So i went to Hanoi, traveling alone to a country i know nothing about , not their culture, their language nothing. Just a very biased and basic idea of they recent history. I still know nothing of their culture, language and history but i do know that Hanoi was as welcoming to me as any other place i have been. IT is a living city that is there to serve its residents, not tourist or people who come in for a splash and dash. The lakes(a big draw to the few tourist it seems)are used by the locals for everyday activities, cycling, jogging, reading and a host of other things. The majority of stalls are geared to selling things that locals can buy, this is not bangkok by any means. Though from what i understand slowly but surely Hanoi is changing, so i am glad i went now before things go to far and Hanoi becomes just another hot spot for tourist activity. I have nothing against tourism mind you, being an avid tourist even in my own country its the dreaded sameness of it all, row after row after row selling knocked off clothing and what not. At least for now Hanoi has been spared that fate. The people- I found them for the most part very welcoming and always willing to make an effort to give directions or just to smile. It seems to me that a lot of Hanoi people have not seen many dark skinned folk i had kids come up to touch me and giggle away, no malice intended just pure curiosity. In my long walks in and around the old quarter i went to places that i reckon most tourist don't go, much to the surprise of the locals in one little area about an 1hours walk out of the old quarter, i scooted round to the back roads to the shock of the residents, some of whom stopped what they were doing and call out to other family members to come and have a look at the strange guy walking in their neighborhood. I had many offers of tea i have to say.(not being a tea drinker myself it was a struggle and i soon declined more often then not). Another thing i noticed was that everyone seemed to doing something, i encountered 1 begger, in a city with a high poverty rate i was impressed, even if it was selling cigges or vegetables, they would rather do something then just sit there and beg. 1 other thing that impressed me was that in the mornings everyone would come outside and sweep the path and road in front of their shop/home and leave a little pile of refuse for the municipal road sweeper to clear up.
So did i enjoy myself? yes would i do it again yes, though i did miss my lil family tons especially when i got back in the evenings...an empty hotel room is a lonely place. Would i recommend Hanoi? yes but its not for everyone, if your looking to relax by the beach, the nearest one is 3 hours away(though i hear its beautiful) if your looking for shopping? hit Bangkok or Saigon, but if you want to see a living breathing active city that is at the crossroads of development and history i say Hanoi is the place.
I have broken up my post into 5 sections this is because i have posted a ton of pics. Click on the pics for an enlarged version though i have shrunk them all down for the purpose of blogging. The pictures didn't turn out as i had hopped. They are not going to show you what life in Hanoi is like there is no way a picture is goign to be able to encapsulate that there is just to much going on. The pictures are of things, people and places i encountered nothing more nothing less. in the coming days i am sure i will post more pictures out of the many hundreds that i took. :)
