10:06 PM
Local Supporting Team
One of the priorities of LST is to introduce Vietnamese culture and history to interns. Therefore, we held an outgoing day for all interns to discover Hanoi’s places and custom.
At 3:00 pm, interns and LST members gathered at Cam Tu Monument then went straight to The Huc Bridge (meaning Morning Sunlight Bridge). LST members introduced about the meaning of The Huc Bridge’s name and the history of Hoan Kiem Lake there. The legend related to these Hanoi must-see places was worth knowing. When we got in through the entrance to the bridge, Joe was quite curious about the decorations on the gate. Then, LST members explained about them and the war between Le Dynasty and Chinese Ming Dynasty thousand years ago. Afterwards, some people bought tickets to go inside the Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of Jade Mountain) while others sat on the bridge to get to know each other.
At 3:00 pm, interns and LST members gathered at Cam Tu Monument then went straight to The Huc Bridge (meaning Morning Sunlight Bridge). LST members introduced about the meaning of The Huc Bridge’s name and the history of Hoan Kiem Lake there. The legend related to these Hanoi must-see places was worth knowing. When we got in through the entrance to the bridge, Joe was quite curious about the decorations on the gate. Then, LST members explained about them and the war between Le Dynasty and Chinese Ming Dynasty thousand years ago. Afterwards, some people bought tickets to go inside the Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of Jade Mountain) while others sat on the bridge to get to know each other.
After visiting Ngoc Son Temple, we walked around Hoan Kiem Lake to watch the way Hanoians did exercises, played chess, and enjoyed the landscape there. The reason why this scenic spot is the social focal point of Hanoians was gradually revealed. Interns had chances to cross the street in Hanoi, which was truly a challenging experience to go to Ly Thai To Statue.
Hoan Kiem Lake is just between the Old Quarter and French Quarter so we chose to discover the magnificent French colonial buildings first. Hanoi Opera House with Vietnamese Flag interested the Indonesia girl, Ratih due to its classical architecture. Then we walked to Trang Tien ice-cream store to enjoy the most famous ice-cream of Hanoi. Maggie said that this frozen dessert attracted her a lot because of its delicious taste and incredibly cheap price. There was some nearby bookshops so we got into to pick up several local maps.
After having a break at a café, interns and LST members went to the Old Quarter to have dinner. “Bun thang”, a famous dish in Hanoi was chose. Eating on the pavement was also an interesting way to experience the life style of Hanoians. In Hanoi, “Life takes place on the pavement” and the scene that people gather to eat together and sit on the plastic stools is ubiquitous and this is definitely an experience that foreigners should try. The restaurant was a cuisine street and opposite the shoemaking street so interns could have small conservation about culture in Hanoi as well as watch the life of Hanoians there.
Dong Xuan Market at night, a popular destination of the local at weekend.
8:00 pm, we walked to night market which sold a variety of products with cheap price. The market is on crowed streets that have tons of fashion wholesale shops and alleys, which are also a unique feature of the capital.
Finally, beer store was the last destination and it was also the climax of the trip. We came across the bia hoi corner which was on the intersection of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen Street. The awesome attraction of this beer store was not only the fresh beer but also its ambience. Sitting outside on the pavement, watching the steam of motorbikes and people went by, taking loudly and laughing so much was extremely an unforgettable memory about Hanoi of interns as well as all LST members.
A.P
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