Hanoi: This and That

This is the last post on Hanoi. Basically, it will cover all the other stuff which is missed out earlier.

1. Dong Xuan market:

Dong Xuan market is the largest wholesale market in Hanoi that opens from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.  They sell things in bulk most of the time. Since it is the largest market, we did not want to miss it but ended up regretting coming here. If you are interested in buying local stuff and enjoy bargaining, you may get a good deal here.

Dong Xuan Market

Vendors selling their stuff

2. Ta Hien street:

If you are in Ta Hien street, you are a celebrity! I am just kidding. This street has theatre-style seating for almost all of their cafes (influenced from the French).The tables and chairs are all facing outside (the road). The stage is the road. Just unwind by people watching here.

Theatre-style seating at Ta Hien Street

3. Baguette: 

Vietnam has French influence in their food too. You will find many stalls selling baguettes. Grab one while you are exploring the Old Quarter. You can choose what goes in it.

Baguette with pork filling

4. Hong Lam shop at 11, Hang Duong, Old Quarter, Hanoi:

This shop is a traditional tube house selling o mai, preserved fruits. It is famous and packed with the locals. We tried their dracontomelum and dried apricots. Overall, the taste was not bad but the products were a bit pricey for us. 

Dracontomelum, a commonly eaten fruit in Cambodia, Vietnam and China

Dried aprikot

5. St. Joseph's Cathedral at 40 Nha Chung Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi:

Just drop by and take a photo of its Gothic architecture. It seems to be closed.

St. Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi

6. Luong Van Can street:

This street has a lot of toy shops. We had gone and checked out their soft toys but were disappointed with the quality (made from China) and price (They are not cheap! I know we have to bargain but what is the point of when we could get toys from China at a lower price without even bargaining at home.) Even the sales assistants did not seem interested to entertain us. 

7. Pre-wedding photo sessions:

I think early of the year is Vietnamese wedding season. We saw many couples taking wedding photos in Hanoi.

Tran Quoc Pagoda

Tran Quoc Pagoda in the backdrop

Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest in Hanoi. Located on an islet of the largest lake in Hanoi; West Lake, it is an antique in a modern and busy part of the city. It is a Buddhism temple that was constructed in the year 541 by King Ly Nam De and was relocated to its current location in the early 17th century. 

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tr%E1%BA%A5n_Qu%E1%BB%91c_Pagoda and http://www.vietnam-beauty.com/cities/ha-noi/4-ha-noi/72-tran-quoc-pagoda-.html )

The entrance 

The lights on the fence

It is not to be missed if you are in Hanoi. Although it is not very big, it is picturesque and tranquil here. It is set against the freshwater West Lake, home to many foreigners and expensive hotels in Hanoi.

The pagoda against the red roof

Other structures surrounding the pagoda

There are public buses plying the area and a bus stop just outside the pagoda. Or the easier way to get here is by a taxi. That was what we did. 

The pagoda with Buddha statuettes and prayer table

The prayer table

Standing in line: beautiful structures

A place for prayer

There is a tall red pagoda and it is surrounded by many smaller structures. We are fascinated by the intricate designs of the pagoda and other structures in the compound. We could feel the tranquility surrounding the place. 

The incense burner 

One could also choose to offer their prayers here.

Old man fishing

If you want to enjoy the sunset here like us, visit this place in the evening. The sun sets around six p.m. (in January).

Sunset at Tran Quoc Pagoda

The West Lake

West lake surrounded by hotels

After our visit to Tran Quoc Pagoda, we went to Kem Ho Tay for ice-cream and later dined at Ban Tom Ho Tay Restaurant.

Details of the place:

Just opposite Kem Ho Tay (ice-cream) and Ban Tom Ho Tay Restaurant

Free admission

Open daily (until late afternoon)

Attire: Decently dressed

Like the electric car service for the Old Quarter, there is also electric car service for the West Lake area. The ticket booth is located just outside the pagoda. Here, they only operate the car if you are in a bigger group. The two of us got turned down as lack of passengers.

Ho Chi Minh in History

The grey Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in the distance against bright orange flower bushes

One would not miss visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum if they were in Hanoi. Vietnamese or not, everyone is there to pay their respect to Uncle Ho (as he is popularly known to the Vietnamese). We got ourselves a taxi to the mausoleum entrance. We had to figure out our way there as the driver had dropped us at the  other entrance where we could deposit our bags and belongings (which we did not).

The wide walkway in front of the mausoleum

We should have asked the hotel about the entrance before we came. Anyway, we just followed a group of tourists to the correct entrance. At the fence, we needed to queue up before the security guard allowed us to enter. The traffic was controlled by the guards.

