Mysterious Flower Night Market

 At 2 am, when petals are coated with slight drops of dew and the city is in its deep sleep, Quang Ba Night Flower Market opens. Products there are nothing but flowers and light from torches. These two things seem to make a unique market at the midnight.

It is unknown how long Quang Ba Night Flower Market has become the Hanoian’s biggest wholesale market of fresh flowers. It is held daily but almost days are busy. Quang Ba Night Flower Market is often opened up at 2 am, but in fact, florists bring their goods from surrounding areas to the market since 11 pm the day before. Flowers at Quang Ba Market are believed to be the most fresh and beautiful.

Each category of flowers is sold at a certain row. Unlike noisy and boisterous other open-air markets, Quang Ba Night Flower Market is smooth and elegant as its own products. Especially, all sellers and buyers there always clutch at their torches, an essential thing because of the lack of sunlight at this time.

Quang Ba Night Flower Market is divided clearly into two turns. The first period from 2 am to 4 am is farmers’ who directly planting colorful flowers. Most flowers are wholesale to people who wait for next turn to resell, therefore, prices are significantly cheap. The second turn begins since 4 am and almost prices are higher because of reselling.

Flowers still have their long-history beauty. Their refinement and aromas make life more beautiful. Even in this market, it is just its flowers, which splendidly fresh and colorful in foggy and vaporous night, making it unique and unforgettable.

Hanoi pagodas - All the most famous (P.2)

Chem TempleChem Temple is in Thuy Phuong village near the southern bank of the Thang Long Bridge. The temple is dedicated to Ly Than, who was sent to assist the first emperor of the Chi'in Dynasty in China and married his daughter during the second century BC. It is believed that the Chem Temple was built around the 7th or 8th century on the site of Ly Than's residence. The current temple today was erected in the 19th century.

The temple contains two gilded wooden statues of Ly Than and his wife sculpted in 1888. It’s a relaxing place, with excellent views of the Red River

Phu Dong TemplePhu Dong Temple is in Gia Lam District, once the home of a tenth-century legendary hero called Thanh Giong. It is located in a peaceful rural area across the Red River to the east of Hanoi city centre. The site actually consists of two temples.

The Dong Temple is large and impressive. According to local legend, it was built by King Ly Thai immediately after the king moved to Thang Long in 1010. It now has two prayer halls, a rear palace and, unusually, a theatre built on the front pond for water puppet shows, all of which were constructed in 19th century.

The Mau Temple was originally built in 1693 on the outer dyke and is dedicated to Thanh Dong's mother. Nearby is an old garden once owned by Thanh Dong's mother. It contains a stele bearing a legend. Apparently, a giant trampled upon the vegetable patch and left a footprint. The next day, Dong's mother placed her foot in the giant print, became pregnant and gave birth to Thanh Dong.

Dong Nhan TempleLocated in central Hanoi, this temple pays homage to the Trung sisters, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, Vietnamese heroines who led a rebellion to drive out the Han invaders in AD 40.

The Dong Nhan Temple was originally built on the Red River bank in the 12th century, but the bank collapsed in 1819 and the temple was moved to its current location. A local legend tells that one night in early February, two statues were discovered floating in the Red River in 1142 and were brought ashore by villagers. King Ly Anh Tong was told and ordered a temple dedicated to the statues to be built on the spot.

The two statues stand at the rear of the temple and wear hibiscus hats with their hands rising up to their faces attended by twelve statues of female generals on each side.

Thu Le Temple (Kneeling Elephant Temple)The temple derives its name from two kneeling elephants guarding the gate.

Located in Hanoi’s Thu Le botanical garden, this temple was built in the Ly Thai Tong Dynasty (1028-54) near West Lake, and was dedicated to Linh Lang, son of King Ly Thai Tong.

According to legend, the King’s wife was confronted by a dragon, and became pregnant. When the child was born, he had dragon scales and lights twinkling like pearls on his chest. As an adult, he led the army to expel invaders. The grateful king wanted to abdicate in his favour, but Linh Lang refused. He was transformed into a black dragon entangled around a stone slab and disappeared into West Lake. The king ordered a temple to be built on the site.

The Thu Le Temple still contains two bronze statues and a large concave stone slab. It’s in an attractive wooded landscape beside a pond, a calm and harmonious ambiance conducive to contemplation.

Quan Su PagodaThe Quan Su is Hanoi’s largest and most popular pagoda. It was first erected on land in An Tap village close to the southern gate of Thang Long (the old name for Hanoi).
Originally a small Buddhist pagoda located near the 15th century Quan Su house used to receive foreign envoys and ambassadors, the pagoda eventually became the headquarters of the Tonkin Buddhist Association. Over the years, the pagoda has been restored and expanded many times.

Bach Ma (White Horse) Temple in the Old QuarterAccording to legend, in the ninth century, King Ly Thai To was struggling to build the Hanoi Citadel, but the walls kept collapsing because of the marshy sub-soil. Bach Ma (White Horse), who was the spirit of Thang Long, appeared in the guise of a builder and told the King how to create foundations that would support the masonry. The King was grateful, and ordered the building of a pagoda dedicated to Bach Ma. A statue of the horse stands beside the altar.

