There is something about Hanoi that is mesmerized me. It was the second stop of our South China-North Vietnam overland trip and the charm of Hanoi still last and captivate me in such way that I decided this city deserves my first sparks of blog-writing.
Hanoi is moderately small if you compare it with Jakarta. You can count the skyscraper buildings and they do not have the big malls that Jakarta is very familiar with. Its people filled the road that rumbles with traffic. They rule over it with their motorcycle. The street side is filled with food sellers - which changed depending on the time of the day: pho and coffee in the morning to afternoon, ice desserts and fried cheese sticks in late afternoon, and bia hơi for the night talks.
Hồ Hoàn Kiếm (Hoan Kiem Lake) was filled with exercising uncles and aunties in the morning and a group of youngsters danced their night away at the nearby Lý Thái Tổ through their breakdance practices or skateboarding meet up. School starts with the view of children holding hands to their parents as they crossed the street.
I loved how the flower sellers rode their bicycles with their peasant hat and old bicycles to bring the freshest flowers to the houses. All was in the vicinity of the vibrant colors of their propaganda posters and flags. Although it was very socialists in a way, I felt that this was indeed the very principals that they held on to.
These seemingly chaotic scenes were somehow harmonious. This and a little birthday incident during my stay, took a chunk of my heart away. And with that, Hanoi continues to whisper story in a silent roar. Cảm ơn bạn, Hà Nội
Part of the images are private collections of Arif W. Brago. Thank you, Brago! Image is taken in Hanoi, Vietnam, September 2012.
2 comments:
hanoi... :D gak jauh beda sama di indonesia yah..
keren.. bisa jalan-jalan ke luar negeri.
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