Hanoi through the lens of a Hanoian: Same same, but different
A place that will make you fall in love at first sight by its beauty and hold you on to stay longer by its mysteries.
Are you craving the excited and eager presentiment of travelling with your homies and bored of virtual experience after quarantine? And do you feel like you have been vaccinated from Covid but have not vaccinated from ‘cô đơn’ (lonely)? Let’s list out 3 wholesome and majestic places and activities in Hanoi that will make you want to pack your pack back and go right away.
Figure 1: A corner of Hanoi (Retrieved from SomewhereinHanoi)
Hanoi - a remix of Eastern and Western culture
Hanoi has been known as the most ancient capital in the world, but it still has the modern vibe created by the young. As a multi-cultural influence by Chinese, French, and Russian culture, Hanoi is an ideal place for visitors to explore: delectable cuisine, vibrant nightlife as well as be infatuated with the traditional arts such as handicrafts, well-preserved colonial architecture, and museums. That is the ‘original version’ vibe - a typical feeling whenever tourists search for Hanoi on social media.
But what if all those core images and experiences, which social media branding for Hanoi has changed since it has been innovated and developed to suit globalisation as well as modernization? Hanoi now is like a ‘remix song’ that can play you down like the prelude and then hype you up like a chorus.
Let’s take a deeper look and see the different sides of this tranquil place through the lens of Mei - a Hanoian, who majored in fashion design for three years in Paris. Having Vietnamese blood and being exposed to Western culture, Mei takes Hanoi as an inspiration for creativity that will satisfy your appetites and a ‘dose’ of peace after a stress-out day.
Hanoi - an inspiration for creativities that will satisfy your appetites
As a student majoring in design, inspiration is a key point and a foundation for any creative project. For Mei, every corner of Hanoi - culture, architecture, the daily rhythm of the people living here is her inspiration. And one of Mei’s favourite activities, whenever she gets idea blocking, is going to the museums or exhibitions with friends. “It is like a refreshment for your mind and blows a new wind to your creativity” - share Mei.
Enjoying art at Work Room Four exhibition
Instead of going to the traditional museum-like The Vietnam Fine Art Museum, Hanoi Museum, or Vietnam Military History Museum,... there are more options for young travellers to try and explore art in a modern way.
Figure 2: Vietnam Fine Art Museum (Retrieve from Hanoi Old Quarter Car)
Work Room Four is a multidisciplinary art and design studio based in Hanoi, which focuses on developing art, design, and education in various aspects such as interior design, fashion, and graphic design. Additionally, this is like a community for artists and art lovers who need consultation, collaboration, or coaching courses related to their field in Hanoi.
Figure 3: Work Room Four Studio (Retrieve from Work Room Four)
Their outstanding project recently is “Postcards from the Pandemic” launched in November 2021. It is an imprint for archiving and marking this historic time. After quarantine, people got bored of staying at home and lacked human interaction. This exhibition encourages them to share their emotions, feelings, and thoughts while dealing with the Covid-19 through the medium of mail art.
Figure 4: “Postcards from the Pandemic” exhibition (Retrieve from Work Room Four)
By offering three ways to submit postcards: digitally, by post, and making their postcards from their craft materials at their studio, people from everywhere can have a chance to join the project. The unique point of this exhibition is that it was designed to be interactive and cohesive, creating an emotional space and gathering people back to the “new normal” life after being very distant from each other. You can update and find out more about Work Room Four on their website and social media.
Figure 5: “Postcards from the Pandemic” exhibition (Retrieve from Work Room Four)
Figure 6: “Postcards from the Pandemic” exhibition (Retrieve from Work Room Four)
Hanoi - A ‘dose’ of peace for your rushing day
“It doesn't matter where you go, it matters who you go with” - location is just simply a space without emotions, and people are “spices” to make that place mean something to them. Why don’t you try an off-the-cuff date with the people you love sometimes cause you will be surprised by what will happen then?
Impromptu travel
If you are an improvisator who does not want to follow a specific schedule and limit your experience, impromptu travel is the best choice for you.
This kind of travel is most suitable for travellers who want to revisit or have a thorough knowledge of the place they are visiting. Instead of planning, impromptu travel aims to create memorable experiences as long as you feel pleased about the trip. But how can you be spontaneous while not being wasteful and still enjoy it?
Viewing West Lake the sunrise/sunset while kayaking
“If you were ever sad, just go for a run cause then you realise that your physical health is worse than your mental health” but in Hanoi, there are more interesting activities to relieve stress than just running - kayaking and watching the sunset at West Lake.
Figure 7: Sunset on Westlake (Retrieve from SomewhereinHanoi)
There are two time slots a day for this activity, one in the morning (from 5 am to 8.30 am) and one in the afternoon (from 4 pm to 6.30 pm) with an in-the-budget price ranging from 200.000 - 250.000 VND/kayak. It is recommended to check out the weather before taking part in this outdoor activity to completely experience the beauty of the sunrise or sunset on West Lake.
Figure 8: Kayaking on Westlake (Retrieve from Kenh14)
Hanoi itself has a more chilling vibe compared to Saigon - one of the busiest cities in Vietnam, where streets are gambling and hustling from morning till night. If you are not keen on physical activities to relieve stress like bicycling or kayaking and prefer something more delicate, then going to a classic concert might be a perfect option for you.
Hanoi Opera House
The Hanoi Opera house located in the heart of the city is known as a phenomenal piece of neo-classical French architecture featuring Gothic themes. It is marked as historical and cultural evidence of the French colonial period and was built in 1911 as an entertainment place for the elite. Hanoi Opera House is an iconic sight, featuring many events and classical performances, including opera, traditional folk music, ballet, and international concerts.
Figure 9: Hanoi Opera House (Retrieve from Trip Advisor)
Surely, the first thing that may come up in your mind after reading the description of the Hanoi Opera House above is “Oh, this place must be for the elderly and it is not worth being the must-visit when travelling to Hanoi”. And Mei had had that thought too before she had a chance to join a classical music concert there.
“My father gave me two tickets to a classical concert, so I asked my friend to go with me. At first, we planned to leave the concert sooner - before the end of the performance because classical music is not our type, but surprisingly it turned out to be a whole new world that made us stay till the end. The synthesis of various musical instruments, lighting, and the atmosphere created a vivid moment like entering Alice in wonderland for the first time.” - Mei excitedly shared her unforgettable experience at Hanoi Opera House.
Domestic travelling - a “save and safe” option for travellers after the pandemic
Vietnam tourism has been recognized as one of the Asian treasures with various natural heritage and rich in culture while offering a reasonable price for passengers. Additionally, the Ministry of Tourism coordinates with domestic tourism businesses, offering many discounts to stimulate demand and recover the tourism industry after Covid-19. Following Vietnam travel restrictions, locals and foreign tourists, who are fully vaccinated, are allowed to travel at specific locations in green areas such as Hanoi, Phu Quoc, Danang, Nha Trang, and others in November.
Domestic travel is now a trending type of tourism that meets the priority criteria of any travellers after the pandemic - “save and safe”. So, what are you waiting for? Step out of your home, it’s time to discover and get your wholesome life back.
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