The current structure was built in the 18th century, and is typical of Hanoi’s pagodas. It’s hidden away in the Old Quarter, and blends in well with its bustling streets. There is even a shop built into the walls to the left of the entrance.

Hanoi pagodas - All the most famous (P.1)

Tran Quoc PagodaThe original pagoda was built in the 6th century and is considered the oldest in Vietnam. It was founded on the bank of the Red River by King Ly Nam De who named it Khai Quoc (National Founder). Much later, it was moved to its present site beside Hanoi’s Ho Tay (West) Lake during the reign of King Le Kinh Tong (1600-1618) and renamed Tran Quoc (National Defence). The current building is the result of major renovations in 1815, but one of its effigies dates back to the early 17th century.

In the garden, there is a Pipal Tree (ficus religiosa, but known throughout history as the Bodhi tree) reputedly grown from a cutting of the original tree where Buddha sat and gained enlightenment.

Hoe Nhai PagodaThis pagoda was founded in 1020 by a Chinese Buddhist monk named Trong Dien. The ruling monarch at that time had persecuted Buddhist monks. Dien described the Buddhist philosophy for him, and he relented.

Inside, a statue of Dien shows him sitting on the Kings back, symbolising the understanding between them. The interior framework of the building and the altars are all fashioned in hardwood and are very attractive.

One Pillar PagodaOne Pillar Pagoda.Close to what is now the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the One Pillar (or One Tree) Pagoda overlooks a small pond. It was built by Emperor Ly Thai Tong after a dream in which the Goddess of Mercy handed him a male child on a lotus flower. He created the small wooden pagoda to resemble a lotus blossom to commemorate the birth of his long-awaited heir.

Unfortunately, the original was destroyed during the war with the French. The present building is a replica erected the year after the colonists were finally expelled in 1954.

Lien Phai PagodaThis pastel coloured multi-tiered pagoda stands in a pleasant garden hidden in a labyrinth of alleys leading off Bach Mai Street just below the city centre to the south. It is set amongst pleasant and tranquil gardens next to the main building of worship. The pagoda was founded by one of the Nguyen Lords in the early 18th century who picked up a rock resembling a lotus root in his back garden. Considering this a sign from Buddha, he converted his palace into the pagoda.

A visit also provides an opportunity to venture into the maze of tiny alleys off the main roads where the majority of Hanoi’s residents live, and where foreigners are a great rarity.

Quan Thanh PagodaThis impressive pagoda was founded during the reign of King Ly Thai To (1010-1028), and is located beside Truc Bach Lake. It is ornately decorated and stands before a pleasant courtyard shaded by banyan trees. Inside, there is an imposing four-ton bronze statue of the God of the North cast in 1677, together with his attendant spirits, a snake and a tortoise – clearly a Taoist symbol.

Tay Ho Pagoda
Named after the lake it sits beside, the pagoda occupies a superb position on a tongue of land projecting into the water. It is dedicated to Thanh Mau, the Mother Goddess, who appeared on the lake as a pretty girl, smiling and reciting poetry to a fisherman, then vanished.

It is one of Hanoi's most popular pagodas, attracting many worshippers on the first and 15th of each lunar month. It’s also a delightful place to visit, particularly as part of a trip around the lake by boat – it has its own landing stage.

Lang Pagoda
Located in Hanoi’s suburbs, the Lang Pagoda provides an opportunity to see a semi-rural area, yet another of Hanoi’s many faces. It was built during the reign of Emperor Ly Than Tong (1128-1138). Entry is via an ancient concrete and wooden gateway flanked by stone elephants. The courtyard encloses an octagonal pavilion. For visitors, it offers a peaceful setting where local students like to read and paint, and old people enjoy relaxing in the shade of the trees.

Hanoi museums

Hanoi museums are as diverse and wonderful as the city is itself. You'll find museums that cater to your interests, whether you want to learn a bit about the history and culture of Vietnam or just see some great works of art.

History

Most of the Hanoi museums are dedicated to preserving the history of Vietnam. These 3 museums offer looks into Vietnam's past. 

1.  History Museum - The Hanoi Museum of History displays artifacts from prehistoric times through to World War II. While some of the artifacts are a marvel in and of themselves, the arrangements leave a lot to be desired. Most of the exhibits are labeled in Vietnamese, but you will find some in English.
2. Museum of the Vietnamese Revolution - From the time of French colonialism to reunification, this museum details Vietnam's move toward independence. Most of the artifacts are made up of print, including letters and newspapers, so don't expect to understand too much.
3. Museum of Military History - In the Citadel is the Army Museum, which includes displays from the start of the uprising against the French to the American War (Vietnam War). Bring a guide with you, as there is very little that you will understand unless you speak Vietnamese.

Art

Vietnam does have some beautiful art, and if you're not keen on buying some at the galleries you can at least see some examples in the art museums.

1. Fine Arts Museum - This museum contains both reproductions and originals of works that range from traditional folk art to modern art. Like the other museums, there's a push to show Vietnam in the best light.

