Hanoi – the city which currently is rebuilding its beautiful face after the wars. The capital of Vietnam where you can find delicious food and a lot of scooters. This city is also associated with the possibility of accommodation in luxury hotels with good prices and with the residents who are very proud of their origin.
One of the most interesting places in Hanoi is Ngoc Son, which is a Buddhist temple, located on a tiny island, near the Hoan Kiem lake. Visit this place, join the crowd of Vietnamese, who spend their time there each day and try to find a turtle living underwater. They believe that this animal is over one hundred years old and is an incarnation of its ancestor. According to legend, it emerged from the lake and helped General Lê Lợi to drive out the Chinese out of the country.
However, the surroundings of the lake attract people not only because of the turtle. The park located near the lake is one of the favorite places to practice tai chi or even to dance for the residents of Hanoi. You can also buy the local products there - fans or ornaments with the image of the legendary creature mentioned earlier. This place is also worth seeing due to the presence of the local community and their habits. The place looks particularly beautiful in the morning when the fog rises over the lake, and after dark, when the bridge is illuminated by a red light.
While visiting the city, you won't be able to resist local food. You can find many small bars which can be visited only by a few people at the same time. You can feel the smell of Asian soups and spices, and mainly, the aromatic coriander. You have to try the pho soup that the Vietnamese eat at any time, spring rolls, many types of pasta and rice fried with vegetables. Try also a local hoi boi beer – almost half a liter of beer costs only half a dollar.
