Hanoi Thursday Nov 27

 Thursday Nov 27 2025 - Hanoi Vietnam

Previous posts can be found on the right side under BLOG ARCHIVE.

It's our Wedding Anniversary!

STEPS 13,000

WEATHER 24 and sunny

TOUR DAY 2 on our own

ITALICS TOUR DESCRIPTION

2 additional nights - From November 27 2025 to November 28 2025

Days at leisure. (Breakfasts)

We had added two additional days on our own in Hanoi.

I was up around 7 and decided we needed to change our room as the windows were painted over to hide the ugly view. I must have daylight! So by the time John was up at 8 and before breakfast we had requested a new room, with no problems, but a little attitude, we just had to pack up, leave our key and they would move our stuff and we would have a new key when we came back.

 Breakfast is a decent buffet, although the coffee is strong!

The hotel (and everywhere else) is ready for the holiday season. There is Christmas music playing all the time, no matter where you go.

Imagine, those chairs!

I tried a few new fruits, dragon fruit and passion fruit.

Hanoi is Vietnam's capital city, a vibrant hub of culture and history known for its unique blend of French colonial architecture and ancient Vietnamese traditions, located on the Red River. It's a bustling metropolis with a rich heritage, visible in the Old Quarter's narrow streets, over 600 temples and pagodas, and significant sites like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Beyond historical sites, modern Hanoi offers trendy cafes, bustling markets, and a dynamic food scene, while its economy is a mix of industry, agriculture, and growing service sector.

Hanoi is crazy and it is one of those cities that belong to the “you either love them or you hate them” category . As soon as you arrive in Hanoi you confront its impossible traffic, take a deep breath and say “okay, I have arrived in Southeast Asia.”

Shoes are being shined as you walk along the streets with everyone sitting on those impossibly low stools. Women are washing dishes on the sidewalk. Women are hanging laundry above your head. People are drinking coffee everywhere.

We head out and scooters buzz through the streets, and everywhere you turn there are scooters!

You take your life into your hands to cross the street. John keeps saying just go with me, don't hesitate, and stop jerking my arm! 

Crossing the street in Hanoi involves stepping into the flow of constant motorbike traffic with slow, steady, and predictable steps, allowing vehicles to flow around you like a river; avoid stopping, running, or sudden movements, and ideally, walk with locals or use an elevated hand to signal your intentions!

HOWTO SURVIVE HANOI TRAFFIC VIDEO

The title is "DON'T DIE!"

We started out aimlessly from our hotel.

.

Less than a block from our hotel. The sacred red of the national flag spreads across the streets, a common expression of patriotism and national pride, creating a vibrant, festive atmosphere throughout the city/

We happen upon a public art installation titled "Resurrection". 

The sculpture was created by artist Tia-Thuy Nguyen from the remnants of a 70-year-old Nacre tree (Khaya senegalensis) that was felled during Typhoon Yagi in September 2024. 

Rather than discarding the fallen tree, the artist retained its original structure and clad the trunk and roots in a custom-fabricated metal skin. 

The canopy is crafted from thousands of gleaming steel leaves, designed to change with Hanoi's varying sunlight and seasons. 

The artwork is installed at Co Tan Square in the Hoan Kiem District and is a tribute to nature, history, and the resilient spirit of Hanoi.

We found ourselves in front of the Opera House.

The Hanoi Opera House, a cultural and architectural gem in the heart of Vietnam’s capital, has a rich history dating back to the early 20th century.

Constructed between 1901 and 1911 during the French colonial period, the Opera House was modeled after the Palais Garnier in Paris, reflecting the influence of French architecture in Indochina. It was designed by French architects Harlay and Broyer, who aimed to create a symbol of European culture in the region.

The Opera House was not only a venue for performances but also a focal point for social and political events. It hosted various cultural activities, including plays, ballets, and classical music concerts, catering primarily to the French elite and Vietnamese aristocracy.

The hop on buses also stop here so on impulse we decide to get a 24 hour ticket for only $18 CAD each or 800,000 dongs! There are no coins here, everything is rounded. So my way of calculating quickly is 400,000 per person, is $20 dollars as a dong is .50 cents!

I said Christmas is everywhere!

Pictures in no particular order as we drive by.

