12 February 2008

Hanoi day 1

6 February 2008...

CH and family decided to spend 2008 CNY in Hanoi, Vietnam. The few day before they depart they only found that the weather in Hanoi is quite cold and rainy. The temperature will be around 17 to 8 degree Celsius, and getting colder. This kind of weather actually joy them up, because in Malaysia they never experience such a cold weather.

On 6 February morning, they wokeup at 3.30am since their plane is on 6.30am. This made them falling sleep all along the flight to Hanoi(Good for them). After step out from the cabin, they already notice the weather wasn't a joke for them. Luckily they already prepared all the cold weather equipment needed. After checking out from airport, they took a cab and heading to where they stayed at old town of Hanoi.

Along the road, there are numerous resident selling the "mei hua" plant branches & little tangerin tree. Vietnamese is quite similar to Chinese that they must have a "mei hua" plant in their house to spend the CNY.

Local resident carrying their "mei hua" plant. Another thing CH discovered is, the road in Hanoi was really congested, and full with non-stop-horns from motorist and car driver.

CH booked a 2-star hotel which is actually 3 -star just because they lack of swimpool. CH strongly recommend this Hotel for Traveller to Hanoi since it is located at the centre of old town Hanoi, which was really convenient and the service was really good.

Be a millionaire in Vietnam. Their exchange rate with Ringgit is 1MYR = 5000 VND. 1 Million VND is actually RM200 only. (And their goods really cheap).

Scenery outside the hotel. The hotel facing the busy street of Hanoi old town.

It's already 1pm. CH and family went out to hunt for lunch. Just a minbute walk from their Hotel, they found this restaurant called Gecko. Let's try out the food here.

The local made Vietnamese "Halida" beer. Cheap (RM2) and taste good!

The cocktail Tom Collin, mixture of Gin, Vodka and Lime Juice. The cocktails in Vietnam is selling cheap. Just around RM10 per cocktail. Try out as much cocktail in Vietnam as you can.

The black coffee in Vietnam. Taste different from Malaysia one.

First dish was the Vietnamese rice paper spring roll. Taste refreshing!

Second was the deep fried spring roll. Taste unique and different from Malaysia one. Remember to dip with the sweet, sour and spicy sauce.

Third was the fried noodle. The noodle was special, which was harder and thinner compared to Malaysia one. Taste good! Full with vegetable.

Forth was the Beef Steak with rice. The beef steak was medium done. Taste unique with the garlic and the chinese celery. The rice was a little bit hard.

Final one was the Pork steak with rice. Similar with Beef steak.

Ambient in Gecko.

Try this if you dare to! The lizardous liquor in Gecko.

All the above cost CH around 320,000 VND, which was only RM60+, it was cheap!~

After sumptous lunch, it's time to walk around the old town of Hanoi. There're lot of things to be discovered in Hanoi.

Local selling Chinese prayer goods and CNY decoratives.

Vietnamese attire making taylor. Try to bargain the ready-made Vietnam suite to at least 25USD.

Vietnamese hawker selling Vietnamese Apple.

The mask making shop.

Vietnamese loves ballons.

The lizardous liquor is famous in Vietnamese. If you really brave, try out the Cobra Liquor as shown in the picture.

The local busy rolling the spring roll on the street. A bit unhygienous though.

The tin box maker shop.

Inside the Buddhist temple in Hanoi. In the alley of the road heading to the Catheral.

The Catheral in Hanoi.

This shop selling good local "chee cheong fun". Must try. It is just next to the Catheral.

This shop selling good sliced chicken noodle soup! Must try! It is just opposite to the Catheral also.

Try to mix the pickle duck egg with the soup.

After another few minutes walk, CH reached the lake at the city centre. On the centre of the lake is the tortise monument.

The statue next to the lake. Don't know who is the statue, just take a photo first la...

At one of the corner of the lake, there're a lot of stall selling local food. Below are some recommendation from from CH:
1) This Vietnamese selling good "bread with Omelette". But she was charging CH expensive(2USD). : (

2) This stall selling variety of Vietnamese snack.

The beef salad with spicy and sour sauce. CH's parents love it.

The fresh Vietnamese Spring Roll. The skin a thicker then usual one. Good also.

The deep fried lamb meat ball wraped in leave.

The shrimp and oyster dumpling. The skin of the dumpling was really chewy and sticky. Quite good also.

Next to the local food stalls is the water puppet theatre. Only cost RM8 per adult. The water puppet was really realistic and funny. Worth to watch and must watch.

After dinner time, all the local residents went to the city centre to celebrate the countdown for CNY. The motorist ruin the city by simply stopping their motorcycle at the centre of the road to watch the acrobatic performance. The motorists rules!!!

After they reach hotel at 11pm, they already exhausted (since they woke up at 3.30am morning). CH performed another sleep like pig version 2.0 after trip at Bali.

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