Hanoi travel: places to explore, food to try and more things for you (part 2)

Entertainment show

In addition to visiting scenic spots, visitors should enjoy the art show’s bold national identity in Hanoi.

Water puppetry: is a theatrical art that visitors should see when coming to Hanoi. This art has lasted for 1,000 years in Vietnam. There are two addresses of many visitors: Thang Long Puppet Theater at 57b Dinh Tien Hoang and Vietnam Puppet Theater at 361 Truong Chinh.

Ca tru originated in the 11th century, and the style bears many similarities to Japanese geisha rituals and opera performances. Initially, ca tru was considered a recreational hobby for the nobility in the palace, then, entered the common cultural space of Hanoi in the modern era. Ca tru has five main performance spaces: Ca tru communal house (singing at the temple door), ca tru Quyen gate (enjoying ca tru of the authorities), ca tru at home, ca tru singing poetry, ca tru ca cafeteria. Visitors can listen to ca tru at the Hanoi Ca Tru Club at 42 rows of Silver, Tra Tre Thang Long 146 Tu Hoa.

Real scene show: The Northern elite is a real scene show on the stage at Thay Pagoda, at the foot of Thay Mountain, Sai Son Commune, Quoc Oai District, Hanoi. The play takes place on a 4,300 square meter lake, bringing tourists into the lives of Northern farmers through sound and light performances. Most of the actors participating in the scene were farmers of the Quoc Oai district.

In addition to the show, visitors can also experience directly the traditional culture of the North on the outside of the stage with shops selling sausage cakes, rice cakes, glutinous rice cakes, banana leaf lotus leaves, peanut candy, and chewing gum. Tourists can buy and sit to eat among the small chairs in the middle of the garden to the sound of their music.

Places to play

Sup paddle on West Lake: Wake up when it is almost dawn, you can ride to West Lake and experience water games such as the sup paddle and kayak. The appropriate time is usually 5 am-7 pm or a cool afternoon. You can find boat rentals, and planks in stores on Lac Long Quan Street, Au Co, Quote Sai… with prices from 250,000 VND a day.

Panoramic view of Hanoi from above: Coming to Hanoi, you cannot miss Lotte Observatory located on Lieu Giai Street, because this is a place where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the capital from the 65th floor. The observation deck is made of transparent glass so you can take creative check-in photos at any angle. The observatory is open from 9:00 to the end of the day.

Read more: Hanoi bicycle tour: Exploring Hanoi in a new way

Walking street: Every week, the ưalking Street ảound Hoan Kiem Lake is open from 18h Friday to the end of Sunday, attracting a large number of both residents and foreign tourists. This space has a lot of fun, entertaining activities, up to street art performances. Don’t forget to experience the “food tour” around the walking street.

Beer Street: In the old town, especially in Ta Hien, Bao Khanh, Luong Ngoc Quyen, there are always many places for you to drink beer or attractive drinks. This is also one of the busiest nightlife places in the capital.

Going to the market: Not Dong Xuan market, Quang Ba flower market and Long Bien wholesale market are two addresses that Westerners must visit once if they have the opportunity to visit the capital. The market mainly deals in flowers and fruits, but the “claim” of visitors must stay up late, wake up early to see the bustling atmosphere of a very different Hanoi when night falls.

Located right at the foot of Long Bien bridge, Long Bien wholesale market all year round is bustling, the most famous is the wholesale flea market for fruits. From 20h the market starts to rattle, the more bustling the night. Quang Ba flower market is open all night but the most fun is at about 3-4 am, buyers and sellers are busy. Large and small bouquets were piled in and out of the car.

Shops and restaurants

Ha Thanh cuisine perfectly combines sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors and expresses the image of the city of thousands of years of civilization: vibrant, quiet, attractive and attractive. You can easily enjoy Hanoi specialties at sidewalk restaurants on the side of the road such as beef noodle soup, bun cha, bread…

Food to try

Pho

Coming to Hanoi can not ignore pho, especially beef pho, there are usually two main types: ripe and pale. Cooked beef is pieces of beef that are boiled in broth, while red beef is pieces of meat that are thinly sliced, and blanched quickly through boiling water. After that, the seller will arrange those slices of meat on the pho, spread the broth and serve the diners. Some of the reference addresses are Pho Thin, Bat Dan, Tu Long, Pho Lam, Hang Vai, Pho Tram, and Yen Ninh.

If you want to try other versions, the suggested address is Nguyet restaurant No. 5 Phu Doan, 63 Yen Ninh Inn, Lan Ong chicken noodle soup or Five Commune pho.

Bun

Hanoians have a lot of noodles. The most special are Bun cha, Bun thang, Bun oc, Bun doc mung, Bun moc…

Referring to the original long-standing specialty in Hanoi, it is impossible not to mention Bun Thang. The Ha Thanh people have skillfully processed the leftovers after the Tet holiday into a sophisticated and delicate noodle dish. A bowl of vermicelli costs 30,000 – 50,000 VND. Currently, in Hanoi, there are only a few places to sell vermicelli, such as Ba Duc restaurant (Cau Go), Ngoc Tuyen restaurant (Dao Tan), Thuan Ly restaurant (Hang Hanh)…

Bun cha: a dish is usually eaten at lunch. Like grilled meat noodles in the South and Central, but not eating noodles in Hanoi people marinated more sophisticated. Those who like the old taste can go to Bun Cha restaurants in Hang Ma and Hang Dong. People who like bamboo noodles can find them at Buoi market, and Dong Xuan market. Or visit the noodle shop in Ngoc Khanh, Giang Vo, Le Van Huu, Hang Mien are also famous restaurants in Hanoi.

Bun moc is often sold in the noodles of ribs, noodles along the nettle, and bun bung… Some famous addresses in Hanoi include Ms. Loan (Dien Bien Phu street), Hang Luoc, Hang Trong, Cau Go, Lane 18 Ham Long…

Bun oc in Hanoi is not difficult, diners can go to the noodle shop in Hai Ba Trung, Dang Dung, Hoe Nhai to eat hot noodles. A bowl of escargot vermicelli noodle has about 6-7 pieces of escargot, topping beef corn, ear rolls, and sometimes even legs. Another version is Bun oc nguoi or cold escargot vermicelli noodles or dotted snail noodles. Some famous restaurants are Ms. Xuan’s escargot vermicelli noodle in O Quan Chuong or carrying snail noodles at the head of Bui Thi Xuan intersection, which may also be the famous Giang snail noodle on Luong Ngoc Quyen street. The price of each bowl is usually from 30.000 to 40.000 VND.