Say Hello to Hanoi on a Vietnam Tour

Hanoi, the country's second-largest city (with a population of six million and covering 900 square km on the banks of the Red River), is considered the center and soul of the country- something easily proven by way of a walk through the streets of this French-colonial city with its lakes and temples. Readily navigable on foot, there will be a lot to see and do only at an easy pace; start your Vietnam Ninh Binh tour from Hanoi and you will certainly have the strong sense of laid-back tranquility that merely a timelessly old settlement can have.

History

Dating back as early as three centuries before Christ, Hanoi once was known as Thang Long, and was renamed Hanoi in 1831 at the same time when Hue was the capital. Present-day Ninh Binh tour Hanoi, however, was largely built during the French occupation- a fact reflected in broad streets and charming French-inspired buildings that are characteristic of the city.

Old Quarter

Hoan Kiem District (aka the Old Quarter), considered the city's business hub and main tourist destination, is possibly the most definitive of Hanoi. A walk through the area is tantamount to stepping back in time - its streets are filled with scooters, traders and people simply out for a leisurely stroll in the park. Here, there are ancient commercial streets named after their original businesses dating back about 1,000 years, including names of cotton, jewelry, herbs, and silk. While a number of these concerns have already been replaced with an increase of modern businesses, once can still appreciate the sense of how it had been quite a while ago, and gain a sense of rich, old customs. Preserved shop-houses built a little over a century ago with street-facing façades and multiple courtyards inside are now side by side with hip cafés, bars, restaurants, bakeries, boutique shops, and art galleries.

Places to Visit

Ho Chi Minh, the country's hottest leader (known to his people as uncle Ho') rests here in a glass case at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in central Hanoi (albeit against his wishes). A trip to Uncle Ho's final resting the place can be an extraordinary experience on a Vietnam tour- after all, it's not just a typical attraction, it's part of a nation's history. For anyone visiting, it would do well to remember the reverence the locals have for Uncle Ho-dress with respect (no shorts, sleeveless shirts, and miniskirts) and everyone must deposit their bags and cameras prior to going in.

The world-famous Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi is just a performance art rooted in a tradition dating back once again to the 11th century, from a period when rice paddy fields were flooded and villagers would make entertainment by standing in the waist-deep water with the puppets performing over the water. Large rods to aid the puppets appeared as if these were moving over the water, with the puppeteers hidden behind a screen. They would tell traditional folk stories through operatic songs, combined with an orchestra playing traditional music using drums, wooden bells, horns, bamboo flutes, and cymbals. Today, the tradition continues.

Other must-see places whilst in Hanoi on your own Vietnam tour are The Temple of Literature, The Perfume Pagoda, One Pillar Pagoda, Ngoc Son and Hoan Kiem lake - along with the various museums, markets, zoo and more.