chess.

I've been experimenting with the pics so it turned out kind of funny. Ooops- sorry about that!

In Hanoi, the phrase street culture takes on a new twist when you see groups of people, such as the family pictured here seated outside right on the street having their evening meal.

On one of the side lanes outside a touristy souvenior shop, I observed this family tucking into a tasty meal of steamed water snails (escargot). I had a quick look around but I couldn't see the kitchen or stall where the food had came from. Despite the rather unusual setting (by the drain & peeling yellow wall), the adults and kids seemed to enjoy their dinner. As is common in Vietnam, the seats & table are both set very low-I reckon you have to have a flexible body to eat like a local!

If you do venture out of Hanoi, you'll notice that the locals drink rice wine neat and direct from the fermentation jar via a bamboo straw. Take note that this is a male thing (sigh! ) as village women are NOT allowed to suck on the joy juice or enjoy the privilege of getting high on alcohol.

These ladies walk all over town selling the fresh fruits and vegetables they carry on their shoulders. One of the ladies let me carry her basket contraption and it was actually very comfortable.

They seldom earn more than $2US. a day.