The walkway was a maze to us so, we just followed the ones in front of us and walked silently. By the way, the guards were armed and looked serious. The security was tight and they would scan our handbags and belongings before entering. We did not know that the water tumbler was not allowed. Otherwise, we would have deposited it at the counter earlier. The lady guard had asked us in Mandarin whether we came with a tourist guide. But we did not. She said she would keep the tumbler for us until we finished the tour. I was petrified by the heavy security and the fierce look of the guards. 

The next thing I remembered was the long queue going into the heavily guarded mausoleum of  a  well respected Vietnamese figure, Ho Chi Minh. I read that the body of Uncle Ho was mummified like Lenin. Photographs were forbidden inside the mausoleum. We just had to walk up the stairs and maybe paused for a second or two when we were around Uncle Ho's glass coffin before being ushered away.

Presidential Palace that Uncle Ho had refused to live in

After visiting the mausoleum, we went to Uncle Ho's residence. The entrance to Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House was near the mausoleum. We bought our tickets without a guide. The tickets with a  guide were a bit pricier than the normal ones. The brochure in English was informative enough and came with pictures. So, we did not need a guide. The entrance ticket to the Stilt House actually included the viewing of the Presidential Palace from outside, Ho Chi Minh's other houses and garage.

Ho Chi Minh's quarter

One of Ho Chi Minh's vintage cars parked in the garage for display

A glimpse of his bedroom

We also photographed the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's vintage cars and his house. The late Uncle Ho had stayed in a stilt house in Northwest Vietnam when he was on the run. He had liked the stilt house design, so a stilt house was built for him in Hanoi. We also viewed from far the house No. 67 where he had stayed when he was ill.

Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House with guards

The study area of the Stilt House

Stilt house is made of solid wood

Ho Chi Minh's humble abode

House No. 67 where Ho stayed when he was ill

We also visited his favourite fish pond where he would spend time there unwinding.  On our way out, we saw the amazing Cypress's roots at the fish pond that resembled statuettes of Buddha.

The beautiful reflection of Ho's house in the pond

Carps in the pond

Cypress's roots resembling statuettes of Buddha

Rippling effect on the pond

As we walked out, we stopped by the One Pillar Pagoda. Yes, it was built on a pillar but no one was supposed to be inside the Pagoda. Therefore, it should be stable enough. Believers could offer their prayers here. But we were in a hurry to retrieve my poor water tumbler before the security office closed for the day (and we were lost.) Luckily, we met a couple who could speak English and we eventually found our way and retrieved my water tumbler. 

One Pillar Pagoda

Praying in front of the pagoda

Unfortunately, we had to give the Ho Chi Minh museum a miss as it was already closed for lunch. 

Details of the attractions:

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum opening hours: 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. (Closed on Monday and Friday)(Also closed in November) (Free admission)

Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House opening hours: 8 a.m - 11 a.m., 1.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. (Closed on Mondays) (Entrance fee: 20,000 dong (RM 3) (USD 1)

Address of the attractions above: Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi

For more info: http://www.vietnam-travel-guide.net/hanoi/attractions/

Van Mieu - Temple of Literature

The entrance of Van Mieu

Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam is also known as the Temple of Literature. It is a prominent historical landmark in Hanoi that one should not miss. It was the first university in Vietnam in 1076. The layout of the temple is based on the birthplace of Confucius in China. 
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Literature,_Hanoi) 

A beautiful arch in Van Mieu leading to the next courtyard

Doctors' stone stelae are national artifacts

At that time, the students of Quoc Tu Giam were bright students selected through local examinations. They would study Confucian Canons (Four Books, Five Pre-Confucian Classics), practised writing administrative documents, literary compositions and poetry writing for three years before sitting for the National and Royal exams to become doctor laureates and mandarins.  The names of doctor laureates were engraved on the doctors' stone stelae and they were recognised by UNESCO in 2011. (Source: Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam brochure)

The garden

The big pond

The orb with dragon design

The altar

There are courtyards with landscaped gardens and a big pond in the temple's compound. It was calm and peaceful therefore, we made it a point to linger around the courtyard before leaving. We were also lucky to bump into a group of graduates in their graduation robes taking photos at the temple. It is a tradition for the Vietnamese students to visit this temple before graduating.

Take a break and enjoy the tranquil garden

The drum in the last courtyard; Thai Hoc

Graduates in robes taking photos in the compound

Water puppets for sale at the souvenir shop

Colourful masks for sale

The legend: the heavenly chess game

Details of the place: 
Entrance fee: 20,000 dong (RM 3)(USD 1)
Address: Quoc Tu Giam Street
Near KOTO restaurant