Take Me to Hanoi

Travel blogger and photographer Karen Bianchi offers her take on where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in the bustling city of Hanoi in Vietnam.  All images by Karen Bianchi.

During the month of November I travelled through Southeast Asia — hitting Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. I wanted to see places not many get to see and witness a different culture up front and in my face — and Vietnam is one of those places. My adventure began in Hanoi.

If You Want History

A great day tour is with Hanoi Kids. This is a volunteer group led by young college-age students who take you on a tour of the historical sites in the city. From Ho Chi Minh’s presidential palace and mausoleum to the One Pillar Pagoda and finally the Hanoi Hilton – these sites are not to be missed. To stand where so many men and women were imprisoned during the French rule and the Vietnam war is an unbelievable experience. While there is no cost for the tour, it is expected to tip your guides.

If You Want Adventure

Take the Red River bike tour with The Hanoi Bicycle Collective. Ride through little alleyways of the Tay Ho area of Hanoi, passing women selling vegetables and cooking along these streets. Visit a cemetery and learn the customs of burial. Ride across the Long Bien bridge, over the Red River, and learn to navigate the road with thousands of motorbikes and cars. No easy feat or a daring one at that. Visit a Buddhist temple that also houses an orphanage, and visit with the children. That was an experience I will never forget.

If You Want Food

And lots of it, take a street food tour with Vietnam Awesome Travel. Walking through the Old Quarter of Hanoi, through the markets and finally get down to some serious power eating. We stopped at one place after another, from little stalls, to larger eateries, to tables right off the street, on the sidewalk, where we grabbed a stool and had a nice cold beer. We sampled everything from Pho, to fresh spring rolls, to eel. Our guide was a little disappointed in us because we couldn’t keep up with the amount of food he was presenting.

If You Want Luxury

You can’t go wrong by staying at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, which was built in 1901 in the French Colonial Style. In addition to the overall beauty of the hotel, you can’t beat its location. Located in Hanoi’s French Quarter, the hotel is steps from the Opera House. The hotel also has three restaurants offering a variety of cuisines – French, Vietnamese and International – or you can always opt to kickback poolside and the pool restaurant and bar.

Although the French colonial period came to an end a long time ago, much of the French arts and deco style are still imprinted in the architecture of Hanoi. An unforgettable experience in an amazing city and an even more amazing country.