Ngoc Son Temple Hanoi

Got a flight from Luang Prabang 'airport'. It was essentially a shed with a couple of desks and weighing scales. Once we arrived in Hanoi (Vietnam) there was what can only be described as utter confusion over Brad's passport. The photo didn't look like him- did he have any other ID...awkward! After showing it to nearly every immigration officer in …

We arrived in Hanoi at 8am and began our usual routine of walking to find a hotel, settled in, freshened up, and began our day of checking out the city. Hanoi is another bustling city with narrow streets filled with shops and restaurants and scooters zooming every which way!
We were pretty tired after a lousy sleep on the overnight bus, so we …

Arriving in Hanoi we realized how organized Bangkok really was!

There are so many motorbikes everywhere it was crazy!! And most importantly, there are absolutely no traffic rules! Crossing a street is an adventure in itself but we figured you just have to take small steps through the chaos and keep crossing.

We were leaving to …

We awake full of energy and excitement. Today we set out to explore the old quarter of Hanoi. We already adore this city and are eager to have a good look about. We fill up on sweet Vietnamese coffee, pop our flip flops on, pocket the free map from the hotel and cast ourselves adrift in the city.

The old quarter is a maze of streets, each …

Y partimos a Vietnam!...claro que la salida de China tuvo más de algún tropiezo....salimos de Guilin muy temprano, tipo 7am, hacia la estación de trenes. El hostel estaba cerrado y el nochero nos debió abrir la puerta...afortunadamente nuestros amigos taxistas no nos pusieron inconvenientes a la hora de hacerlos parar y llegamos al tren a la hora. …

We arrived in Vietnam at 5am in the pouring down rain and had to negotiate for a taxi. It's not a good place to be - a remote train station outside hanoi in the rain at 5am. We managed to get a cab for 5 dollars after some bartering. Another driver was asking for 300!!!

We Got to our hostel and they were awesome, had ice cold water waiting …

Had a nice lie in this morning after 24 hours of travelling yesterday. We had breakfast in the hotel and then it was off out into Hanoi to explore.

We started the day with a stroll towards Ho Hoan Kiem Lake. This gave us our first opportunity to learn to cross the road Hanoi style....simply step out and keep walking, hoping that the stream …

After a pleasant flight from Loas we arrived in Hanoi mid morning. Walking out the airport the heat hit us and again it was unbearable at first (or it was the beer lao from the previous nights farewell gathering!!!). Taxi drivers surrounded us promising the best price and we were soon ushered into the back of a cab. I was looking forward to the …

After getting through border control we are directed to taxis who say that they will take us to Hanoi, we decline and ask them to take us to Dong Dang, the nearest town where the train goes from (in hindsight not really sure why we did this!). We arrive in a small town which is actually Lang Son (the next town on from Dang Dong) and find the ticket …

Today was sent exploring Hanoi. My new friend Samantha and I visited the Ngo Son temple on a small island in the middle of the cities central lake and the peaceful Lennin park. We then had a traditional lunch in old town Hanoi followed by a sampling of weasel coffee. If you dont know what that is, its coffee that has been digested by a weasel. That …

... Kiem Lake is the focal point of Hanoi and once you've crossed the Huc bridge (rising sun) you're met by the Ngoc Son Temple and its traditional surroundings, it seems like a million miles away from the noise and rush. The temple is a shrine to General ...

... how rude everybody is as we are jostled across the red bridge to the island in the middle of the central lake which houses Ngoc Son Temple when a girl stops to wish her a happy new year and she revokes her complaint. Call into tour operator for our Hong ...

... dried fried fish and donuts to snack on. In the centre of Hanoi is Hoan Kiem Lake and after a stroll around it I visited Ngoc Son Temple which is reached by a pretty red bridge. Legend has it that a sword-stealing tortoise inhabits the lake but of that ...

... .     Finally settled in a hotel room we started our sightseeing. First stop was Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ngoc Son Temple that juts out into the water (PICS). The temple is an elegant little place with few outstanding features. A giant ...

... in Hanoi's Old Quarter called Hoan Kiem Lake, we crossed the little red bridge onto an island which is home to the Ngoc Son Temple, we spent a while there wandering around, and then drank Vietnamese tea in a cafe on a sidestreet. Hanoi is very famous ...

... over the shoulder! Bloke having a poo on highway! Eww!   14:12 Pottery village where they make pottery together, I had a go! 15:04 Ngoc son temple  20:12 Bun bo nam bo dinner. Fantastic!   20:38 I've grown used to being hot and damp at all ...

... are disproportionate with the poor solely consisting of a few sellers and beggars. This doesn't seem to be the case in Hanoi. Visited the Ngoc Son Temple (18th century) right by the Hoan Kiem Lake. This was the first Confucian temple that I have seen. ...

... place to walk around, with all forms of traffic (bicycle, moto, auto, man, animal...) sharing the narrow streets. We visit the Ngoc Son Temple on the Lake, enjoy a couple night markets, and some great water puppetry! We also pay a visit to Uncle Ho, ...

After dinner, I met at friend in front of Ngoc Son Temple and walked around Hoen Kiem Lake until time for the theater.  The water puppet marionettes are charming and a 'must-see' while in Viet Nam!  Here are a few photos -- click on ...

... , but not many places seem to cash AUD TCs here so I don't think I have much choice. Walked around Hoan Kiem to Ngoc Son Temple which is situated on a small island just off the north-eastern shore of the lake. It's dedicated to the Vietnamese general ...