Hanoi Flag Tower was built from 1805 to 1812 under the Nguyen Dynasty. The building has a tower structure and used to function as a vantage point. This is also the reason why the French colonial authorities did not destroy this monument in the period from 1894 to 1897.

On October 10, 1954, the national flag was first flown on the roof of the Flag Tower of Hanoi. The tower was recognized as a historical relic in 1989.

On October 10, 1954, Hanoi Flag Tower witnessed a large number of people flocking here to see the historic moment: the national flag raising ceremony to celebrate Hanoi Liberation Day.

When the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was founded, the picture of Hanoi Flag Tower was printed on the banknote of the State Bank of Vietnam during the initial issuance.

If we hadn't done the hop on we would not have been aware of this history as it wasn't covered the Wingbuddy city tour.

A new tour would open on December 19, after we leave.

 A scenic view of West Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the city. 

The prominent sign in the foreground translates to "Proud of Vietnam". 

West Lake is a popular destination for outdoor activities like jogging, cycling, and boating. 

It is located in the Tay Ho District and is known for its relaxing atmosphere and scenic views. 

The area is also home to historical sites, including the Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple.

The entrance gate of the Quán Thánh Temple (also known as Tran Vu Temple).

Trấn Quốc Pagoda is the city's oldest Buddhist temple. We would have visited but assumed it was on the city tour. It is located on a small island near the southeastern shore of West Lake. 

The pagoda dates back to the 6th century, making it one of Vietnam's most significant historical and cultural landmarks. 

A prominent feature is the 15-meter-tall, 11-story hexagonal lotus stupa, which contains a statue of Amitabha Buddha on each floor. 

700 teddy bears just chilling on  two buildings of this cafe.

Flower shop

Flower delivery.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - we'll visit later this week but we won't get this overall view.

 National Assembly Building of Vietnam. A banner in Vietnamese indicates the 10th session of the 15th National Assembly.

Hanoi's swan boats are a popular, fun activity, especially on Trúc Bạch Lake, a smaller lake connected to West Lake, where you can rent paddle-powered swan boats for about 100,000 VND/hour.

We rode all around and then came back and got off at the cathedral stop which is really by Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

St. Joseph's Cathedral (Vietnamese: Nhà thờ Lớn Hà Nội lit. 'Grand Cathedral of Hanoi', Nhà thờ Chính tòa Thánh Giuse; French: Cathédrale Saint-Joseph d'Hanoï) is a Catholic church on Nhà Chung Street, in the Hoàn Kiếm District  It is a late 19th-century Gothic Revival (Neo-Gothic style) church that serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi. The cathedral is named after Joseph, the patron saint of Vietnam.

Construction began in 1884, with an architectural style resembling the Notre Dame de Paris. The church was one of the first structures built by the colonial government of French Indochina when it opened in December, 1886 and is the oldest church in Hanoi.

Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Returned Sword), the central, historic heart for legends and city life, featuring Turtle Tower and Ngoc Son Temple.

Turtle Tower (Tháp Rùa) in the center of Hoàn Kiếm Lake. The Turtle Tower (Vietnamese: Tháp Rùa / 塔𪛇), also called the Tortoise Tower, is a small tower in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake). It is one of the most iconic, symbolic and most recognizable pieces of architecture representing Hanoi and the entirety of Vietnam.

The island was first used as a fishing site. In the 1400s, under Lê Thánh Tông a tower was built to improve the comfort of the emperor's fishing. In the 17th and 18th centuries, under the Revival Lê dynasty, the Trịnh lords had Tả Vọng Temple built on the islet. In the 18th century, under the Nguyễn lords the temple disappeared.

In 1886, while Vietnam was occupied by the French, Nguyễn Hữu Kim, an intermediary between the Nguyễn and French governments, received permission from the government to build a tower in the middle of Hoàn Kiếm Lake in honor of Lê Lợi, one of the most famous figures of Vietnamese history and one of its greatest heroes. Legends surrounding his life involving the sword, Thuận Thiên and Hoan Kiem turtle are associated with Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the island.

Nguyễn planned to secretly bury his father within the tower. Residents of the city discovered his plans and removed his father's body from the structure. The three-story tower was still completed and was originally named Bá hộ Kim Tower.

In 1890, the French built a miniature Statue of Liberty on top of the tower. In 1945, after French control was overthrown by the Japanese army, the Vietnamese government had the statue removed.

