Exploring Hanoi

After checking into our hotel, we headed out on foot to explore the Old Quarter. The Old Quarter is a maze of narrow winding streets which can speak to hundreds of years of history. The streets on which we roamed little resembled the 13^th century streets laid out by the commerce guilds of Hanoi to sell their wares in community cloisters. Although it still common to find merchants clustered together as the guilds intended, much of the commerce of the Old Quarter is organized to fuel Hanoi’s 21^st century commercial focus - tourism.

The busy streets of the Old Quarter offer a rich view of an active Asian city. Commerce of clothing, jewelry, handmade goods spilling from shop to sidewalk, food aromas drifting about, women balancing baskets extended from a long pole held on their shoulders shuttle about selling fruits and vegetables. An endless number of people mingle and mill about.

For first time Asian visitors, the commotion can be a bit overwhelming. After a year in Bangalore we felt less shock and awe. We did make many comparisons to our adopted home in Bangalore. To our delight, and, somewhat chagrin for our home in India, we found Hanoi a more organized city. For reasons of culture, history and happenstance, Hanoi is more comfortable with its urban nature than Bangalore. Loose cattle and wild dogs do not roam the streets. There is a greater harmony between vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The city is mostly free of litter and construction debris. The motorized autorickshaws of Bangalore were replaced with pedal-powered cyclos. For all that was different and the same….we felt safe and at home.

Our first destination was a tour agency to arrange a next day out-of-town tour. Lunch was at a small restaurant called Hanoi Restaurant. From the young, energetic, English speaking wait staff we learned some basic Vietnamese. Our Dutch companions at the next table opted not for a language primer, but more basic instruction on the use of chop sticks.

Our next stop was Hoan Kiem Lake. As legend recounts, the 15^th century Vietnamese Emperor Ly Thai To vanquished the Chinese with a magical sword. After his victory while sailing the lake, a tortoise rose up and snatched the sword from the emperor. The tortoise disappeared beneath the waters. It was understood that the sword was being returned to its divine owners by the tortoise. Commemorating this event at the southern end of the lake is the Thap Rap (Tortoise Tower).

In the northern part of the small lake is Ngoc Son Temple. Built in the 19^th century, the temple is dedicated to Vietnamese national heroes. Their significance was lost to us. What was clear was that the temple, situated on a small island accessible by a bridge, is a haven for gathering. New parents bring their young children, young lovers come to sit together, older men gather together to play board games. The smell of temple incense pleasantly scents the air. A magical place.

At the end of the day we located a well-stocked super market for buy some essentials for a simple dinner in our hotel room. Fatigued, we grabbed a cyclo for a ride back to our hotel. A wonderful first day.