While Macau or Shenzhen in China may be closer to Hong Kong and more linguistically compatible, Hanoi is considered the perfect choice for a perfect getaway, as it is both “foreign” and quintessentially Asian, according to author Ed Peters. Although the Vietnamese capital is now dotted with skyscrapers and other modernist structures, most of them are concentrated in the suburban districts.
Many people’s lives still take place colorfully on the sidewalks. It could be women selling fresh fruit on bicycles parked on street corners, barbers with mirrors attached to trees, restaurant staff sitting on plastic chairs picking vegetables to prepare for sale, motorbike repairmen and other small traders setting up their stalls on the sidewalks, oblivious to the surrounding noise. Hanoi is not really a city but more like a large, bustling village with French-influenced architecture next to massive new buildings.
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According to Ed Peter, Hoan Kiem Lake - the city center, is an ideal place for visitors to start a new day. Here, surrounded by ancient trees and solemn temples. The lake in the early morning dawn gathers a lot of people coming to jog, stretch, do push-ups on the railings or on the lake shore.
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Aside from the ‘fear’ of motorbikes for tourists, Hanoi is a gentle urban complex with a wealth of accommodation, from luxury hotels to cheap guesthouses dozens of stories high on small plots of traditional city land. Heritage hotels charge around 10 million VND (US$400) per night. The Old Quarter – around Hoan Kiem – has many family hotels with mostly modern amenities, few decorations and prices starting at around US$60. The included breakfast buffet includes everything from spring rolls to bacon, eggs and croissants, accompanied by Vietnamese java coffee.
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As you stroll around the lake, you may also hear the gentle jingling of bells signaling the presence of a cyclo, a traditional Vietnamese rickshaw. Hanoi’s cuisine is also a reason why every visitor should try it at least once in their lifetime. A generation ago, restaurants were few and far between in Hanoi, while menus and bills tended to be handwritten and not always up to date. But with the arrival of Michelin inspectors, things have become more standardized.
While the arrival of Michelin may shake things up, the old restaurants are still popular. Portions are small, but meals here are always a ‘symphony of colour and flavour’. In addition to souvenirs, visitors can choose from a wide range of exquisitely crafted lacquerware, silk and hand-embroidered items at the humble shops in the Old Quarter and surrounding districts. Two steps from the tourist pedestrian zone and a few hundred metres north of the Old Quarter, Dong Xuan Market is a three-storey centre for both wholesale and retail. The ground floor has a fountain and seating, and the street outside is transformed into a night market on weekends, where visitors can indulge in shopping as much as soaking up the atmosphere. According to SCMP