SOUTH ASIA BLOG October 7th, 2024 - HANOI

 

10/7/24– It’s been just over one week since we left New York and we’ve already taken five separate flights. We still have two more countries left to hit after Vietnam, but first it’s time to tackle Hanoi.

Our hotel provides us a free buffet breakfast with traditional Vietnamese dishes that aren’t much different than the Balinese ones. The best part is the view from the rooftop on the 8^th floor that overlooks the city. The staircase leading up to the rooftop is also quite elaborate, and one of the selling points for us on choosing this place.

We retreat to our room and look up train tickets for tomorrow. It takes a bit to research as the websites I have no longer show the dates available. I contact the hotel to assist but they only want to offer a shuttle, which I've been warned the roads are not very friendly at all. In fact, one of the shuttle options I find online actually strongly suggests we get the insurance. Huge red flag! Finally, I come across an official site and snag two seats, and we’ll leave the rest of this for tomorrow’s adventure.

Our day starts out around 11:30am. We first walk by St. Joseph’s cathedral (which is literally steps away from us) for some outside photos, and then duck inside a souvenir shop to scope out what they have. Next, we walk around Hanoi, making sure to watch ourselves as the sidewalks are mostly blocked by parked mopeds and the streets are full of speeding cars. Remembering the game of Frogger, we just hold out our hands and cross the street when necessary.

Twenty minutes later, we locate the entrance to Train Street which is a narrow alleyway full of shops and bistros. Every so often trains come through, sending the patrons scrambling to put up their tables to allow room, and after the train passes they put them back out again. Unfortunately, the next train is still about two hours away, and the heat is already starting to bake us.

 

Contemplating going back to the hotel, we decide to part ways during the break. Sharece stays on Train Street to enjoy a drink at one of the bistros and I walk ten minutes to the Prison Museum (Hoa Lo Prison Relic). Originally used by the French colonist in Indochina, and later by North Vietnamese for U.S. POWs. I only have a short amount of time so I briskly walk through, but it’s quite interesting to view the Vietnam war from the other side. 

   

I make it back to Train Street with time to spare before the next train arrives. Sharece and I park ourselves at a table near the tracks, order a blueberry soda drink and wait. Soon, we hear a whistle blowing and see all of the shop owners pushing tables out of the way while yelling for patrons to step back. Not long after, the train roars down the track and whizzes by as my face is a mere foot from getting pelted. It’s a truly awesome experience.

With the show now over, everyone grabs their belonging, pays their bill and continues on their way. I’m not sure how they can allow this to go on daily without people getting seriously hurt, but they make it work so power to them.

Our day out is coming to a close, so we call a GRAB to take us back to our hotel (Only $1.20 USD), get some burgers, pick up the souvenir we saw earlier and enjoy the rest of the evening cozying up in our room. There is a strange broadcast going on outside that plays music periodically but basically just a woman speaking for five minutes straight. Not sure what that’s about and don’t intend to find out.