I remember the few well-spent days I had in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Hanoi that I have gotten to know was and, perhaps still is, a touristy urban area that seems to be tied down by its third world development. When I visit places like these, I have a tendency to feel a strong sense of nostalgia and vigour about those cities. Everything turns into a piece of memory that seems to be connected to my past, but I am sure I have never been to places like Hanoi and Halong Bay before.
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| Hanoi - the capital of Vietnam that is historically laden. |
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| Blue Shade from Prada, Blue Hooded Cardigan from Mijosu, Graph Checkered Toffee-hued Shorts, and Coffee Coloured Blutchers from D&C |
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| Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum |
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| Water Puppet Show is a brilliant cultural theatre that showcases the spirit, belief and heritage of Vietnam |
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| Paper Weaving Boxes |
Hanoi can be best described as a city that promotes arts, crafts and culture. The crafts of weaving, pottery, stone-statue carving, batik, painting, and tree sculpting are the few well-known attributes amongst many of this beautiful 1000 year old city. Vietnam heritage runs deep in Hanoi. Temples are ancient and well-preserved amongst the French influences. Local cuisines are easily found with the multitude of restaurants available. As an Asian myself, I find their food highly delectable as they (the foods) are similar as ours in my homeland. It is a city that stimulates the mind for arts, creativity, innovation and philosophy.
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| Tile Painting |
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| Cow-Chicken? How cute! |
Bonsai Plantings
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| Clay Dragon Statue! |
After spending two days in Hanoi, we went on a short excursion to one of the most reputed bays in the country. As we moved to the renowned Halong Bay, I noticed the quick change of vista into patches of brown and green covering the sub-urban areas welcoming spring. However, the scenery at the bay changed once again.
I’d described Halong Bay with a two words – “Stunning beauty”. The landscape seems to be something sculpted out of an amazing painting. When we visited Halong Bay, it was the changing of seasons between winter and spring. Mist veiling panoramic landscapes of stony islands, adorned with lush emerald greens. It was as the locals would say “the beauty of Vietnam smiling back at us”. I was seriously bedazzled by the morning view outside the porch. She - Halong Bay, was and still is absolutely beautiful.
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| Our cabin during the stay in Halong Bay |
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| I woke up in the morning and this was what I saw... Simply amazing |
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View from the top of a cavern
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| Looks like something I see in drawings |
Knowing myself, I could carry on and on with embellished words on how amazing my trip to Vietnam was. I shall have some self-control and end the records of my travel experience to the beautiful land between river – Hanoi and bay of the descending dragons – Halong Bay.
I remember the few well-spent days I had in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Hanoi that I have gotten to know was and, perhaps still is, a touristy urban area that seems to be tied down by its third world development. When I visit places like these, I have a tendency to feel a strong sense of nostalgia and vigour about those cities. Everything turns into a piece of memory that seems to be connected to my past, but I am sure I have never been to places like Hanoi and Halong Bay before.
Knowing myself, I could carry on and on with embellished words on how amazing my trip to Vietnam was. I shall have some self-control and end the records of my travel experience to the beautiful land between river – Hanoi and bay of the descending dragons – Halong Bay.
