Hanoi Things to Do Tips by bpacker

Sunset, Perfume Pagoda River

Miss this and you'll miss the Halong Bay of the Rice Paddy Fields. The best deal about this trip is the the fun boat trip along the scenic waterway which takes about 30min of constant rowing in a creaky boat. You'll see green quilted rice fields along the way, grazing buffaloes and astounding scenary, particularly around sunset.

Note: Perfume Pagoda is about 75 km south-west of Hanoi and it takes a bum-rotting 2.5bus ride to get there as the road sucks big time. But the scenary and boat ride more than makes up for it. Contact ODC travels for a well-organised trip there. It cost roughly $14 per person, including lunch.

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Phone: (84.4) 8.288.729, 8.243.024.
Address: 43 Hang Bo Str, Hoan Kiem
Website: http://www.odctravel.com/

Opera House: Eat something wierd, take a shot + send it to Mom

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Updated by bpacker

on Jan 12, 2005

Hi Ma, Guess WHAT I ate?

If you've always wanted to shock your parent, here's your chance to do so. ( Some of us never do grow up !! ) Hanoi has one of the strangest menus in the world, so pick one strange creature. Make sure it's
1) well-cooked
2) all the toxins are removed
3) dangerous or wierd looking
4) not endangered
Ok, put one near your mouth. Ask your co-conspirator to take a snapshot. Now, email that picture or MMS it to your chosen parent for instant results. Call your parent approx 10 minutes after sending that picture. She would have come to at about that...

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Directions: There's a strange eatery shop near the Opera House, just beside the Musuem of Revolution. They have every revolting thing there, scorpion, snake, dog, you name it.

Hoan Kiem Lake: The most photographed bridge in Hanoi

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Updated by bpacker

on Mar 1, 2005

The red bridge at Ho An Kiem

You'll probably recognised the red bridge from countless of photographs so it'll compel you to go there and take your own 'expert' shot of it. Keen?
Head for Ho An Kiem Lake, right in the heart of the Old Quarters. Look out for the red laquered bridge attached to a temple.Here's my own crummy shot taken from the side of the temple.

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Address: Ho An Kiem Lake, near Old Quarters

Walking arround: Drinking Crappy Coffee in Hanoi

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Updated by bpacker

on Mar 22, 2007

Give me the civet cat crap pls

If you're thinking I advocate drinking bad coffee, I'm not.
If I were , the title would be "Drinking coffee in Seoul". Yes, I am not apologectic about it , coffee there sucks big time. Only tea is good over there.
The purist in me says that instant coffee taste like acrid dishwater. Same goes for the watered-down coffees found in fancy joints branded with mermaids.
Back to where I was saying, you have to try Cafe cut chon (It literally translates to Fox Dung Coffee ) when you're in Hanoi. It's simply the best coffee in the world and if you need to know it's Arabica coffee beans that has been eaten, digested and regurgitated from the palm civet cat. Yes, it is crap from a civet cat. But what wonderful crap! The digestive juices from the weasel makes the coffee stronger, smoother and more heady. Once you try this, it's unlikely you'll try anything else, including mermaid-branded coffee.

Where to buy it: It's difficult to buy the real deal, many tourists end up purchasing synthectic Cafe Cut Chon from the ubiquitious Trung Nguyen coffee shops. I bought mine from Cafe Mai ( see the address below).

Taste Review : Taste a lot like gd ol' Saigonese Coffee, only stronger and better. Strong accent of mocha with a strong earthy , acidic taste.

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Address: 96 Le Van Huu, Hai Ba Trung Dist, Hanoi

Churches: Comparing the French and Vietnamese Architecture

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Written by bpacker

on Jan 12, 2005

St Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi

If you've been to Paris, you can see a striking similarity between the architecture over there and here in Hanoi. One prime example is St Joseph's Cathedral. Tell me, which famous building in Paris does it remind you of??

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Directions: Pho Nha Chung, not too far from Ho An Kiem Lake

Churches: Comparing French and Vietnamese Architecture

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Written by bpacker

on Jan 12, 2005

Notre Dame, Paris

Well, does St Joseph's Cathedral remind you of the Notre Dame in Paris? To me it does, despite the fact that the one in Hanoi is smaller and less ornate. The two rectangular towers of the church are striking features.

Where

St Joseph's Cathedral - Pho Nha Chung
At the end of Nha Tho, Hanoi VN

Notre Dame - Place du parvis de Notre Dame , 75004 Paris

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Opera House: A Visit to the French Quarters

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Updated by bpacker

on Dec 12, 2007

Opera House, Hanoi

A visit to the French Quarters of Hanoi is an absolute must. Really, the colonial buildings here are gorgeous despite the Vietnamese addiction to ochre-coloured paint.

Take a look around and marvel at the Neo-Baroque facade of the Opera House, the History Museum, the Geographic Museum. You'll find that the colonial buildings here are more well-maintained and stately compared to the ones found in Ho Chi Minh. If you really need to know, the Opera House was recently refurbished at a cost of a whopping USD$20million.

Tip: Look out for strange mythical creatures on the roof of the Opera House.

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Directions: Trang Tien Street and thereabouts, East of Hoan Kiem Lake.

Walking arround: A Visit to the Old Quarters

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Updated by bpacker

on Mar 1, 2005

Old Quarters, Hanoi

Honestly, if you miss this, you've not been to Hanoi at all ! The Old Quarters is where you'll find the Hanoi's Hearbeat. Wander along the clogged arterial streets of the place and you'll find that each street specialises in a special trade. Eg. There is a street that sells nothing but herbs, another sells clothes, etc. If you look at the picture, you'll see that the shop sells nothing but pretty, colourful lanterns.

Additional Tip: Stay at the Old Quarters if you can, it's bloody atmospheric and you can soak in the local culture. Check my hotel tips

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Address: Old Quarters

Out of Hanoi: Ha Long Bay

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Updated by bpacker

on Dec 12, 2007

View from Sung Sot Cave

If someone should ever compile a list for the seven Natural wonders of the modern world, I'm quite sure Ha Long Bay would make it. It has already been noted by Patricia Schultz as one of the spots in the famed tome "1000 places to see before you die".

1,600 islands and islets, beautiful jade green waters and countless of gigantic limestone pillars. Need I say more? You need to be here to understand what I am saying. Go for a tour package with a reliable agency here. So far ODC and Handspan seem to be the agencies of choice in VT. I went on a 3d2ntour with ODC and had loads of fun!

Cost
About USD56 per person for a full board trip. This also included canoeing.

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Website: www.odctravels.com

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: Paying Uncle Ho a Visit

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Updated by bpacker

on Jan 25, 2005

Snake queues at Ho Chi Minh's

Mausoleum