{"id":15076,"date":"2013-11-18T17:29:02","date_gmt":"2013-11-18T16:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteaway.pl\/en\/?p=15076"},"modified":"2018-06-06T10:22:50","modified_gmt":"2018-06-06T08:22:50","slug":"vietnam-10-reflections-first-days-hanoi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteaway.pl\/en\/2013\/11\/18\/vietnam-10-reflections-first-days-hanoi\/","title":{"rendered":"Vietnam: 10 reflections after the first days in Hanoi"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here we are! Vietnam is the third country we are visiting during this journey. It was supposed to be the fourth, but plans have changed along the way and we never got to Laos. Will it be the last country on our route? We will soon find out! We spent half of Saturday thinking about what to do next, as we were informed that our Vietnamese visa, which expires on 25 November, cannot be extended. And our return flight is on 1 December (my name day! :)) from Ho Chi Minh. We were thinking about Malaysia, Thailand, even the Maldives \ud83d\ude09 But then it turned out that the visa may be extended after all… There are different versions of information as to how long it takes, so we\u2019ll see. Keep your fingers crossed! \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Back to Hanoi… The flight from Siem Reap on-board Vietnam Airlines was quite nice \u2013 it took 1.5 hours and there were complimentary refreshments. Maks heartily ate the salami from the set we got. But the staff were kind of grumpy and gloomy\u2026 At the airport there was a looong line to passport control and then a looooong journey to the city \u2013 in a taxi that costs around USD 15-20. It probably should be closer to 15, I think we overpaid a little :\/ Maks fell asleep in the taxi, so we got to have dinner just the two of us \ud83d\ude42 Friday night and Saturday in Hanoi was not a lot of time for coming up with interesting conclusions, but we are happy to share our first impressions.<\/p>\n

Here it goes\u2026<\/p>\n

10 reflections after the first hours in Hanoi:<\/b><\/p>\n

1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>THEY DON\u2019T LIKE TOURISTS ON THE AIRPORTS?<\/b><\/p>\n

At first glance, Vietnam is not a place where tourists are greeted with joy. I remember the warm welcome in Thailand; I remember how in Mexico I was asked about the Pope and Polish vodka at passport control. Here \u2013 nothing. Already when we entered the plane, the temperature seemed to drop. In contrast to the smiling inhabitants of Cambodia, friendly faces and helpful staff at the airport, here, even the stewardesses were not smiling. Grumpy, serious, sad? Even I got reprimanded for putting the trays one on top of another after the meal. It was even worse on the airport… It was impossible to get to passport control in front of others with a child \u2013 after all, socialism is about equality, right?<\/p>\n

\u0141ukasz tried to find out more about extending the visas on the airport. There was a stand where you could get a visa on arrival. Ours were issued in Poland, but had to be extended. Impossible. He couldn\u2019t even get any information from the sad gentlemen. Our passports were also checked in a gloomy atmosphere. The taxi driver didn\u2019t say a word. Feeling a bit depressed, we got to the hotel\u2026<\/p>\n

2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>FRIENDLINESS OF \u201cORDINARY\u201d PEOPLE, ALTHOUGH IT\u2019S DIFFICLT TO COMMUNICATE<\/b><\/p>\n

Luckily, meeting so-called \u201cordinary people\u201d was a nice change. The receptionist at the hotel, waitress, street vendors, kids, adults, teenagers. They were friendly and nice to us, especially when we were with Maks. However, it\u2019s rather difficult to communicate with them in English. You\u2019ll understand about a half of what they wanted to say. In restaurants, be sure to point to the right item on the menu or learn a few names of dishes you want to try. For example, \u0141ukasz knows PHO is his favourite soup. He even knows a few kinds. He crammed the names at a Vietnamese joint close to our place, i.e. at the bazaar in ul. Bakalarska. Now, it makes his life easier.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Wietnam,<\/a><\/dt>\n
street fruit vendors – always smiling, especially at Maks<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>VIETNAM IS A CULINARY PARADISE!<\/b><\/p>\n

No doubt about it. The food is delicious, great, heavenly, mouth-watering, finger-licking good. It makes your taste buds happy. We especially like rice noodles \u2013 as a main dish and in a soup. Then fried spring rolls, golden and crispy or fresh, with vegetables and a lot of herbs. We also likes small pancakes stuffed with minced meat and mushrooms for example. Ah, we\u2019re in paradise!<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Hanoi,<\/a><\/dt>\n
first, spring rolls (fresh and fried golden), rolled pancake, salad with chicken<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"Wietnam,<\/a><\/dt>\n
got to have Pho in Vietnam<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>IF YOUR\u2019RE GOING TO VIETNAM, TAKE YOUR KID WITH YOU!<\/b><\/p>\n

Excluding the airport staff that did not respond to Maks\u2019 charm, the Vietnamese love children. They all smile at them, want to touch them, talk to them. One person offered him a tangerine, another kicked a ball for Maks to play. Regardless of sex or age. In this respect, they are similar to the inhabitants of Thailand and Cambodia. I\u2019m glad Maks does not understand all the phrases such as \u201cso lovely\u201d and \u201cso cute\u201d, because he could become too sure of himself!<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Hanoi,<\/a><\/dt>\n
by the Hoan Kiem Lake in the centre of Hanoi<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

