The Land of “Ascending Dragons"

I had been awaiting my holiday to Vietnam for a long time. It finally came after my final exams. We flew from Bangalore to Hanoi on the 30th of April, and with a stopover at Kolkata, we reached the hotel in Hanoi, way past midnight.

Hanoi is Vietnam's capital city, where centuries-old architecture meets modern urban life. My dad did his research this time and we made plans to stay at a place called Old Quarters, bustling with vibrant markets, street food vendors, and ancient temples. One of the things I remember most about Hanoi is the busy streets filled with tourists.

My mom and I were keen that we try all the local delicacies. After a lot of research on various local delicacies, we made it a point to experience each one of them. We started with Coconut coffee, followed by Pho (a Vietnamese soup dish containing broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat), egg coffee, and many more delectable items!

  

Famous for shopping, Hanoi's busy streets turn into night markets as dusk approaches. It's amazing to see the transformation from cris-crossing vehicles to people eating, buying, and selling in the middle of the road. The old part of Hanoi turns into a shopper's paradise by evening. 

The third day was spent touring the high and low terrains of Hanoi. My dad promptly booked a day's trip to a place called Ninh Binha, a breathtaking region known for its dramatic landscapes. We boarded the bus at 7 AM. A 2-hour drive led us to a place surrounded by magnificent mountains and a river flowing all around and a boat ride proved to be a thrilling experience for me! For a change, it was a boat-woman who paddled the boat through the entire journey of 2 hours.

 I was quite impressed with their stamina and it was wonderful to see her smiling despite rowing for a long duration. They actually use their legs to row, so that they are more efficient. Me and my dad then joined the small team who climbed up the mountain, which was 500 steps. I was not sure about this and was literally pulled by Dad to join him. In fact, I would have missed the most enrapturing sight from the top of the mountain with the river and paddy field below.

We spent a wonderful 3 days in Hanoi before we set off to Hoi An.

Our 3 days in Hoi An turned into something of a once-in-a-lifetime experience, because of the mix of adventure, shopping, and food. Hoi An is the cultural capital of Vietnam. It's actually a World Heritage site. Its illuminated streets are well-preserved, and it takes you back to the 15th century. Numerous lanterns on either side are truly a mesmerizing sight. 

We went for an early morning bike ride through the streets of Hoi An and while we were doing so, Dad and I came across an artist's unusual gallery of paintings which totally took me by surprise. To see how dedicated he was in his line of profession was quite motivating.

From Hoi An, we took a flight straight to Ho Chi Min City. To be honest, I had never seen anything like it before. We booked a "hop on - hop off" bus tour to explore the city. It was quite a wondrous experience, with all the posh streets and parks, the high-rise buildings and people.

I had read about the Art Museum here and convinced my dad to take us there. I saw paintings of all kinds, also giving us information about famous artists from Vietnam. I had a great time there and I honestly would've loved to explore more of these if it were not for the limited time we had here.

The next day, we made our way to the historical museum of Vietnam, which was like a blast from the past. The descriptions of the horrible experience of the American - Vietnamese war, the struggles to stay alive, the clever techniques used to kill enemies, and the prominent leaders who led the various operations were indeed, informative. The heroic stories of Ho Chi Minh, the man himself, were inspiring. The belongings of soldiers and the clothes that they wore hundreds of years back were all neatly preserved. I even had a chance to see an actual guillotine. One cannot imagine the atrocities that the Vietnamese people endured during the war. It was extremely devastating.

All in all, it was a wonderful trip to Vietnam. If you have not visited Vietnam, I would strongly recommend to you spend at least a week in this amazing country. Now I am thinking of my next trip to another destination.. (Europe?!)