Hanoi

What I remember most about Hanoi was the green. It’s a busy city, but not busy like Saigon. Even in the most dense neighborhoods, there was always a park or a tree-lined boulevard. This city is  full of interesting sights, sounds, and smells like the rest of the country, but Hanoi is somehow more personal, a half-step slower. More intentional, maybe.

Another theme was food. Of course everyone needs to eat, but here, food is such an integral part of daily life. It is prepared and enjoyed everywhere, unlike in other places where it is restricted to only restaurants and homes (though great and interesting restaurants abound here too)

I found myself catching glimpses of people that seemed familiar. Conversations that might have been between me and my friends or family.

I remember moments of personal connection, not quite intimacy. A hand on a shoulder, a half-second meeting of the eyes that made me feel I was somehow part of a family gathering of six million.

This bridge is actually in Da Nang. I took this on the way to the airport to fly to Hanoi

I just loved this…

Some Phò for breakfast

Bún Châ is a lunchtime dish of grilled pork over noodles…

The whole world has a smartphone…

Hanoi’s Old Quarter is divided up into sections that specialize in different trades or merchandise. Here we see the ancient craft of scooter repair. (seriously, there were probably a hundred shops repairing scooters on this street)  

Phò is amazingly delicious stuff, and here it cost ~ $1 for more than you could possibly eat.

Electric codes? 

Everyone sits on these kindergarten-sized plastic stools. It makes the Phò taste better. 

We went to the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. Uncle Ho was in residence. He says hello.  

M. Lenin also plays a starring role here.   

Here is a gallery of the full-sized photos