5)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>COVER YOUR EARS?<\/b><\/p>\n

Hanoi is definitely one of the loudest cities we have ever visited. Especially in the rush hours, around 5 pm, the entire city is honking and beeping. Everyone is on their scooters or motorbikes that outnumber any other means of transportation. They force their way ahead and communicate that they\u2019re approaching by loud honks. For a tourist with a stroller, walking along the streets of the Old Quarter in these hours is quite a challenge\u2026<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Hanoi,<\/a><\/dt>\n
motorbikes and moped outnumber any other means of transportation in the streets<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

6)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>COMRADE\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n

As you probably know, Vietnam is a socialist country. If you forget, Hanoi will remind you of that. For example, there is a statue of Lenin just across from the Military Museum. The dominant forces in the country are the military and, of course, propaganda. You can experience it for example in the Hoa Lo prison or the Military Museum. Hoa Lo was built by the French in late 19th century \u2013 in the beginning \u2013 says the display \u2013 to detain Vietnamese revolutionaries fighting for independence. In the 20th century, the Vietnamese locked up American pilots in there. Reading about how the wonderful Vietnamese authorities treated American prisoners, how everyone supported Vietnam during the war, makes you sick. In the photos that go along with these texts, we even found children from Opole who, in 1966, sent notebooks and school utensils for Vietnamese students\u2026<\/p>\n

If Hoa Lo is not enough propaganda for you, check out the Military Museum. All the American planes the Vietnamese shot down, all the success and victories… Still, we recommend the Military Museum, if you\u2019re in Hanoi with a little boy… Airplanes, helicopters, tanks. Maks did not want to leave, although he was unhappy he couldn\u2019t go into a plane…<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Hanoi,<\/a><\/dt>\n
Military Museum: “Daddy, I want to fly away!”<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"Wietnam,<\/a><\/dt>\n
you surely recognise this gentleman<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

Neither Lenin nor the Military Museum is as impressive as the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, a revolutionary who proclaimed Vietnam\u2019s independence. The monumental building, huge square and grass that you\u2019re not allowed to walk on under no circumstances. Luckily, there was the square. Maks ran around it like crazy, playing with a ball. We didn\u2019t go inside \u2013 embalmed Lenin was enough. And you know what? From the outside Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is much more impressive than Lenin\u2019s on the Red Square. But Ho Chi Minh\u2019s body every year, has to travel to Moscow for maintenance works. They have the know-how \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"mauzoleum<\/a><\/dt>\n
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

7)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>STREET VENDORS \u2013 THE MOSY PICTURESQUE SIGHT IN HANOI<\/b><\/p>\n

Hanoi, in my opinion, is not particularly pretty\u2026 We walked through most of it today, and there weren\u2019t any breath-taking sights, faces, stands. The most interesting items that are the most characteristic of Vietnam are the cone-shaped hat and two baskets on a pole carried on a shoulder, full of snacks, sweets, fruit\u2026<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Hanoi,<\/a><\/dt>\n
best mobile store<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"Hanoi,<\/a><\/dt>\n
fruit<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

8)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>IT\u2019S CHEAP!<\/b><\/p>\n

For now, prices in Vietnam seem very nice. Maybe a little bit higher than in Cambodia, maybe similar. Accommodation prices start at USD 5 in a hostel dorm. For about PLN 160 you can stay in a double room in the very centre in a very nice hotel that serves breakfast. Food prices also vary, but PLN 15 will buy you a meal in a decent restaurant. Train tickets are more expensive though \u2013 a ticket to Sa Pa in the north is about USD 32 per person, and according to the brochures it\u2019s a very nice ride. We\u2019ll see for ourselves Monday night!<\/p>\n

9) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0HAVE i ALREADY\u00a0<\/b>MENTIONED THAT THE FOOD IS GREAT? \ud83d\ude42<\/b><\/p>\n

10)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>POLAND = BA LAN<\/b><\/p>\n

Poland in Vietnamese is BA LAN\u2026 as we found out trying to get our visas extended\u2026 When they asked us where we were from, we would repeat Poland a couple of times, and finally they got it: \u201cAh, Ba Lan Ba Lan\u201d. Now that we got that out of our way, let\u2019s hope we get our visas extended!!<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"ambasada<\/a><\/dt>\n
what the Vietnamese know about Poland, i.e. a display in front of the Polish embassy in the prestigious area of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

Meanwhile, we are heading north to Sa Pa. We\u2019re hoping it will be beautiful, picturesque, pastoral\u2026 colourful clothes of the mountain tribes, great views\u2026<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Wietnam,<\/a><\/dt>\n
ADIOS!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here we are! Vietnam is the third country we are visiting during this journey. It was supposed to be the fourth, but plans have changed along the way and we never got to Laos. Will it be the last country on our route? We will soon find out! We spent half of Saturday thinking about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15372,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2990,2981,3016],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nVietnam: 10 reflections after the first days in Hanoi<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Our first impressions of Vietnam. How is it? What we likes? 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