Two weeks in North Vietnam - 12/21 - 1/3/2023

Day 3- Hanoi-12/23/2024

This is our first time in Hanoi and we are just walking around the Old quarter and see the touristy spots.

St. Joseph cathedral is a Catholic church on Nhà Chung Street located in a small square within the Old Quarter.

The Cathedral is a late 19th-century in a Neo-Gothic style that serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi. The cathedral is named after Joseph, the patron saint of Vietnam.

Construction began in 1884, with an architectural style resembling the Notre Dame de Paris. The church was one of the first structures built by the colonial government of French Indochina when it opened in December, 1886 and is the oldest church in Hanoi.

Christmas is around the corner and the Cathedral is very festive with all the decorations.

Street food is very popular in Vietnam.

A store selling Pho.

The store does not have enough room inside so they set up a bunch of tiny chairs and tables for their customers in the alley in front of the store.

There are so many people eating here.  The food must be good.  On the right is a hostel for Backpackers which are very popular with the French.  The price is really cheap per night.

A stall selling Banh Chung which is a square rice cake filled with sticky rice, pork belly, and mung beans, all wrapped in banana leaves and tied tightly with strings.

Thuan looking a what this lady is serving.

Hoa ordered a portion and sat down in a tiny plastic chair just as locals do.

Hoa said the Banh Chung was pretty good.

The Old Quarter is very vibrant and full of people.  On the right is a lady selling fruits on her bike so she can move around and go where there are customers.

A  lady selling meat just off the corner of a street.

Colorful buildings in Old Quarter.  The white building is the Victor Metropolis Hotel & rooftop bar.

Thê Húc Bridge is a foot bridge over Hoàn Kiếm Lake. Painted in red, this bridge is believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and positive energy to all who cross it.

In 1865, during the reign of Tự Đức, the scholar Nguyễn Văn Siêu commissioned a bridge connecting the bank of the river with the Ngọc Sơn Temple. He named it "Thê Húc" (meaning "the rising and perching sun").

Once you cross the bridge it will lead you to Ngoc Son Temple.

Pedestrian area next to Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

Hanoi at Night

After dinner we walked back to Nhà Chung Street to see the Cathedral at night.

The Cathedral is brightly lit with colorful lights and the atmosphere is so joyous.

Panoramic view of the cathedral and the square.

Christmas carols are playing loudly in the air and people are just having fun hanging around.

Nativity scene in front of the Cathedral.

Close look at the Nativity scene.

Many locals attend midnight masses here.

They really did a wonderful job at lighting the Cathedral.

A store selling dried fruits and pickled fruits.

In Hanoi it is very common to see vendors setting up their tiny portable cooking gear on the street.

Grilled corn.  I would have bought one if I was hungry.  Looks so good.

Dinh Tien Hoang Street located in the heart of Hanoi with lots of stores.

Hoàn Kiếm Lake at night.

Hoàn Kiếm Lake ( Lake of the Returned Sword), is located in the historical center of Hanoi. The lake is one of the major scenic spots in the city.

Lights reflection over the Lake.

Lots of people in the square near the Lake.

Thê Húc Bridge at night. 

As soon as the sun is setting, lights are turned out and the area becomes a magical pathway with vivid red hue reflecting on the lake.

People sitting on a bench to enjoy the view of the bridge and the lake.

Buildings on the other side of the lake.

Ngoc Son temple illuminated at night.

We continue our walk on the pedestrian street next to the lake.

The view at night of the lake and all the lights are so pleasant to look at.

Reflection over the Lake of Ngoc Son Temple

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