Culture

Culture museums are always interesting. There are several in Hanoi that are worth a visit.

1. Ethnology Museum - The 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam are all represented here via dioramas, models and reconstructions of buildings and practices.
2. Museum of Vietnamese Women - Here you can discover the role of women, mostly within the last century. The museum itself is extremely well done with artifacts labeled and put into proper context.

Regardless of which museums you visit, keep in mind that a strong vein of propaganda flows through all Hanoi museums. Don't feel compelled to "educate" staff or visitors, just enjoy the experience of a new place.
(Hanoi travel guide )

Hanoi cooking classes

If you’re thinking about how you might recreate some of the tastes and dishes you’ve been sampling in Hanoi once you return home, roll up your sleeves and grab a cleaver. There are three very good options for spending half a day learning to prepare some of your Vietnamese favorites at a local cooking class.

If you are already home, it’s not too late. Browse our Recipes for easy dishes you can prepare at home to present a classic Vietnamese menu.

Hidden Hanoi

 

Hidden Hanoi offers the best broad introduction to Vietnamese culinary culture. It is a small company run by a lovely Vietnamese woman name An whose mission is to share her knowledge and love of Vietnam with visitors to Hanoi. In addition to cooking classes, Hidden Hanoi also offer survival Vietnamese language classes and a variety of walking tours. Classes are fully participatory and although each student prepares the ingredients for a different dish, the whole class watches as each one is cooked and of course you get to sample all of the dishes over a shared lunch. There is no guided market visit in this program, but if you choose to pair this class with a walking tour, you can request a market visit as part of that tour.


Highway 4

A cooking class at Highway 4 gives you the chance to try your hand at some of Highway 4’s delicious favorites, including their famous catfish spring rolls. Their cooking class also includes a short cyclo ride through town on the way to a market visit at either Chợ Hàng Bè or Chợ Hôm, two famous neighborhood markets (although on my last visit, we walked from the Hang Tre location to Chợ Hàng Bè). The class is participatory and has the added advantage of starting early in the morning, so while you have a shared lunch to sample your cooking, the class wraps up at noon and gives you a full afternoon to explore the city.

Logistics: Highway 4 classes can be arranged every morning from 8AM – noon. Rates: Start at $52 per person for 2 people, with the rate dropping slightly with larger group size; 10 person maximum.

Sofitel Metropole Hotel

The Sofitel Metropole Hotel offers top quality dining experiences at both Le Beaulieu and Spices Garden, and presents a first class cookery option. This experience also begins with a cyclo ride to your market tour. Here, with the head chef of Spices Garden as your expert guide, you will learn about Vietnamese herbs and ingredients before heading back to the Metropole’s kitchen. While this class has participatory elements, there was a heavier focus on demonstration by the chef. The advantage is that you get to experience six dishes instead of the usual three or four. The Metropole class menus also include more sophisticated dishes such as pork cooked in bamboo, and stuffed crab with mushrooms. In lieu of a self-cooked lunch, the class moves over to Spices Garden for an elegant sampler feast prepared by the restaurant; the afternoon class (the only afternoon option for classes) includes dinner at Spices Garden.

Logistics: Sofitel Metropole Hotel classes are offered daily from 10AM - 2PM (including lunch) or 3PM – 9PM (including dinner). Rates: Prices range from $90-110 depending on day of the week and booking method. The hotel also offers a full-day Culinary Journey package that includes a morning tour of a noodle making village and ceramics village, lunch at Spices Garden, and an afternoon market visit, cooking class and tasting. Offered 8:30AM – 5:30PM daily, with rates ranging from $140-160 per person.

Hanoi’s coffee culture

Sai Gon has coffee on high floor, and under ground, etc., whereas Hanoi has street coffee and traditional cafeteria. The competition between Trung Nguyen coffee system, modern Cappuccino coffee and traditional coffee is still equal. This reveals that the Hanoians retain some uniqueness of their ancient lifestyle.

Coffee and the Hanoians

The Hanoians drink a lot of the dark, caffeinated beverage and prefer sipping their stronger blends outside in front of a small shop with some sweet milk and a spoonful of sugar. Every morning, on hot days of summer and cold and dull days of winter, you can easily see some here with a cup of coffee in one hand and a newspaper in the other.

For many Hanoians, the most important factor of a café is not its luxuriousness but the quality of the product. Old people love cafés which have been around a long time, located on old streets or inside deep alleys. Office workers like cafes with romantic and quiet styles like those in Pho Co Quarter. Young people prefer the noisy and busy atmosphere of modern and luxury or pavement cafés.

Street Coffee…

Soaking up the rhythms of the street and embracing Hanoi from all of its sides, from old to new ones, and from traditional to modern & quirky ones, you will tenderly recognize that, nothing can be better refresh us after hardworking hours than a cup of coffee on a street near Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake).

