As a city with over 1.000 years of history,
central Hanoi is filled with many enchanting historical landmarks and
incredible architectural heritage. One of the capital’s most visited areas is
the old Quarter, a centuries-old bustling center of industry and trade that is
home to a mesmerizing street life, no shortage of restaurants and bars catering
for tourists, but also thin streets and many of whom still ply traditional
trades.
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| Tran Quoc Pagoda, Ha Noi City |
Elsewhere, every day visitors and locals
alike flock to Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake and Truc Bach Lake, each one a
becalming focal point in a city filled with millions of motorbikes. You can
also learn more about Vietnamese spirituality by visiting building such as Tran
Quoc Pagoda, The temple of literature (Vietnam’s first University), Bo de
pagoda of Co Ngu Street where you will find one of old gateways to Thang Long
(the old name for the capital).
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| Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi city |
After discovering the city, it’s also well
worth your time to organize a one-day tor to the Red river so you can learn
evern more about Northern Vietnam’s fascinating craft villages, where skilled
artisans have been chiseling away for generations. The Red River Delta area the
bread basket of the north as well as the cradle of Vietnamese civilization – is
also home to an array of sacred temples where gods, local deities, legendary
heroes and other patron saints ar worshipped.
If the stuffy summer heat, a trip out of
Hanoi and into the heart of the northern delta can also be simply refreshing –
you can organize an itinerary the mathches your interest and travel by boat,
car or mini-van
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| Thăng Long, Ha Noi city |
Two of the famous temples, Dau Temple (Chùa Đậu) and
Dai Lo Temple (Đền Đại Lộ), can be found in Ha tay province. Both temples honor the Mother
of Water, one of the three Mother Goddesses in northern culture together with
the Goddess of Heaven and Goddess of Forest and Mountains.
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| Đậu Temple, Ha Tay Province |
Another sacred place of interest is Chu Dong
Tu temple (often called the temple of love, Vietnamese Đền Chữ Đổng Tử) in Hung Yen province. This temple,
also known as Da Hoa Temple, honors Saint Chu Dong Tu and his wife Tien Dung,
once a princess, but disowned by the king for marrying a lowly fisherman. After
their marriage, Chu Dong Tu Travelled overseas where he met a monk and attained
enlightenment. Whe he returned, he and Tien Dung roamed the delta to preach
religion and provide medical care. Today he is revered as one of the country;s
four immortal heroes, who introduced practices that transformes the fledgling
civilization.
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| Chu Dong Tu Temple |
There are many more wonderful pagodas in Bac
Ninh Province, such as But Thap temple (Vietnamese: Chùa Bút Tháp), Dau Temple (Chùa Dâu) and Chua Keo – the latter two are
two are amongst the two oldest pagodas in northern and were closely linked to
the Luy Lau citadel, originally constructed in the 2nd Century A.D.
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| Bút Tháp Temple, Bắc Ninh |
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Dâu Temple, Bac Ninh Province
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Another worthwhile destination is in Hung
Yen Province’s Pho Hien (Phố Hiến), an ancient architectural complex consisting of 60
historic sites and many temples. Hien Temple is home to the oldest longan tree
in the province. Planted in the 16thcentury, today, the tree is
still green and healthy and the fruit it bears has thick pulp yet a thin peel,
small grains and a cool sweet taste.
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| Phố Hiến, Hưng Yên Province |
One highly enjoyable addition to your
itinerary could be a performance by Quan Ho Singers who will coo traditional
love duet, a form of music recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage,
as you float down the Red River.
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| Red River (Vietnamese: Sông Hồng) |
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Red River (Vietnamese: Sông Hồng)
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In the past, many of the craft villages in
the Reds River Delta (Đồng Bằng Sông Hồng) , where home to guilds of artisans that supplied the royal
family in Thang Long (Ascending Dragon) with various products. One of the most
famous is Bat Trang village, which has been producing porcelain and pottery on
the bank of the Red River, just outside Hanoi, for centuries. The village is a
fascinating place for visitor with a labyrinth of alleyways and lanes, where
dozens of pottery houses can be found churning out bowls, dishes, vases,
terracotta seats, porelain figurines and much more. It’s a great place to pick
up some souvenirs and if you’re really inspired, you can sign up for a pottery
class,too.
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| Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Hanoi city |
Another place of interest is Phu Thi commune
(Gia Lam District, Hanoi) which has retained many of the typical features of a
typical northern village – in the past villages were laid out by following
local feng shui principles (for example, many villages would have a communal
house, a banyan tree and the gateway)
This is also the homeland of a number of
prominent intellectuals, including the philosophy Chu Manh Trinh, The panter
Duong Bich Lien, the poet Nguyen Thi Hong Ngat and the writer Duong Thi Xuan
Quy. In Phu Thi village, every visitor simply mus order a plate of banh cuon
Phu Thi, Steamed rice rolls (served thicker than other versions of banh cuon
you may have tried). You can also eat a wonderful tofu dish with a special
nutty taste. From around April to Jyly, it is the best time to eat Vo Soup (a special
soup with the short-lived insect called Vo).
The delta is also the home of banh duc (a
savory cake made from rice flour), banh da (a cracker no unlike an Indian
papadum) and many other scrumptious snacks. You can also look out for voi tea
or a simple, cleansing cup of Vietnamese green tea.
Between visiting landmarks, craft villages,
and eating local specialties, visitor to the Red river Delta can simply
appreciate the lush landscapes and peaceful green fields while imagining how it
all began here for Vietnam thousands of year ago.
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