Vibrant Vietnam

Vietnam with its rich cultural amalgamation of the glorious history of east and its adaptation to contemporary western lifestyle, is a delightful discovery for travellers, says Saachi Dhillon.

- Saachi Dhillon

Happy, high above the clouds at 30,000 feet, I was filled with a sense of exhilaration when the captain announced the descent to my destination, Vietnam. The clouds parted, and I got my first glimpse of Hanoi, the capital city and tourist hotspot, which embodies a cultural fusion between the rich Eastern heritage and the modern Western lifestyle. Before sightseeing, I withdrew some local currency and felt like an instant millionaire as the Dong’s lowest denomination is in thousands. Crossing the road in heavy traffic was quite challenging. It wasn’t until evening when I met Irma, a fellow traveller from Holland that I learnt to cross the road like a local.

The trick is to keep walking confidently and the two wheelers either stop or maneuver skillfully around you. While walking around the city centre, we sampled some delicious coconut coffee, Hanoi’s specialty, at Cong Capphe, outside St. Joseph Cathedral. I couldn’t help but try some of the delicious street food—from sweet garlic bread to local sweets. A walk along the beautifully lit Hoan Kiem Lake, with its iconic Huc Bridge and turtle tower, was the highlight of the evening. On my hotel receptionist’s recommendation, we went to Pho Ly Quoc Su, known for its beef pho, for dinner. Pho is the Vietnamese national dish and there are innumerable road side stalls with people seated on tiny stools, relishing this tasty noodle soup with various meats.