Basking with sunshine in the afternoon when there’s less noise from automobiles, Hanoi ends a day and opens a new paradise for culture experiences. Taking over a legacy from bygone years with the involvement of an irresistible French factor, the Vietnamese have embraced café culture in a great way. There are so many famous coffee shops in Hanoi, like Nang café (6 Hang Bac), Nhan (39D1 Hang Hanh), Quat (Quan Thanh), Quynh (Bat Dan) to Giang (Hang Gai and Lam (60, 91 Nguyen Huu Huan)… Chairs are small, literally child-sized, and are sometimes made of blue plastic or painted wood. The tables are covered with glasses of ca phe den (black coffee) or ca phe sua da (iced coffee), which come with their own picturesque drip top. Not only just for connoisseurs,  these places are idea for having gossip, meeting old friends, talking to pass  time of day, stealing precious moments for romantics …

Now, let’s follow a coffee connoisseur…

A good example of the authentic Hanoi cafés is Hang Hanh, an atmospheric slender street veering off the city’s central Hoan Kiem Lake. In the afternoon, one may find himself inexplicably drawn to its’ wall-to-wall cafés which unfold below the shady boughs of leafy trees. Here, the annoying young and cool Vietnamese often sit and watch the world in front of their eyes. In late afternoon, with the last rays of sunshine, the place starts to buzz. At weekends, it is positively heaving with dating couples or gangs of youths desiring to be couples.

If this sounds too frenetic, a more subdued place like Giang Café can be chosen! Though situated in a busy tourist shopping street, the tiny confined Giang Café attracts the serious permanent coffee lovers and soccer addicts. 

[Cyclo cafe in Hanoi] My next stop is Lam café - the perfect refuge for artists, poets and thespians to refresh their minds for creativeness. Situated on a shaded street, it will bring you the relaxed moments by the simple but artistically-decorated bamboo furniture, colorful framed oil paintings on the wall, ceiling fans as well as wooden table with a lot of tiny china teapots.

Yet, if you ask me about my favorite one, I will not hesitate to answer that it is Quynh Café. Down in a quiet side street, this unassuming cafes’ entrance is marked by a simple red lantern and ornate ironwork doors. Stepping inside, you not only see the bamboo furniture on tiled floor but also the tiny plants adorn wooden shuttered windows. Looking on damp-streaked walls, you may surprise with wooden arrows and trumpets, farming implements and ancient hunting pistols. Breathing the cool air from the antiquated table-fan, wallowing in soft French background music, you will desire to stay longer...

Coffee drinking from another approach

The resurgence of tourism to these fragrant shores has led to the resurrection of the wonderful old ambience of former colonial times in many Hanoi cafés. Delightful cafés are now housed in elegant French-style villas with exquisite silk prints, meticulously polished wooden floors and pot-planted courtyards or serve delicious food all day and evening. Street cafés like the La Terrasse du Metropole on Ngo Quyen and Le Phung Hieu or Highlands Café, 84 Nguyen Du are the typical examples!

Hanoi’s coffee culture calls on coffee addicts from every corner of the globe! (hanoi travel guides)

Van phuc silk village

Van Phuc Silk Village is situated on the banks of Nhue Thi River, Nguyen Trai Road, near Ha Dong city, 8 km southwest of Ha Noi. It takes you only 30 minutes by motorbike to go there from the centre of Hanoi. The village has been much well known for its traditional sericulture, weaving, and silk products. Tourists coming here are lured by various beautiful shirts, crafts, ties, dresses and many other things made of silk available in the village. What is special is that the silk is made by very simple looms, which is the genuinely traditional Vietnamese way of making silk.

For centuries, silk has always been considered an extreme luxury, on par with rhinoceros horn, ivory and precious handworks in Vietnam. It has long been a universal byword of luxury, often worn by the richest, most powerful citizens. Most visitors somehow have heard about the significant role of this kind of material in Vietnam, yet might wonder where the cradle of Viet silk is. The mentioned Van Phuc Silk Village is proud to be the origin of best silk and silk-making industry of Vietnam, which is attached to a long-lasting history of more than two thousand years. Though passing by lots of ups and downs, during the recent years, the village’s craft has enjoyed revival due to a surging demand for silk in both the domestic and foreign markets.

Today, the fine and lustrous cloth that originates from the cocoon of the silkworm is more affordable for "ordinary" folk. Furthermore, silk is currently enjoying a fashion renaissance, particularly since its many varieties can be made into a wide range of designs suitable for all facets of modern life. Should you intend to have a silk pair of formal clothes made, just come here and select your suitable materials, and professional tailors here will bring you satisfaction!

Like other visitors to the village, you will be surprised at this “silk shop town”, where almost all houses along the paths have been turned into shops selling silk products. Specifically, the village is now home to 1,280 households, 90% of whom are involved in silk production and business. The village makes more than 2 million meters of silk per year. Yet, more than that, you are offered a good chance to explore the Vietnamese traditional industry of silk-making.

