Hanoi: Tran Quoc Pagoda, One Pillar Pagoda and Temple of Literature

After breakfast at the hotel, we crossed the Old Quarter heading north. While there are always sidewalks on the main streets, they are usually blocked by parked mopeds or Vietnamese people sitting on small stools with food around the street stalls. So we had no choice but to walk in the street. After a while, you realize how bad the air is here when your throat starts to hurt. No wonder the locals all wear face masks.

Tran Quoc Pagoda

Our first destination today was the Tran Quoc Pagoda on a small island in West Lake. This Buddhist temple consists of a Bodhi tree, beneath which several Buddha statues sit.

Hanoi Botanical Garden

From there we went to the Botanical Garden in Hanoi. Here we encountered a familiar sight: wedding couples having their photos taken. We had the impression that the organization was very professional. The process is sequential, with guests arriving at a shared makeup station where refreshments are provided, and then each couple is assigned their own photographer.

One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

From the Botanical Garden, we entered Hanoi's government and diplomatic quarter. Here, we found the One Pillar Pagoda, whose shape resembles a lotus blossom. A little further on, we discovered the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the largest monument to the former Vietnamese leader in Hanoi. It's possible to visit the mausoleum's interior, but today (Monday) all museums in Hanoi were closed. So, we could only admire the imposing structure from the outside.

Lunch at the Vietnam Military Museum

Around 2 p.m., we had lunch at Highland Coffee near the Vietnam Military Museum. Here we tried Vietnamese soup (Pho) for the first time. We ordered Pho Ga and Pho Bo, noodle soups with chicken (Ga) and pork (Bo), respectively. The base consists of noodles, onions, and chives, with the meat or fish added depending on the order. With our meal, we drank a mocha and a delicious fresh iced tea (smoothie) with mango. The only downside was that the waiter stood by us the whole time, watching us. We paid 251,000 dong (about €8.60) for two people. Certainly double or even triple the price of a street food stall. However, we were able to sit down, and everything seemed more hygienic.

Temple of Literature

On our way to the Temple of Literature, we theorized that the shops on a street here in Hanoi are organized by type of goods. For example, there's a street with paints, one with tools, and one with even shops selling mannequins. The Temple of Literature is a larger temple complex with several small parks and ponds. Today we also witnessed a photo shoot with several Vietnamese teenagers.

Night at Hoan Kiem Lake

Before heading back to the hotel, we bought some Vietnamese beer and mit say (dried jackfruit) at the supermarket. Shaking the bag makes a sound like Lego bricks. The taste is fruity, but not quite definable for us, maybe a little like mango.

Are you still looking for a suitable hotel in Hanoi?

You can find a hotel to suit your budget via various online travel agencies such as Agoda, Booking.com, ebookers.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, lastminute.com, opodo, otel.com or Venere.com.

After sunset, we took some more photos at Hoan Kiem Lake at night.