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Things to Do in Hanoi

Water Puppets... - Hanoi
Water Puppets...
by raymondcheang
Reviews and photos of Hanoi attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Hanoi sightseeing.
Local Time 9:47 am Saturday, May 17, 2008
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Hoan Kiem Lake: The Heart of Hanoi
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  • Updated By sailor_p on November 30, 2005
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  • At the heart of Hanoi... - Hanoi
    At the heart of Hanoi...
    by sailor_p
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    Right at the heart of Hanoi is the Hoan Kiem Lake. Here, you find that it is a meeting place for both the locals and tourists. Cafes, shops, bus-stations and other human activities surround the whole lake. In the mornings, you will also see the locals jogging around the lake or doing other forms of exercises. According to a legend, Heaven sent Emperor Ly Thai To a magical sword, which he used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam. One day after the war, he stumbled upon a giant golden tortoise swimming on the surface of the water; the creature grabbed the sword and disappeared into the depths of the lake. Since then, the lake has been known as Ho Hoan Kiem (Lake of the Restored Sword) because the tortoise restored the sword to its divine owners. Personally, the Hoan Kiem Lake is a reference point for me to move around the Old Quarter. Whenever I am lost, I would try to figure out where the lake is and from there, I would trace back my steps!

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    Out of Hanoi: Ha Long Bay listed by UNESCO as World Heritage
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  • By fachd on January 6, 2008
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  • Ha Long Bay from Hang Sung Sot - Hanoi
    Ha Long Bay from Hang Sung Sot
    by fachd, 4 more photos
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    Ha Long Bay is a must visit if you are visiting Hanoi Vietnam. It is about 165 Km north of Hanoi and three hours drive. When we were there it was misty for two days. It wasn’t the best for taking photos but without doubt it was still a breathtaking experience. Ha Long Bay is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage for its outstanding geological value which is mainly made up of limestone. Today Ha Long Bay support fishing villages that the fisherman’s in search of many species of fish and many varieties of mollusk. They are four community fishing villages with a population of 16,000. They live in a community floating houses, with some of the catches they will try to sell it to the oncoming tourist Junk Boat. Ha Long Bay consists of large and small monolithic islands made up of limestone. The smaller islands have sandy beaches where you can go for a swim. Most of the islands have thick jungle vegetation which supports animals such as monkeys, antelopes and lizards (iguanas). You will also find several caves, we visited Sung Sot cave. When you visiting Vietnam you will hear many legends and Ha Long Bay did not escape of a legend story. The local believed that god sent dragons to help of defending the land from the Chinese invaders. The dragons began spitting out jewels and jades to the sky and when it dropped it turned into islands and the island link together form a great wall against the Chinese invaders.


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    Out of Hanoi: Short trips outside Hanoi
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  • By victorwkf on March 3, 2007
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  • Halong Bay, Vietnam - Hanoi
    Halong Bay, Vietnam
    by victorwkf, 4 more photos
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    There are many good trips outside Hanoi, ranging from one day to a few days. These can be easily organised by the many tour operations in Hanoi, especially in the Old Quarter area. Walk around and compare prices, the company which I joined was ODC Travels (recommended by several VT members) which I found to be good and of reasonable price, Their website is below for your reference. Trips that are worth considering are: Ha Long Bay - The scenery here is very beautiful and one of the most famous in Asia. This is also an UNESCO world heritage site. Best is to spend at least 2-3 days here. More information and photos are at my VT Ha Long page. Sapa - Sapa is a very picturesque town located in the mountains of northern vietnam close to china. You need to take a night train to reach Sapa. It is a very popular tourist attraction in Vietnam and you need to spend at least 2-3 days here to enjoy. More information and photos are at my VT Sa Pa page. Perfume Pagoda - This famous pagoda can be reached via a day trip from Hanoi. It involves going through a picturesque river before doing quite a tough climb up to the pagoda. Tam Coc - This place is known as "Halong Bay of the Land", consisting of many beautiful limestone hills, rivers, caves etc. It can be done via a day trip from Hanoi. Village visit - There are also day tours for you to visit various villages near to Hanoi to experience the life of the local people, handicrafts etc.

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  • Website: http://www.odctravel.com.vn/Main.aspx

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    Out of Hanoi: Halong Bay cruise
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  • By SirRichard on October 3, 2003
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  • Halong Bay - Hanoi
    Halong Bay
    by SirRichard
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    Halong Bay cruise is a popular trip from Hanoi. There are 1, 2 or 3 days cruises and many agencies organize the group trips, so it won't be hard for you to find a place in a group. I did it with "ODC Travel" and couldn't complain... The best is to take a 2 days tour, sleeping on board at the bay. You can also sleep in a Hotel in Cat Ba, but is not so charming. The bay's waters are calm, so the boat doesn't move much while you sleep. Prices were about 26 USD for 2 days /1 night