No tourists here are uncontented with the glisten of various silk products. They are always confronted with an initially bewildering array of silk products, from raw materials, to garments, and a myriad of silk accessories. The local silk is known for its smooth and lightweight appearance, and qualities that enable it to be dyed more colors to suit a variety of skin tones. In
order to cater for the changing demands and tastes of customers, Van Phuc silk producers are expanding their silk and garment repertoire: traditional glossy, embroidered silks, double layers, wrinkled silks, and of course, more colours, hues and weights, for which they have invented new techniques in dying and thermo-processing the threads.

If you are going to buy something from Vietnam as gifts for those at home, silk and clothes made of silk are available around in the village for your choice. Though the days when Vietnam's silk was reserved for nobility are long gone, what would never change is the sense of romance and luxury imparted by silk, a luminous cloth type. With 2000 years of history behind them, the silk weavers of Van Phuc Silk village are still busy, weaving dreams.

How to get there? With a view to reaching Van Phuc village, tourists should travel south west out of Ha Noi on Nguyen Trai Street until they reach the border of Ha Dong District. Then turn right and dive for about 3km. The village is on the left, some 8 km from central Hanoi. Motorbike, bus, or taxis are all of good use.

List best restaurants in Hanoi

Hanoi like various other South East Asian cities has a vibrant street food scene where visitors can get acquainted with traditional Vietnamese foods like noodle soups,pork sausages (gio lua), spring rolls (nem ran) fish balls (cha ca) and more though the city also has several excellent restaurants that offer a smorgasbord of authentic Vietnamese delights which are enjoyed by both local and visiting gourmands alike. Some these famous Hanoi restaurants include:-

Cha Ca La Vong

14 Cha Ca Street,
tel: +84 4 3825 3929

This renowned restaurant is housed in the rather rickety Doan family home which is located in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. The restaurant features its own contribution to Vietnamese cuisine which takes the form of fried fish served with various seasonings (Cha Ca). The fish is fried in a saffron tempered grease filled frying pan on a charcoal burner which is placed on your table. Along with the simmering fish, you are also provided bowls of cold vermicelli noodles, unsalted peanuts, chopped chili, herbs like mint and coriander, chopped spring onions, shrimp paste and fish sauce. You are expected to add some of the spring onions and herbs to the fish as while it cooks and then when it is done you are expected to dine family style by combining the superbly seasoned fish with its accompaniments.

Wild Rice (La Lua)
6 Ngo Thi Nham street,
Tel: +84 4 3943 8896

This upscale dining destination is housed in a stunning two storey restored French colonial villa decorated with much local art. The interior of the restaurant is truly striking and features a bamboo bar, a magnificent stone fire place and a bamboo garden. Wild Rice serves contemporary Vietnamese cuisine which displays various other Asian influences.

The Emperor Restaurant
8B Le Thanh Tong Street,
Telephone: + 84 4 8268801

This gorgeous restaurant is also housed in a gorgeous old colonial villa which is located opposite the Hanoi Opera House and the Metropole hotel. The Emperor restaurant has a resident jazz band and offers a menu that features specialties from the Vietnemese city’s of Hue like the delectable fresh Hue spring rolls called nem cuon and the banana-leaf-wrapped fish.

Nam Phuong
19 Pho Phan Chu Trinh Hanoi,
Vietnam
Tel: +84 4 824 0926

The celebrated restaurant Nam Phuong is also located within an old French Villa on Phan Chu Trinh Street in the heart of Hanoi near its Hoan Kiem Lake. The restaurant which has hosted many heads of state serves a menu that features traditional Vietnamese cuisine as well as more exotic offerings like fried frogs legs and the coveted Vietnamese delicacy of steamed snails.

Verticale
19 Ngo Van So Street,
Tel: +84 4 3944 6317

Verticale can be best described as a fusion Vietnamese restaurant which owned by the French chef Didier Corlou who was once the chef at the Sofitel Metropole hotel. This elegant restaurant is also housed in a French Villa and serves a menu which is a mélange of western and eastern flavors. Verticale offers a number of reasonable prix-fix options like the Verticale Set and The Hanoi Journey Set which provide a great insight into the restaurant’s flavorful repertoire.

Red flamboyant in Hanoi's summer

Between May, Hanoi's sky is rain & sun, marked the transfer season. Between May, the flamboyant begin to show off blazing red with the sound of cicada in "Chorus summer".

The flamboyant is a species of flower special to Vietnam. A flamboyant flower has red and thin petals and long pistils. It does not have a scent but it attracts people through its bright red color. However, if it is planted in hotter regions, its color becomes deeper.

The flamboyant season make you miss my memory about period go to school. Students in all grades gather the flowers and put them in notebooks in the shape of butterflies as a souvenir of the year's memories, friends and teachers. The flower is also a meaningful souvenir for people to present to each other.

Ngoc Ha flower village - a famous floriculture in Hanoi

Ngoc Ha is flowers village. Regarding to the floriculture, providing flowers for Hanoi to mentioning Ngoc Ha village the first, then to the village Huu Tiep, Dai Yen ... This village form long time ago ... Ancient books have recorded the last time Tran dynasty, Tran Chau general bring about Thang Long in 1526, has garrison troops in Hoang Hoa market.

