Sophie Mendel said that Hanoi brought peace to her soul - something she had been longing for for months before the trip, helping her to be herself again.
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| Hanoi streets on a hot summer afternoon. (Photo: N. N) |
The famous travel magazine Travel+Leisure has just published an article praising Vietnam as the best destination for tourists to heal their soul and discover themselves.
Sophie Mendel, author of the article on Travel+Leisure, said that 6 days after breaking up with her fiancé, she flew to Vietnam and backpacked across the North of the country as a single female traveler.
Sophie said that Vietnam had been on her travel radar for a long time and during the most difficult days of her life, it seemed like the perfect place for her to rediscover herself, connect with nature, experience a new culture and meet famously friendly travelers.
As soon as she stepped out of the airport in Hanoi in the sweltering afternoon heat, Sophie said she felt a surge of excitement.
On the taxi ride back to the hotel, Sophie saw houses lined up on both sides of the road, motorbikes bustling back and forth on the street, and street vendors wearing traditional conical hats. The hustle and bustle of the city awakened something in her that she had not felt for a long time.
“Although I have been to Southeast Asia before, this place is completely different from anywhere else I have been,” Sophie emphasized after walking around Hanoi's Old Quarter and soaking up the atmosphere of the place.
The influence of history and culture is clearly shown in the architectural style of the old quarter, surrounded by lush green trees and climbing plants, giving it a very "Vietnamese" feel.
According to the author, the harsh humidity does not prevent locals from eating hot bowls of pho on every street corner and small eateries selling banh mi and bun cha lining every block.
Sophie took a stroll through the winding streets and alleys, watching the shuttles, street vendors, shops with a variety of goods and sidewalk cafes to reach Hoan Kiem Lake, a peaceful "oasis" in the heart of the bustling city.
Walking along the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake, she said, seeing groups of women taking dance classes, men practicing tai chi, families with children strolling in the late afternoon and teenagers giggling and taking pictures on their phones, it felt like a perfect snapshot of daily life in Hanoi. And the female tourist felt a strange harmony with life here.
The author of the article posted on Travel+Leisure also said that she felt extremely safe as a woman traveling alone. There was no teasing or strange glances from the locals, everyone was polite and showed minimal respect.
One of the things she enjoyed was learning how to cross the street like a local, starting by crossing the street with them.
As dusk fell, Sophie opted to take the tram back to her hotel, a fun and inexpensive way to see the city after dark. The driver was very friendly and introduced her to everything, which sparked her excitement.
Sophie was really captivated by the city’s night scene. She spent most of the night on the bustling Ta Hien Street enjoying the night and ending the day with a banh mi. According to her, this was the perfect introduction to Vietnam.
Over the next few days, Sophie Mendel visited several places including pagodas, watched a water puppet show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater and enjoyed delicious food at restaurants in Hanoi.
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