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    One pillar pagoda: A Unique Structure - One Pillar Pagoda
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  • By sailor_p on November 30, 2005
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  • The iconic structure was rebuilt after 1954 - Hanoi
    The iconic structure was
    rebuilt after 1954
    by sailor_p
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    Did you know that the current iconic structure in Hanoi, One-Pillar Pagoda, is less than a hundred years old? According to my guide, one of the last awful acts of the French before quitting Hanoi, was the destruction of the One-Pillar Pagoda in 1954. The new government rebuilt the structure and remained till today. The structure is just walking distance from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. According to history records, the heirless Emperor Ly Thai Tong dreamed that he had met Quan The Am Bo Tat, the Goddess of Mercy, who, while seated on a lotus flower, handed him a male child. The Emperor then married a young peasant girl he met by chance and had a son and heir by her. To express his gratitude, he commissioned to have the structure built in 1049. According to the Lonely Planet Guide, the One-Pillar Pagoda, built of wood on a single stone pillar 1.25m in diameter, is designed to resemble a lotus blossom, symbol of purity, rising out of a sea of sorrow. Today, many tourists visited the pagoda to offer their worship and sought the Goddess for blessings.

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  • Address: Pho Ong Ich Kiem

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    Water puppet show: A Splashin' Puppet Show
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  • Updated By mizzzthanggg on January 29, 2005
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  • the puppeteers take a bow, wet but smiling - Hanoi
    the puppeteers take a bow, wet
    but smiling
    by mizzzthanggg
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    Locally known as Mua Roi Nuoc, I wasn't sure whether to put this Water Puppet Theatre tip under Must See or Off The Beaten Path... it's not everyone's idea of a good time, I don't think, but I thought it was interesting because you get to hear a bit of the Vietnamese traditional instruments and singing from the live musicians who play throughout the show. And it had its moments, there are different stories, mostly enacting historical events or slice of Vietnamese rural life.. farmers in their fields... triumphant revolutionary warriors fighting colonialists.. and such like. I'd say go just to keep a traditional art form alive, there are not many of these guys left and it'd be a shame to just let it wither away...

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  • Address: 57 Dinh Tien Hoang Street
  • Directions: Near to Hoam Kiem lake
  • Website: http://www.angelfire.com/co/hongnam/waterpuppet.html

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    One pillar pagoda: One Pillar Pagoda
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  • By Gillybob on October 23, 2006
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  • One Pillar Pagoda - Hanoi
    One Pillar Pagoda
    by Gillybob,
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    This is a nice little side step after your visit to 'Uncle Ho's' house. Originally built in the 11th century but destroyed on numerous occasions, the latest rebuild was undertaken in the 1950s after the French undertook their destruction before withdrawing from Vietnam. This tiny interior is set atop a single concrete pillar which emerges from a small pond.

  • Address: Pho Ong Ich Kiem, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam
  • Directions: Just to the right of Ho Chi Minh Museum, near Ba Dinh Square, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.

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    The Museum of Ethnology: Vietnam 54 minority Ethnic Group
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  • Updated By fachd on November 24, 2007
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  • Hanoi Things To Do
    by fachd, 4 more photos
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    Interesting museum to visit in Hanoi is Museum of Ethnology. It is a public museum. To enter it cost 20,000 VND. The museum is large in area. It has two parts outside and inside. They are information in English (not all) on the lives and cultures of fifty four different minority Ethnic groups that make up Vietnam. Inside they are window displays showing tools, clothing, weapons, and other artefacts and recreated home from different Vietnamese minority Ethnic groups. Outside they are different tribal houses on display. You can go inside and have a good look. I found very interesting the way each tribal house represented itself. The outside set up is very pleasant with footpath leads to tribal house. The area is surrounded by garden and trees. The Museum is located in a large open area on Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Cau Giay District.

  • Address: Nguyen Van Huyen street Cau Giay District
  • Phone: (84.4) 756 2193
  • Website: www.vme.org.vn
  • Other Contact: email:vme18@hn.vnn.vn

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    But Not The Turtles, Please...
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  • By mizzzthanggg on January 10, 2005
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  • lacquered turtles in their shells, hanoi - Hanoi
    lacquered turtles in their
    shells, hanoi
    by mizzzthanggg
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    At the same shops where you can buy local Vietnamese snake wine and other 'medicinal' concoctions, you can also usually find handicrafts made out of turtles as in this photo... please don't buy any of these because turtles are an endangered species, let's not encourage their poaching.

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    Temple of Literature: Knowledge is life!
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  • By Gillybob on October 23, 2006
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  • Entrance in harmony - Hanoi
    Entrance in harmony
    by Gillybob
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    The Temple of Literature is dedicated to Confucious. Founded in the 11th century, this is the site of Vietnam's first university, built to educate Vietnam's administrative and warrior classes. A visit here will leave you relaxed, even in the centre of Hanoi! The gardens and grounds are tranquil. Stone stalae record the achievements of past pupils in their acquisition of doctorates from this ancient university.

  • Address: Pho Van Mieu, Corner of Pho Quoc Tu Giam, Hanoi

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