French time of the Ngoc Ha village flower very famous. It is not growing peach blossom as Nghi Tam, Quang Ba, Nhat Tan village, but is the flower of the year, during the month ... Roses, daisy, violet, gladious, butterflies, especially with lilies and Phăng flower (carnation) more ...

Often the morning, elegant the girls , first round wire chit tissue, mailed death, that is blue, the buff slippers, crooked deal as girls go Huong pagodas throughout the poet by Nguyen Nhuoc Phap , gently to carry flower into town.

Through the Western city, and old street, other city people, they sell flowers, often for the French official, Vietnam official, the ancient trading city ... Many of her acquaintances in the sale of Dong Xuan market, the Hom market , or delivery of goods to shops selling flowers here ...

Ngoc Ha village flower
Specifically, the fifteenth of the lunar month, the first of the month, they often the goods harden for acquaintances. Packages are also flowers in the package is Rong- Dieng leaf, scroll or break square or round corner, forced by a bamboo string very thin and then suspended door at each home.

In the package also has flowers roses, Ylang ylang, magnolia and few flowers flower branch wood fibers or flowers ... just enough out in a small disk, with mediation perfume  incense insurgent spirit of Buddha and the first months or midway months ...

Flowers that the village is also where elegant boys than girls , is the time to convert each other, put together to visit, then purchase the gift a dozen beautiful roses bloom best, or ask a gladiolus for a wedding soon to ...

Ngoc Ha village flower in Hanoi
After this, the land of rare ... People sell the garden, field grown flowers, even fill pond then flowers beautiful ancient village hours only memories in the elderly. Ngoc Ha minutes remaining only a short side street outside the garden Bach Thao, the first Tay Son street, where a small market, also named Ngoc Ha market. Ngoc Ha Street not long to four, five hundred meters ...

Top of Ngoc Ha street is a one home to worship Huyen Thien Hac De, one to hold the northern communes. Ngoc Ha is also the vestiges of history. On 5-12-1898, the Ngoc Ha has with Nhue, Vong, Cot insurgent army, according to Nguyen Thanh and Nguyen Quang Hoan, occupy France military post in Ngoc Ha.

After the National resistance day, 20-12-1946 night, to self-defend the neighborhood and defend one's country make an ambush this military post again, break through french's plan attacks to expand the western city ...

In 12 day Dien Bien Phu in air, a part of the B52 was exposed at the sides of the lake in the Ngoc Ha village.

Temple of Literature (Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam)

The very first stop-over of any foreign tourist in Hanoi is always Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (translated as Temple of Literature), which reveals the Hanoians’ spirit of study in the past!

Situated at the south of Thang Long citadel, is on top of the historical and beautiful sightseeings of the beautiful capital of Vietnam. Please follow us in a brief tour of exploring his beauty and deep values;

Historical meaning

Tourists, particularly the foreign ones, now flock to the site for taking a look into its profound traditional meanings of both a Confucion temple and the first university of Vietnam. Văn Miếu or Temple of Literature, known as "pagode des Corbeaux" during the period of French colonisation, was founded as a Confucian temple in 1070.

Only parts of the Văn Miếu complex date back to the earliest period, although much of the architecture dates to the Ly (1010 – 1225) and Tran (1225 – 1400) Dynasties. In 1076, Vietnam's first university, the Quốc Tử Giám (or National University), was established within this temple to educate Vietnam's mandarin class. The university functioned for more than 700 years, from 1076 to 1779, during which, 2,313 doctors graduated. Hence, the complex has been attached to the name of Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam up to now.

A beauty-spot of architectural values

This ancient Confucian sanctuary is now considered one of Hanoi's finest historical and cultural sites. “The ever special architetural style of Van Mieu dates back to the 11th century, evoking an inspiration of classical creativeness of many of us”, one of my tourists remarked. Just take a look into the art of architecture, you will share the feeling! The temple is based on Confucius' birthplace at Qufu in the Chinese province of Shandong. It consists of five courtyards lined out in order, entrance to the first, via the impressive twin-tiered Van Mieu gate leads to three pathways that run through the length of the complex. The centre path was reserved for the King only, the one to its left for administrative Mandarins and the one to its right for military Mandarins.

The first two courtyards are peaceful havens of ancient trees and well-trimmed lawns where the scholars could relax away from the bustle of the city outside the thick stone walls. Entrance to the third courtyard is through the dominating Khue Van Cac (constellation of literature), a large pavilion built in 1802. Central to the this courtyard is the Thien Quang Tinh ("Well Of Heavenly Clarity"), either side of which stand two great halls which house the true treasures of the temple. These are 82 stone steles. Another 34 are believed to have been lost over the years. They sit upon stone tortoises and are inscribed with the names and birth places of 1306 men who were awarded doctorates from the triennial examinations held here at the Quoc Tu Giam ("National University") between 1484 and 1780, when the capital was moved to Hue.

The fourth courtyard is bordered on either side by great pavilions which once contained altersl of 72 of Confucius greatest students but which now contain offices, a gift shop and a small museum which contains ink wells, pens, books and personal artifacts belonging to some of the students that have studied here through the years. At the far end of the courtyard is the altar with statues of Confucius and his four closest disciples. The fifth courtyard contained the Quoc Tu Giam, Vietnam's first university founded in 1076 King Ly Can Duc, but this was destroyed by French bombing in 1947.

