Hanoi in the eyes of foreign friends: the distinct difference

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The writer of Asia tourism CNNGo, Bruce Foreman, has just made some interesting comments on the difference of Hanoi.

Crossing the street…

Crossing the street in Hanoi is an absolutely new experience to foreigners. When you step down the roadway, do not think about going back because it is more dangerous than keep going. Therefore you only can choose to keep going and try to avoid vehicles on the road.

Draught beer…

Draught beer is a speciality in Hanoi. Foreigners really love it. Many sidewalks in the Old Town of Hanoi become beer shops, and they attract a lot of people, many of them are foreigners. To foreign visitors, the most popular address to enjoy draught beer is the intersection of Ta Hien street and Luong Ngoc Quyen.

The relics of war…

Hanoi has many relics of war. One of them is Hoa Lo prison that is known as “Hilton hotel” in Hanoi in wartime and a place detaining arrested American pilots.

The Old Town..

Streets of The Old Town are the specific characteristic of Hanoi. If you do not go to the Old Town when coming to Hanoi, it means you have not ever known the capital of Vietnam. Names of streets in the Old Town are named after goods sold there. However, some streets now sell goods that are not related to their own names.

“Quang gánh”(a equipment that helps to hold loads at the end of a carrying pole)

“street hawker" or "gánh hàng rong"in Vietnameseis a special character in Vietnam, which you can see a lot in Hanoi. Goods are very various from souvenir to food and drink.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Hanoi is the only capital in Southeast Asia that has the mausoleum of a leader. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is always a tourist attracction when foreign travellers come to Vietnam.

French style

Hanoi features distinctive French architectures, which makes the difference of  Hanoi in comparison with many cities in Asia. Food and drink imported from France like coffee and cripsy bread also contribute to the unique and peculiar of Hanoi food.