Day 3: The perfect remedy for sleep deprivation and jet lag in Vietnam, is their coffee! Some of the best in the world-and by far the best I’ve ever had. For coffee lovers and the average drinker, you’ll want to take a few bags home. My friend from college who grew up in Hanoi, gave me a list of local spots–away from other tourists–to visit so I could have an authentic experience. One was Cà Phê Chợ, in the Old Quarter of the city. We both fell in love with this quaint coffee shop; the vibes and coffees were amazing! I stopped here every morning to get my fix.
Fully caffeinated, my travel buddy and I wandered aimlessly through the streets. Each street vibrantly alive; blanketed with the aroma of fresh spices and street foods that locals and the daring would try. I’m a foodie and love my share of local cuisines but these were a little suspect.
To curb our hunger we ate pho and noodles at a local eatery, where we occupied the space with natives and foreigners alike. One of the things I love most about traveling is trying the country’s national dishes or most popular plates. I get to taste the world in every bite. The amazing thing about food is that it always brings people together and the human connection grows stronger.
Continuing on our journey, we walked around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, a small lake right in the middle of the Old Quarter. The streets were hectic and chaotic overfilled with motorcycles and foot traffic but once you sat on a bench and faced the lake, immediately you could feel the calmness surround you.
We kept walking despite the heat. As sweaty as we were, we figured it was the best way to take in the area. We stopped at the War Museum, which was now home to a few U.S. planes, tanks, and helicopters since the war. In the states it’s called the Vietnam War, but here it’s the opposite-the American War. We took a look at the infamous Flag Pole that waved the Vietnam flag. We trekked on to the Presidential Palace where the president stays, adjacent to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the resting place of their famous leader Ho Chi Minh. We witnessed the changing of the guards around the tomb.
My favorite place we visited this day was the Trấn Quốc Pagoda, the oldest temple in Hanoi (pictured above). It was delicately built but stood strong. We had to cover our knees to enter so we had to rent out long, gaudy looking skirts. I looked absolutely ridiculous but it was well worth it to see this gem.
When I was first planning to travel to this country, I was told that customer service here was less than perfect at times. Tonight, I had first hand experience at dinner. The wait staff took our order, gave us our beers, and then all sat down and ate their dinner before cooking and serving ours..I’m almost positive they ate what we ordered.
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