Though having gone through lots of restoration work, the temple still retains its very first original shape, to be one of the visit-worthy sightseeings of Hanoi, captivating to a huge number of tourists elsewhere.

A space of peace, green trees and solemnity covers the whole temple of historical and traditional love for study, making tourists feel like they were lost in a land of Confucion and traditional values. If you are in Hanoi, you should really come and explore it yourself!

Bat Trang ceramic village

Bat Trang is an old, well established village in the Gia Lâm district of Hanoi. It is about 13 km from central Hanoi.

It is famous for producing a unique style of ceramics called Bat Trang Porcelain. Bát Tràng is well known throughout Vietnam for its beautiful ceramics.

Bat Trang porcelain and pottery is a type of ceramics made in the village of Bat Trang, in the suburban outskirts of the northern Vietnamese city of Hanoi. The village is located in an area rich in clay suitable for making fine ceramic. Bát Tràng ceramics are considered some of the best known porcelain products in Vietnam besides those of Chu Đau, Đang Nai, Phu Lang, and Ninh Thuan. During the past centuries, Bat Trang china products have travelled in European trading ships to all parts of the world.

Bat Trang, in the several past centuries, mainly made worshipping objects, then produced house-utensils, including bowls, plates, vases, cups and pots. The village has recently diversified its products, producing many items of fine art ceramics and high quality porcelain.

Bat Trang ceramics have also been shipped to many countries, such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, the US and EU member countries. Many ancient ceramics of Bat Trang are being kept in major museums in the world, such as the Royaux museum in Belgium and the Guimet museum in France.

Since 2002, Bat Trang artisans have promoted their co-operation in the Bat Trang Ceramics Association to boost production and marketing. The association helps Bat Trang people and ceramics businesses get information about the market, learn about new technology, trading ways and opportunities for their trade in order to raise their competitiveness.

The association has established a centre to promote its exports and is building the trademark of “Bat Trang Vietnam – a 1,000-year tradition”.

The Bat Trang village festival is held annually at the middle of the second month according to the lunar calendar, which usually lasts for seven days.

Hanoi culture and events

Many visitors plan their trips to Hanoi to coincide with some of the popular events and festivals that are held here annually. Festivals are largely based around historic events, Buddhist philosophy and key changes in the lunar calendar. Many events are exclusive to small villages in the city’s suburban areas and visitors may need to travel in order to attend them.

1. Ba Chua Kho Temple (Giang Vo) Festival

Time: the 12th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Giang Vo Communal House, Giang Vo Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi.
Objects of worship: Ba Chua Kho (Queen of the Stock).
Characteristics: The worshipping ceremony of 13 villages. Games: human chess, duck catching, puppetry show, and water puppetry show.

2. Bat Trang Village Festival

Time: From the 14th to the 16th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Bat Trang Communal House, Bat Trang Commune, Gia Lam District, Hanoi.
Objects of worship: Han Cao To and Lu Hau, Cai O Minh Chinh Tu Royal Highest, top-ranking general Phan, Ho Quoc Genie, Bach Ma Genie.
Characteristics: Water procession, ancestral tablet washing, contest of composing ca tru song to sing on the worshipping ceremony.

3.Giong Soc Son Festival (Soc Son Temple Festival)

Time: From the 6th to the 8th day of the first lunar month. The main festive day is on the 7th day.
Place: Phu Linh Commune, Soc Son District, Hanoi.
Objects of worship: Saint Giong.
Characteristics: Fighting for bamboo flowers and cut the General of Yin invaders.

Shopping in Hanoi

The Old Quarter has numerous streets crammed with shops but those of particular interest are on Hang Gai and Hang Bong where there are a number of tailors and silk shops. The area close to Hoan Kiem Lake has some excellent shops including along Hai Ba Trung Street. Dong Xuan Market on Dong Xuan Street is Hanoi's largest wholesale and retail centre and anything and everything can be found there. Off-the-peg clothing is always a good buy, but even better is to have clothes made up by one of the many tailors. There is always a good range of coloured silk to choose from.

Opening times:

Shopping malls are beginning to arrive in Hanoi with the Trang Tien Plaza at 24 Hai Ba Trung and VinCom City Towers at 191 Ba Trieu. Hand-embroidered tablecloths and napkins are very popular. Items such as boxes and vases made from lacquerware are extremely good value. The hill tribes of the Central Highlands and the north of the country now sell colourful woven bags and clothing in the city. Good souvenirs are marble figurines and vases, ceramics from Bat Trang village, silk paintings and hand-painted greetings cards. Shops are generally open seven days a week from early morning until late evening. (with Hanoi Travel Guides)

Hanoi Nightlife

Hanoi isn't well known for its nightlife, as the city streets can appear pretty deserted soon after 2200. However, the situation is improving and there are a number of great places in which to pass an evening, although clubs and live music venues are still in short supply. Government restrictions mean that venues are unable to stay open very late and there are occasional police raids should a club flout the unspecified regulations. Much of the nightlife takes place around the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake.
Most nightlife venues in Hanoi are on the small side, but the ambience is great and the crowds friendly.

