SKETCH OF NORTH INDOCHINA- Day 1: 100323-Hanoi

After a long journey of waiting cause by delay of Air Asia, 10pax of panda group arrived at NoiBai(Hanoi) International Airport about 8.30am. Noi Bai is 28km away from Hanoi town. The airport equal size to Penang airport where separated to 2 side, right side for domestic and left side for international. The ludgage transfer is extremely slow where we wait there nearly 45minutes to clear custom and collect all ludgage.

Sam- Hanoi tour guide is waiting for us on arrival hall. He is a smart and fluent in English. This is my first impression for Sam.

OMG, I just notice my backpack is tearing when reach the bus, so no choice to get new one later. Hahaha may be it just excuse to buy new backpack.

Hanoi city is not yet fully develop, the buildings mostly are tall but slim. The door, window, arch is influence by French colonial style. Government building is paint with yellow(influence by French) but house is decorate with very contrast color. The downtown of Hanoi is same as what we seen in movie during Vietnam war. Narrow street, high rise(3 floor)building… The electricity wire is mess on the pillar and floor full of dirt and water.

The first meal on Hanoi is Phor(pronounce as Pher, Vietnam noodle like Koay Teow). But me, SP, KK and CP dint take because it is beef soup noodle. Finally Sam able to found 1 stall opposite the restaurant selling chicken soup phor. It is a bit same like our old hawker stall, we have to sit on the small chair at the road side for the breakfast. It is special experience as we eat like locals. Hahaha

After breakfast, we went to Ho Tay(Westlake)’s Chua Tran Quoc(Temple to Protect the Nation). This temple is not so big but the inner of the main hall is full of the Buddhism status. The Buddhism in Vietnam is same as Chinese and all the wording use in the old temple is Chinese Han writing. It is because before the French reach Vietnam, they following the writing, cultural, imperial palace as China. Chua Tran Quoc founded in the early sixth century during the Ly Dynasty, it was moved from next to the Red River to its current location in the early 17th century. In the front gardens stands a bodhi tree, taken from a cutting of the original tree, under which Buddha sat and achieved enlightenment.

Then we proceed to the Presidential Palace of Vietnam, was built between 1900 and 1906 to house the French Governor-General of Indochina. Like most French Colonial architecture, the palace is pointedly European- the only visual cues that it is located in Vietnam at all are mango trees growing on the grounds. The building is paint in striking yellow stands behind wrought iron gates flanked by sentry boxes. This building is not open for public, even stand nearby will be chase away by the guard.

Next to the President palace is Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum in front of the Ba Dinh Square. However, we only took photo in front because it is close after noon. Surrounded the Ba Dinh Square is Vietnam Government buildings which all in Yellow color, the old French style building.

Next to the HCM Mausoleum is the Chua Mot Cot(One Pillar Temple). This temple is build on top of 1 pillar on a lotus pond. Chua Mot Cot has become the symbol of Vietnamese rich culture and history. The pagoda was built in the reign of king Ly Thai Tong (1028-1054). According to legend, in his dream, in 1049, the king saw a vision of Phat Ba Quan Am(Kwan Yin, Goddess of Mercy). She led him to a shrine in the middle of a lotus pond. When he woke up, he consulted with his court and decided to replicate the shrine in his dream to dedicate it to Kwan Yin.

The most enjoy time is lunch at the old city center, a French style old building with traditional Vietnamese food. I prefer their spring roll so much, The fresh vege, pineapple, fried fish wrap with rice paper and eat with the sauce (with fish paste and vinegar).

After lunch, the next spot is Temple of Literature (Vietnamese: Văn Miếu (文廟)) or temple of Confucius in Vietnam. Although several Văn Miếu can be found throughout Vietnam, the most prominent and famous is that situated in the city of Hanoi, which also functioned as Vietnam's first university.

Then follow by the Hanoi Hilton/ Hao Lao or should said the jail for the American during the Vietnam War built by French to hostage the Viet politician prison.

The most exciting time coming by watching the Water Puppet show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Although I can’t understand Vietnamese language but it is good to appreciate their cultural. The puppets are made out of wood and then lacquered. The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool. A large rod supports the puppet under the water and is used by the puppeteers, who are normally hidden behind a screen, to control them. Thus the puppets appear to be moving over the water. When the rice fields would flood, the villagers would entertain each other using this form of puppet play. It is amazing the performance can stand on the water for so long time for the show. So touch that they build this theatre to preserve their cultural.

The shopping place in Hanoi is just around the Water Puppet Theatre. Backpack, shoes is the hot item for shopping in Hanoi. However, it is not an easy place to bargain due to the language problem. For your info, NorthFace big backpack is 385k dong, Deuter small backpack is 220k dong.

The first dinner is at Viet Kitchen spring, an French style Vietnamese Cuisine. The environment is nice but food just so so.