Hanoi: Shoe Street 河内: 鞋街

Located in the north east of Hoan Kiem Lake is Hang Dau Street, known as shoe street selling a wide selection of shoes, of course!  If you're a shoe-aholic, (having at least 25 pairs of shoes) chances are; you won't be walking away without buying a pair of shoes. 

You can find famous brands sports shoes too. However, they maybe imitations or seconds (rejected with little imperfection) but with good quality made by local Vietnamese factories. Any kind of shoe in any size. Prices are high, bargain you must try! 

Wonder how long should one take to choose a pair of ideal shoe. 

Walk with care along this line of shops. 

Don't trip over the 'shoe hills'.

Crocs, Doraemon, Elmo and Classic flops 

Chinese style, Japanese style clogs

Other Cute Choices

You can customize your own pair of flip flops. Ask for your shoe size, choose the soles and straps you like and have them fix within minutes. Spoilt for choice really! So better choose a cheerful lady boss. (if you don't wanna be cursed!)

There.. My new wooden flip flop by Jacob Marc!! 

Hanoi: Sugar Street 河內糖街

The Old Quarter is the heart of Hanoi with a maze of streets dating back to the 13th century. Streets are distinctively named after its exclusive specialized product. The street names begin with 'Hàng' which means merchandise or shop and the second name represent the product.

Hàng đường was founded in the 15th century. During the French colonial era, it was named 'Rue Du Sucre' meaning Sugar Street as it was the wholesale center for candies, sweets and sugar canes.

Today, this 180m long street still retain its ancient trade in processing and selling all kinds of sugar and sweets, especially famous for its mứt - preserved fruits of all kinds: apple, banana, coconut, lemons, oranges, persimmons, pumpkins, ginger and others in various colours and shapes.

I was stuck in this little shop named GIA LỢI at No. 8 Hàng đường street with their artistic masterpieces of preserved fruits creations....

Ho Ho HO... If i buy the preserved fruits, 

will they teach me how to do it?? 

Hanoi: Streets Scenes 河内街景

Hanoi is the capital and the second largest city of Vietnam. The heart of the city lies in the Old Quarter which has the original streets and ancient architecture of the 15th century. The best way to discover the captivating authentic city and daily life of the Hanoians is on foot, which is a MUST-Do in Hanoi.

Makes me wonder how come no traffic system, no traffic lights, no traffic signs, whatsoever and yet no accident, while countries with high-tech traffic management systems and tight traffic laws have high rate of accidents. 

Mobile Pork vendor with chopping service too 

Sweet Potatoes and local delicacies vendors on the Move

Fruit Vendors stationed at road side. They quickly shunned away once you lifted your camera. The young lady in red even showed a dislike look at me with raging fire in her eyes. I won't mind if she throw fruits at me though! I then realised that not everyone like to have their photograph taken and permission should be granted before doing so.

Take pictures of objects then. Yours citrusly, Vietnam Pineapples. 

After a corner turn, greeted by cheerful faces. I like this pole. Forgot to buy one or two home to cheer me up when my day turned bad.

Hope this plastic chair won't break after we finished what we had ordered.

Hanoi Happy Hour  

Don't care even if the plastic chairs break!

 The popular Hanoi intersection by day

 and night

NOTE:

1. Night Market on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday only.

Howdy Hanoi 河内你好!

Hanoi 河内 (literally "Inside the River") is the capital and second largest city of Vietnam that lies on the banks of the Red River with an estimated population of 3.8 million. 

On 10th October 2010, Hanoi commorated its 1,000th anniversary since it's establishment as a capital city in 1010 when Emperor Ly Thai To moved his capital to Hanoi which was then called Thang Long until 1831.

Upon arriving Hanoi, if you do not have any Hanoian friend or tour/car rental representative waiting, you may choose the following options:

1. Bus (5am-10pm)- VD4,000-5,000 (per person) and take 1.5 hour. Cheapest but not the best option. From the airport exit to the bus stop, it's a long walk along the ramp to the end. Furthermore, baggage might not be permitted abroad the bus. Bus 7 terminates at Kim Ma bus station and Bus 17 at Long Bien bus station. 

2. Vietnam Airlines Shuttle (25 seater) - conveniently parked outside the airport but depart only when it's full. US$2 (per person) to their office (1km away from Old Quarter) or US$3 to your hotel. Pay the driver directly upon reaching your hotel.

3. Taxi - taxi companies are located outside the exit. Fixed rate per car US$15-17 (depending on type of car) inclusive of toll charges to all destinations within the city. Double Confirmed the price with the taxi driver before entering the car.

4. Hotel Transfer - some hotel provide free transfer, otherwise, charge a fixed rate.

The journey from Noi Bai International Airport is about 45km to the city and took about an hour to our hotel. Interesting views along the way that took my lens away...

Looks like a Giant Green Crocodile out there on the river!

And moving on land... 2 wheels 4 legs

2 wheels 8 legs... Wow..

And high above there.. a boxer to look after belongings

Have a cuppa on cloud 9 while the world whizZ by...  

Xin Chào!  Welcome to Hanoi!