27th January 2008
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Once we got back to the highway, our 2 days of calmness and tranquility on Halong Bay seems ages ago. Its a world apart. The traffic was so crazy and the honking of cars was driving me up the wall.

Honk honk honk!

It was a 3 hour plus drive back to Old Quarter. Naturally we pulled a stopped at yet another crafts workshop. Time to pee. *wakaka! Hop back on. Lets go!

Naked women and lions

I noticed that graves were scattered on the paddy fields. Initially when i saw the tombs, i thought it was those small monument where people pray and put joss sticks on. It’s so weird that the paddy fields are doubled as cemeteries.

Cemeteries…Boo!

Carying our heavy backpacks, we scour Old Quarter for a room to stay. Our stay in previous guest house (on first night) was a nightmare. I practically died freezing.

Where got room??!!!!!

I had no idea it was so difficult to get rooms at Old Quarter. It wasn’t even peaked season. Every hotel or guest house was fully booked and occupied.

We were getting desperate. It was either get a room or sleep on the streets watching big fat rats running around.

Traditional barber on the street. How cool is that?!

Finally we found a hotel with room to spare. One thing i learned from this experience is to always plan ahead. You’ll never know how desperate we were. We had nowhere to go *whack head!

Thank god we found a room! It cost us USD20 for it (air-con, heater and even internet access in our room). Initially it cost USD25. We insisted on not paying a dollar more than 20 and we got the room… minus the breakfast -_-”.

Internet woo hoo!

We put down our baggages and head out for a walk before the night fall.

Hoan Kiem Lake

The Hoan Kiem Lake is one of the major scenic spots in the city. Situated in the middle of Hanoi, it is the heart of the city. The atmosphere at the lake is totally different. Its very relaxing and its obviously is a location where the locals come for some leisure time. Locals especially youngsters and couples would come out to the lake side for an evening stroll. *can see couple smooching also hehe.

No smooching here… yet

Hoan Kiem’s Huc red bridge

At the northeast corner on a small island of the lake is the Ngoc Son Temple also known as “Jade Mountain”. Here is where Vietnam’s famous scholars and intellectuals are worshiped.

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Beautiful red Ngoc Son
You have to walk through the Three-Passage Gate or Tam Quan and across the Flood of Morning Sunlight Bridge or The Huc to reach the temple. The island temple opens onto a small courtyard. Foreigners flocked the temple.

Joss sticks Red door

Confucianism? Taoism? Buddhism?

One of the main attraction of the temple’s pagoda is the 6-ft-long stuffed tortoise in a glass casing. According to legendary mythology, the giant reptile that helped in the defeat of the the northern Ming aggressor back in the 15th century.



Giant tortoise a legend to behold

In memory of the victory of Vietnamese against the Ming China, the emperor built the Tortoise Tower which now stands majestically in the middle of the lake.

Tortoise Tower… sory blur a lil’ hahaha

When we were done at the Ngoc Son temple, the sky was already dark.

Shoplots nearby the lake

The streets near Hoan Kiem lake is very different from those within the center of Old Quarter. It’s much more modern with Western delis, up scaled boutiques and cafe’s and less congested. I even spotted traffic lights… although not much motorist take any notice of it -_-”. So, be careful even at the traffic light junctions. You might get run over… ALOT.

Air asia!

Just for the record, Nine West was having a 70% sale. I mean like darn cheap-clearance-sale that type. *whyTF am i so poor. Discount liao also cannot afford…

Nine west having discount ler…

As we walked down the street to the T junction, i saw the most magnificent sight. The St. Joseph’s Cathedral! I had no idea that it was near the Hoan Kiem Lake at all. Stumbling across this historical monument was the best thing that could ever happen.

Personally i have a thing for old cathedrals… even though i’m not a Christian myself. To me, they are just the most romantic architecture ever built. Very very Gothic.

Old gothic St. Joseph

Towering over the surrounding shops, St. Joseph’s Cathedral was actually built by the French during the nineteenth century replacing the demolished Bai Thien pagoda. St. Joseph‘s Cathedral is the largest congregation in Hanoi and the north of Vietnam. It’s a timeless piece lost in the modern-day era.

Spectacular St. Joseph

The courtyard in front of the church was packed with a procession of motorbikes, bicycle cabs people and beggars waiting at the fence. Standing on the top platform of the 2 stairs leading to the building, with so many people looking on, we kind of felt like a rock-star ready for a night of rocking concert. *wakaka!

Motorist and people ready for mass

I was there when the wooden doors of the cathedral opened to allow the masses in. It was scary! People flocked… i mean stampede into the building, pushing and elbowing on the way. In a matter of minutes the building was full. T
here are plastic stools available at the side of the building but you have to push your way through.

I seriously recommend the live broadcast on LCD screen outside of the building. You’ll breathe better *wakaka!

Holy evening mass…i mean like wow!

Before we retire for the night, we went to have a look at the famous Dong Xuan market. After all, it is Vietnam’s oldest and largest market. Won’t miss it for the world.



Setting up stalls

The market opens quite late, so when we arrived at about 7pm the peddlers just started to set up tents. The tents occupied almost the whole street so if you’re looking for something you’ll most probably find it here. The market offers offers goods of all sorts from fresh produce, household appliances to women accessories and more.

Groceries anyone?

Much like our Petaling Street in Malaysia, there are hundreds of stalls selling fake branded stuffs. Gucci? Prada? You can find it here. It’s definitely cheaper than Malaysia though.

Shoe peddler

I hold on tight to my backpack coz the street was swarming with people. I mean REALLY. Walking from the start till the end of the market was not an easy task.

Tired and hungry… and a lil’ bit dizzy from looking at stuff at the market, we had dinner at Hang Bo street where we got conned by a 10 year old kid.

Old Quarter food. Yummylicious!!

The boy was playing with some foreigner next to us. He was darn adorable. Like celebrity kid adorable ok.

Boy: Hello, buy from me? *offered us some chewing gum.
EatAllYouCanShung: You speak English?
Boy: Yes. *hugged his body tightly as though he was shivering
Me: Me: Very cold? Me too! Brrr….
Boy: Yes *Colgate smile
EatAllYouCanShung: How much?
Boy: 2,500 don.
EatAllYouCanShung: I only have 1USD. Do you have change?
Boy: Yes
Me: You have change right?
Boy: Yes yes!
EatAllYouCanShung: Ok. Here you go.

He took his money and off he went to the next table then he disappeared. Where’s the change ler…

To be continued at:-
3 hours, 6 Destinations

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Note: All photos are taken with my Panasonic Lumix F8.