[JQTalks Vietnam] Old Town, Hanoi

August 21, 2014

Also known as Old Quarter, this is one town you must see, eat and shop while visiting Hanoi. Dating back to the 13th century, it was all about specialised trade guilds each occupying different streets. Now, it's a maze of streets for tourist to walk around and get lost. How fun is that?!

Old Town can be quite an exhausting place. Not just because it's huge, consisting mainly of 36 old similar-looking streets, but it's also filled with locals, tourist, cars, trishaw, electric taxi, bicycle, motors, motors and more motors. Don't be offended if you get honked, it's just their way of saying 'Get the hell out of my road, b***h'... Lols kidding, them honking is considered polite to make you aware of their existence and to make way for them.

With the amount of motorbikes coming from every direction, you'll have to be a dare devil to cross the roads. Don't worry, first time around, you'll feel like a champion. You'll get used to it after a while.

I highly suggest that you allocate plenty of time for shopping, eating and sightseeing in this area because other than the abundance of delicious street foods and fashion selections, there's a famous lake nearby call Hoan Kiem Lake, an oldest preserved St. Joseph's Cathedral church, and a water puppet show to catch. Also, if you are lazy but still want to see the area, you can opt for a trishaw ride.