The Spotted Cow, 23C Hai Ba Trung, Finnegan's Irish Pub, 16A Duong Thanh, Relax Bar, 60 Ly Thuong Kiet, Polite Pub, 5 Bao Khanh Street and Funky Monkey, 15B Hang Hanh, are all good places for a drink or two. Apocalypse Now, Star Bowl Centre, Pham Ngoc Thach, or New Century, 10 Trang Thi Street, are two of the best clubs in town if you fancy a bit of dancefloor action. Check out Minh's Jazz Club, 31 Luong Van Can (website: www.minhjazzvietnam.com), Indochine Jazz Club, 62 Nguyen Truong To, and Seventeen Saloon, 98B Tran Hung Dao, for live music acts.

Cultural entertainment is rather thin on the ground throughout the city, although improving, but there are a few outlets. You can find information on performances in the daily English-language newspaper the Vietnam News and the monthly The Guide, published by the Vietnam Economic Times. An alternative source of information is Time Out, a free supplement in the weekly Vietnam Investment Review. Tickets should be purchased in person at the venue.

You can find traditional entertainment at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, 57B Dinh Tien Hoang (tel: (04) 3824 9494; ). Hanoi's Opera House, 1 Trang Tien (tel: (04) 3933 0131), is a beautiful building showing orchestral, choral, ballet and theatrical works. Films in English or with English subtitles are shown at Megastar Cineplex, Level 6 VinCom City Towers, 191 Ba Trieu, Ha Ba Trung district (tel: (04) 3974 3333; website www.megastarmedia.net), as well as at the Goethe Institute, 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc (tel: (04) 3734 2251), and at L'Espace, 24 Trang Tien (tel: (04) 3936 2164).

Travel by rail in Hanoi

Duong Sat Vietnam trains leave from Ga Hang Co, 120 Le Duan (tel: (04) 942 3697 or 3949 for e-ticketing; website: www.vr.com.vn), in the southwest of the city, the starting point for trains north to Lao Cai, east to Haiphong and south to Ho Chi Minh City. The entrance for northern services is on Tran Quy Cap (tel: (04) 942 3433 or 747 0308). There is only one major rail route in Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, with minor routes to northern towns from Hanoi. Internationally, there is a twice-weekly train service to Beijing.
You can buy tickets in person at the station where there is a special counter for foreigners. In addition, a very useful number is 1080 where English-speaking operators can give information on timetables. For long distances, it's best to book soft class sleepers (four people in each cabin) or soft seats for shorter distances. The alternative hard class sleepers (six people in each cabin) and hard class seats are uncomfortable and crowded. The train is a popular way to travel in Vietnam and trains are heavily booked around public holidays like Tet.

Travel by road in Hanoi

The road network throughout Vietnam is reasonable but the standard of the roads varies dramatically from good to appalling. Roads throughout Vietnam are designated by numbers and the main north to south route is Highway 1 connecting Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh City. In theory, traffic drives on the right but in practice drivers take the most direct path avoiding the many thousands of bicycles, motorbikes and animals wandering along the road. As self-driven car hire for visitors is non-existent, visitors to the country have to hire a car with a driver. Most will agree that this is the only way until the country introduces and enforces a system of road rules.
There are basic rules, such as you must stop at a red light and headlights must be used at night, but that tends to be as far as it goes. Long-term foreign residents are allowed to drive a car but few are brave enough to do so, preferring to employ a Vietnamese driver. It is safe to assume that if a foreigner is driving a car involved in an accident, he or she will automatically be at fault.

When To Go Ha Noi

There is really no bad season to visit Hanoi. The city offers countless attractions that can be seen year-round, and the climate is generally agreeable.

Tourist season runs from late June through August and October through Tet, the New Year's celebration that takes place in late January or early February. Though accommodations and transportation are bound to be booked around Tet, it's worth making the effort to see Hanoi dressed up for the festivities.

Vietnamese tend to travel in the summer and around Tet, making public transportation that much more difficult to book.

Source: Lonely Planet

Hanoi city

Hanoi, the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is an elegant city located on the banks of the Red River with tranquil Hoan Kiem Lake at its heart. North of the lake are the bustling streets of the Old Quarter, each street named after the trade that used to take place there.

Much of the city was transformed by the French when it became a French protectorate in the 1880s and there are wide boulevards and large colonial buildings which are now home to government departments and foreign embassies.

Following years of rampant inflation, poverty and repression, the government introduced economic reform or doi moi in 1986, allowing people to own their own businesses. Now Hanoi has been totally transformed and visitors are entranced by the city and its residents. Recent years have seen an enormous increase in visitors and at peak times every hotel room in Hanoi is booked up, so prices have risen accordingly.

Teeming with culture, history, great restaurants and nightlife, Hanoi offers a fantastic introduction to Vietnam.