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Ginger and Scotch

Learn to Make Asian Noodles at Home. Create, Bond, Transform.

Photo Tour: Hanoi (Vietnam)

Sat, Jun 16, 2012 | 10 Comments

posted in: Asia, Travels | tagged as: Asia, vietnam

  • 1
Hanoi Hoan Kiem Lake

Hanoi Hoan Kiem Lake

In my egocentric world, I once thought New York City was the capital of the Unites States (at least I did until I was 6 or 7) and up until last month, I thought that my birthplace, Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), was the capital of Vietnam.

Hanoi?

Really? Really?

Capital of Vietnam?

Huh.

*   *   *   *   *

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

After going through a couple thousand travel photos of Vietnam, I got a little bored and fed-up so changed things up a little by converting some of the pics to black & white for the blog.

In Hanoi, we hired a private guide and an air-conditioned car to take us around the must-see touristy places. We started with the Ho Chi Minh Masoleum but unfortunatly it was closed so I only have some exterior shots.

We skipped the Ho Chi Minh Museum but did visit the One-Pillar Pagoda.

One Pillar Pagoda

One Pillar Pagoda

*   *   *   *   *

There are 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam including the  Tay, Muong, Khmer Krom, and Hmong. The Viet (aka Kinh) people make up 86% and the Chinese (aka Hoa), like my family, make up only 1.1% of the total population.

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is a worthwhile visit to learn more about the different ethnic groups.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

On display are artifacts, photographs, costumes, hunting gear, etc etc. My favorite part was the exterior bit that had life-sized replicas of the ethnic dwellings:

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology 2

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Wee Scotch’s love of puppetry began in Hanoi when he saw his first water puppet show at the Ethnology Museum.

From that point on (and still to this day), he constantly asks me to take him to see more “puppet soup,” as he calls it, and I’m glad that I can finally put to use all those animal puppets we get from the Emirates Airline flights.

Vietnamese Puppet Show

Vietnamese Puppet Show at Museum of Ethnology

A traditional live band performs all the music (including the singing) for the water puppetry:

Puppet Show

Dancing to the Puppet “Soup”

 *   *   *   *   *

We later went to the Hanoi Municipal Theater to see more of their famous water puppetry:

Vietnamese Puppet Theatre Hanoi

Vietnam Water Puppetry Theater in Hanoi

At the Municipal Theater, we ended up seeing two shows back-to-back because Wee Scotch loved it so much.

Vietnamese Puppet Theatre Hanoi 2

Water Puppetry by Daylight

We saw one show just before the sunset. The next show was more dramatic as it incorporated theatrical lighting.

Vietnamese Puppet Theatre Hanoi 3

Water Puppetry by Night

*   *   *   *   *

A relaxing one-hour cyclo ride through the Old Quarter:

Cyclo Tour around Old Quarter

Cyclo Tour around Old Quarter

 

Hanoi Street Scene

Hanoi Street Scene

 

Hanoi Street Scene

Hanoi Street Scene

 

BBQ Kebab Banh Mi

BBQ Kebab Banh Mi

*   *   *   *   *

Dinner at Pho 10 on Ly Quoc Su street:

Pho in Hanoi 2

Pho in Hanoi 2

Check out the HUGE vats of stock behind the server!

Pho in Hanoi 1

Pho in Hanoi 1

By the time we arrived at the restaurant, it was late by their standards so many of the menu items had run out already since they probably buy everything fresh from the market each morning.

I had a basic bowl of Pho and it was slurpingly good!

Pho in Hanoi

Pho in Hanoi

I didn’t go out much in the evening in downtown Saigon so I don’t know if this scene happens only in Hanoi but all around the area where we stayed (Old Quarter), the streets were packed (overfilling!) with young people sitting on short stools and chatting away, shelling and eating peanuts, and enjoying icy drinks:

Hanoi Street Scene

Hanoi Street Scene

*   *   *   *   *

With all the walking and sightseeing and stroller inaccessibility (due to sidewalks being used for parking motorbikes), one of the best items I packed was an Ergo baby carrier for Wee Scotch:

Sightseeing Vietnam

Sightseeing Vietnam

*   *   *   *   *

Up Next? Halong Bay!

 

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About Sandy

I’m Sandy (aka “Ginger”), married to “Scotch” (not his real name).
 
I believe that it’s not just noodles we are creating, but memories, traditions, and a sense of pride.
  
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  1. Julie says

    Sat, Apr 6, 2013 at 8:55 am

    it looks like a very fun experience!

    Reply
  2. Monica Kapila says

    Tue, Sep 4, 2012 at 8:06 am

    Just a few days after you, another Dubai family’s experience of Hanoi

    our experience of Hanoi !

    http://doindubai.com/2012/07/16/happening-hanoi/

    Reply
  3. Grace @ Sandier Pastures says

    Wed, Jul 18, 2012 at 11:03 am

    Great photos! I wanna visit Vietnam someday! The best pic of all is the last one! Wee Scotch is getting so big — I bet he is responsible for your staying so slim even with all that food! 😉

    Reply
    • ginger says

      Sun, Jul 22, 2012 at 9:23 pm

      thanks! I hope you get to visit VN one day. I’d love to visit Japan as well.

      Reply
  4. IshitaUnblogged says

    Tue, Jun 26, 2012 at 11:54 am

    Reading for the second time – starting with Halong Bay! It’s fantastic to be able to share your travel like this… transported and yearning for more:)

    Reply
    • ginger says

      Fri, Jun 29, 2012 at 11:12 pm

      more coming!

      Reply
  5. Sally - My Custard Pie says

    Mon, Jun 25, 2012 at 8:01 am

    Fantastic pics – love the spot colour in black and white.

    Reply
    • ginger says

      Fri, Jun 29, 2012 at 11:11 pm

      It was fun experimenting!

      Reply
  6. Tessa says

    Mon, Jun 25, 2012 at 3:12 am

    Great pics!

    Reply
    • ginger says

      Fri, Jun 29, 2012 at 11:11 pm

      thanks 🙂 and salivating over your Bacon Chipotle Potato Salad as well – I love a good mayo potato salad!

      Reply

About Me

Homemade Chinese Noodles From ScratchI’m Sandy (aka “Ginger”), married to “Scotch” (yes, he’s Scottish).

I believe that it’s not just noodles we are creating, but memories, traditions, and a sense of pride.

I believe in slowing down, relishing time spent with our children and loved ones, and bonding through shared noodle-making experiences.  Read more…

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