Welcome to Vietnam, a country in constant evolution! As we arrived in Hanoi, we were greeted by the bustling chaos of its traffic. Hanoi has been the capital since 1976, and while the echoes of the past can still be felt, the nation is now focused on moving forward, embracing the future while gradually letting go of its history, as our insightful guide shared during our bike tour.
Vietnam follows a one-party socialist political system, shaping its unique identity. One thing that struck us the most was the friendliness of the people we encountered, making us feel truly welcome in their homeland. And let’s not forget about the food – the cuisine here is beyond fantastic, a delightful fusion of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds.
Cycle tour in Hanoi
Upon our arrival in Hanoi, we were completely in shock. Guess what we had booked? A cycling tour! Yes, you read that right. We were a bit skeptical, wanting to stay alive, and cycling didn’t seem like the best option in this chaos. But with our fearless guide, Leo, providing us with a thorough briefing on how to navigate through the mayhem, we set off in a small group of 11. And you know what? It was surprisingly fantastic, even though capturing pictures during the most chaotic moments proved nearly impossible.
Train Street, Hanoi
Train tracks run through the cities in Vietnam, meaning they pass right through the towns, interrupting daily life. Nowadays, this unique feature is becoming a tourist attraction. We also enjoyed sipping our refreshing lemon juice on a terrace next to the tracks while waiting for the train to pass by.
Street food tour, Hanoi
When discovering a country, we like to try new food. What happens often is that after a couple of days, we found some dishes we like & we keep on eating these dishes. This will not happen this time, so we found Mike, a local food specialist. He took us on a delightful food tour, trying over 10 dishes at his favorite stalls, including the mysterious “dragon of the earth” – a must-try before seeing any pictures!
Temple of literature
The Temple of Literature in Hanoi is a captivating and historically significant site that holds a revered place in Vietnamese culture. Built in 1070, it is the country’s oldest university and dedicated to Confucius, the Chinese philosopher. As a center of learning for over a thousand years, the temple played a vital role in educating scholars and imparting knowledge to generations.