,

We wandered back to the cathedral to stroll around. Look at the number of people in the cafes!

We found a corner cafe, with normal sized chairs! To sit down for a beer and watch the crowds.

It's not even noon yet, and we've covered some ground.

 John had to remove his shoes to go to the bathroom and put on toilet slippers.

.

Time to make tracks.

 Hoan Kiem District Library building located in the French Quarter of Hanoi. 

The building is a grand, yellow structure built in the French colonial architectural style. 

The library is situated in a park area with a large, ornate bed of red flowers in the foreground.

Then we walked to the old quarter for lunch. Duck and beef, those are green peppercorns.

.

After lunch we hopped back on the bus 

The bus took us by ceramic street. Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural is a 6.5-kilometer stretch of wall covered with vibrant and beautiful murals that bring a splash of color to Hanoi’s otherwise monotonous boulevard. 

Nguyen Thu Thuy, a Vietnamese artist and journalist, can be considered as the mother of Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural. Her suggestion to turn the dike system surrounding Hanoi into a ceramic mosaic earned her the first prize in the Hanoi Embellishment Exhibition in March 2007. She aimed to revitalize urban Hanoi and bring people together via public art to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the founding of Thang Long (ancient Hanoi).

The mural was intended to depict the history of Vietnam, along with modern artworks showing boats, dragons, flamingos, fish, pelicans, and some drawings made by children. Ceramic tesserae from Bat Trang Ceramic Village was chosen to be the primary component of the mural. Ceramics are often used to produce pottery, bricks, or tiles thanks to their durability, Therefore, the idea of using ceramics to construct a mosaic mural seemed odd.

It turned out that this was really just around the corner from the hotel. Typical tour bus strategy to make you think that you were really visiting things out of the way. Tour guides do the same thing.

The Hanoi DOJI Building, officially DOJI Tower, is a prominent architectural landmark in Hanoi, Vietnam, famous for its unique diamond shape and opulent gold/gem decorations, recognized as Vietnam's largest diamond-shaped building, housing the DOJI Group's operations and luxury retail, with restaurants like Jade Moon offering dining with city views. It's a significant commercial hub and an iconic symbol of the DOJI Group, located at 5 Lê Duẩn Street. 

We got off at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.

The UNESCO World Heritage site Hoang Thanh Thang Long, or the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, is perhaps the crown jewel of Hanoi’s legacy of historic sites. Dating back to the 7th century, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long gives visitors the chance to explore architecture, relics, and stories stretching back through 1,300 years of Vietnamese history. 

It contains two sections: the archaeological site at 18 Hoang Dieu Street and the central axis of the Nguyen Dynasty’s Citadel of Hanoi, which together create an integrated heritage complex. This was the most important sector of Thang Long Citadel, the capital of Dai Viet under the Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties from the 11th to the 18th centuries. It was also the core of the earlier Dai La Citadel, dating from the period when the region was ruled directly by China (7th to 9th centuries) and the headquarters of the North Vietnamese government and army during the Resistance War against the Americans (also known as the Vietnam War) between 1954 and 1975.

The cipher bunker of the General Staff s a secret, underground wartime facility built in 1966 beneath the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi, Vietnam, to protect high-ranking military communications during the war against the US, particularly during heavy bombings in late 1972, now open to the public as a revolutionary relic showcasing Vietnam's wartime intelligence efforts with displays of original equipment like seals, stamps, and coded messages.

Pomelos

Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The Central Committee is the highest authority of the Communist Party of Vietnam when the National Congress is not in session. 

The building is a prominent political landmark in the Ba Đình district of Hanoi. 

It is a significant site for Vietnamese politics, often featured in news related to the Party's activities and leadership.

We got off the bus at the Opera House and made our way back to the hotel.

Statue of Emperor Ly Thai To.

The statue is a large bronze sculpture of the founder of the Ly dynasty of Vietnam.

He founded the city of Thang Long in 1010, which later became the city of Hanoi.

The text on the pedestal shows his name, "Lý Thái Tổ", and his lifespan, "974-1028".

The statue is located near Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi.

Back at the hotel and we picked up our key to our new room with a balcony!

And then dinner in the hotel restaurant, this hotel had the best bar restaurant of the trip.

My club and John's burger.