Hanoi is a typical chaotic Asian city especially in the Old Quarter. As soon as we arrived in the city we could easily notice how busy the streets are with motorcycles  going in every direction, locals selling their stuff on the pavement and numerous of low stools and tables spilling out onto the pavement by local restaurants. We checked into our hotel which for that night, was right in the centre of the Old Quarter and headed out to explore the neighbourhood. We didn’t even dare taking our stroller out as it was very clear that it was too dangerous to walk through the streets along with motorbikes. So we carried our 18 month old baby in the baby carrier and walked around before it gets dark.

Our son had just woken up from a six hour flight so he was full of energy and very hungry too. We stopped at a Vietnemese restaurant closeby and there you go – we tasted our first ever Vietnemese cuisine. I must say the first impression was very good indeed, and seeing our toddler maneuvering with chop sticks (or rather one chop stick J) to get the noodles into his mouth was a good start. There’s a diverse types of restaurants in Hanoi – from ultra fine dining ones to local eateries serving street food to locals.

The next day a local company picked us up at our hotel for our 2 night cruise in Halong Bay. Check out Cruising Halong Bay with a toddler

On the way back to Hanoi we were stopped to watch a water puppet show which our son loved and to which he applauded heartily. Water puppetry is a traditional form of Vietnamese art that developed over a thousand years ago in the Red River Delta.

Back in Hanoi the next day we visited the Ho Chi Minh Manisoteum which is surrounded by a huge garden. It is the place where the Ho Chi Minh’s (Vietnam’s most notable historic figure) body is situated. The place is highly guarded and complete silence is to be respected inside the building where Hoi Chi Minh is resting. This was indeed somewhat challenging to keep an 18 month old from not making any noise but we rushed through and found our way out soon. If you are visiting make sure that you where appropriate clothing as no shorts or straps are allowed and you will be asked to cover up before allowed in.

We also visited the Tran Quoc Pagoda which is one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam and is definitely worth a visit, and the Ngoc Son Temple. Ngoc Son Temple is surrounderd by Hoan Kiem Lake and apart from being very peaceful and quiet, it was a great place for our son to run around and watch the specimen giant turtle which the legend says was found in the lake weighing 250 kgs. Outside the temple a number of locals sell turtules which as a tradition are used for good luck and thrown in the lake after you make a wish. Undoubtedly we soon found ourselves with some turtles on the palm of our hands… a wish.. and off into the lake they went!

 

 

After a day in the city we headed for a day trip to Ninh Bihn – a small village in the Red river delta in the north of Vietnam. We were amazed by the beauty of this place. It is known as Halong Bay on land as there are hundreds of limestone monoliths topped by dense greenery scattered around the city. We went on a small boat and cruised river along the monoliths and went also into some of the caves. The river is as peaceful as cruising Halong Bay and the greenery of the place immerses you in nature.