CHAO MUNG DEN HA NOI
( Welcome to Hanoi )
After days of walking around in hot and humid weather in Hanoi... we were greeted with a cooler day today after the slight drizzle the night before... After breakfast, we started our walking tour again.... only to find out that most of these sights that we wanted to see were all closed --- due to the 4-day holiday.
I have listed the places you must not miss when you go to Hanoi...
I have listed the places you must not miss when you go to Hanoi...
** HOAN KIEM LAKE **
A stroll around the lake at any time of the day is always an interesting sight to see ---- old men smoking bamboo pipes while playing mahjong or chess, people jogging, young lovers walking hand in hand or some vendors selling street food. In your morning stroll you will see some elderly Vietnamese women doing their tai-chi and chi-qong exercises and so on.
A stroll around the lake at any time of the day is always an interesting sight to see ---- old men smoking bamboo pipes while playing mahjong or chess, people jogging, young lovers walking hand in hand or some vendors selling street food. In your morning stroll you will see some elderly Vietnamese women doing their tai-chi and chi-qong exercises and so on.
You should not miss the " Pen Tower " - It is a small stone brush tower that is located at the beginning of the bridge.
** ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL **
Known as NHA THA LON, the St. Joseph's Cathedral is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Hanoi. It is walking distance from the Hoan Kiem lake. It was designed after the Notre Dame of Paris.
** OPERA HOUSE **
It was built in 1901 and finished 1911 by the French Colonialist Government. It is considered as one fo the city's most famous landmarks. The Opera House was modeled after the Palais Garnier in Paris, but in a smaller scale.
** TRAN QUOC PAGODA **
Tran Quoc Pagoda is seated on an island linked by a bridge between the two most romantic lakes of Hanoi, The West Lake and the Truc Bach Lake. It is the oldest pagoda that is situated in the center of Hanoi and is considered a cultural symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism.
The garden tower inside Tran Quoc.
Inside the pagoda, there are many valuable statues, such as the red lac statues trimmed with gold. ( see photo below ).
** TRAN QUOC PAGODA **
Tran Quoc Pagoda is seated on an island linked by a bridge between the two most romantic lakes of Hanoi, The West Lake and the Truc Bach Lake. It is the oldest pagoda that is situated in the center of Hanoi and is considered a cultural symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism.
The garden tower inside Tran Quoc.
Inside the pagoda, there are many valuable statues, such as the red lac statues trimmed with gold. ( see photo below ).
Regardless of its age, constant renovation of Tran Quoc keeps its building fresh and gleaming bright earthly colours.
I was not able to go on my scheduled 2day/1 night cruise on Halong Bay because the day we went -- we were not allowed to sail due to the weather. The tour operator told us that the sea was rough and it was very windy.
I will be back in Hanoi hopefully before the year ends...and I will make sure to go to Halong Bay.
I was not able to go on my scheduled 2day/1 night cruise on Halong Bay because the day we went -- we were not allowed to sail due to the weather. The tour operator told us that the sea was rough and it was very windy.
I will be back in Hanoi hopefully before the year ends...and I will make sure to go to Halong Bay.
CHAO TAM BIET VA HEN GAP LAI HANOI!
( good bye and see you again Hanoi! )
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