Jul 1, 2010

Return to Vietnam


When the opportunity came to work in Hanoi, Viet Nam, for three months, it took Travelbite.co.uk writer Kathy Brownlie less than a second to make a decision.

Ten years earlier she spent 12 months backpacking around Asia. She will be working during the day but using every opportunity to explore the city and get to know the country better – this time from a different perspective – and share her experiences with Travelbite.co.uk. Here is her first blog entry:

Hanoi is a captivating blend of the ancient and the modern; a city where the exotic side of old Asia blends with the dynamic face of new Asia. And when you least expect it the French colonial influence will jump out at you. A city of contrasts for sure - but somehow it works. On any given street you're likely to come across at least two of the following: a mobile-phone store, a silk merchant, an internet café, a Buddhist temple, a French-style cafe, or statue commemorating a Communist hero. Hanoi even has an emerging art scene and this is complemented by many chic cafes. It is a city of constant change.

Women with bamboo hats balance baskets of fruit on their shoulders, other women walk their bikes carrying beautiful freshly cut baskets of flowers, while men sit on miniature chairs on roads-side cafes drinking coffee, watching life (and many tourists) pass them by. The cycle rickshaws weave around the narrow streets searching for the next unsuspecting tourist.

Humanity's overflowing in this city. Every space is utilized for some purpose whether it be for cooking the family meal, selling local produce or for personal sanitation. The Vietnamese on the whole are warm and generous people. Even the simple of gestures (like attempting to say thank you in Vietnamese), will evoke big smiles.

The Old Quarter bustling with activity is probably one of the most popular places to visit as a tourist. Streets are packed with little shops that specialize in selling recycled engine parts, kitchen ware or unusual plants....you name it, they sell it here! Each street is named after the trade that used to take place there (or still does). Just to give you a selection of examples: Bát Ðàn (wooden bowls), Hàng B¿ (baskets), Hàng Bút (brushes), Hàng Ch¿ (threads), Hàng M¿m (pickled fish), Hàng Mành (bamboo screens), Hàng Mu¿i (salt), Hàng Than (charcoal), Hàng Thi¿c (tin), Hàng Thùng (barrels), Lò Rèn (blacksmiths), Lò Su (coffins), Mã Mây (rattans), Ngõ G¿ch (bricks), Thu¿c B¿c (herbal medicines).

And there is the food of course.

“Pho” is a Viet Namese staple, and essentially a bowl of noodles, with greens and meat of your choice. This meal and a drink will set you back less than $3. However Hanoi is turning into a city of international cuisine.

Whether its Spanish, French, Indian as well Asian food it is easy to be spoilt living in Hanoi. However it is the smell of café au lait and the large baskets of baguettes on street corners first thing in the morning that serves as the constant reminder of the history of the country. I still have yet to find a French bakery that serves a croissant on par with a European equivalent. They are getting close – at least it looks like the real thing!

Huge mansions line grand boulevards, and lakes and parks dot the city, providing a green backdrop to the nonstop soundtrack of traffic. The traffic here in Hanoi, is what the weather is to those living in London. Given it’s ever presence, it’s hard to go a day without hearing about traffic (or the effects of it) in conversation. And it is even starting to enter mine!

It has taken me a while to realize that the horn we know to be an aggressive warning is actually just a courteous reminder in Viet Nam. “Hey, it’s me, I’m coming through” Beep, Beep. Although there is a notable absence of road rules (and use of indicators) the traffic flows harmoniously. The skilled driver can dodge even the most indecisive of pedestrians. Not guilty!

Motorcycles (scooters or mopeds), are used to transport everything. And when I mean everything, I really do mean everything.

The motorbike is a family equivalent to station wagon in the west, where one bike could carry Mum and Dad, two children and still have toddler at the very front. I have seen motor bike carrying huge baskets of chickens, panes of glass and long planks of wood. But the craziest sight was a crate of eggs (taller than the driver) about four feet wide.

As each day goes by, I can feel that this city is growing on me. Despite Hanoi’s chaotic exterior, I am convinced calm remains at its heart. It now only takes me 5 seconds to cross the road (compared to 5 minutes when I first arrived), and I am looking forward to exploring the city by bicycle – my latest purchase. As they say, if you can’t beat 'em, join 'em!

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