Son Tay ancient citadel in Hanoi

 Located in Son Tay town, 42 km from Hanoi center, the citadel was constructed in 1822, the 3rd year under Minh Mang reigne - Nguyen Dynasty. Son Tay citadel is one of 20 built during Nguyen Dynasty but this citadel is the only one built of laterite entirely. The citadel is stronghold defending Hanoi city from the north west. 

Photo thoitrangtre

The total area is 16 hectares surrounded by deep moat and high wall of 4.4 meters. There are 4 entrance gates, cannons placed on wall looking to 4 directions. Each side of the citadel is about 500 m, the surrounding moat is 3 m deep and 20 m width. The center of citadel is ritual place with 2 square lotus ponds on 2 sides and high tower. 

                                                                         Photo internet

Visit to the citadel it brings us to the memory of 19th century. Son Tay citadel is green and multi-color by trees and flowers all year round. It is well preserved by locals for the citadel was recognized as National Heritage since 1994. One day tour to Son Tay citadel can be combined with visit to Duong Lam village, Ngo Quyen temple, Phung Hung temple...  

Photo: Nguyen Tien Quang

Share:

Read More

Phở or noodle soup with beef Hanoi

 Phở has been so popular since early 20th century, and Hanoi is homeland of Pho. Travel to hanoi it is must-tried food for both domestic and international travelers.

Till early 1920 Hanoi people get used to noodle soup of fried noodle with buffalo meat, not beef. One day some restaurants tried to create new ingredient for Pho by using beef that was also cheaper than buffalo meat, and they discover that the new Pho has fantastic taste. Since the the name of "Pho Bo" or Noodle soup with beef become resounding brand across country. 

The ingredient of Pho includes sliced beef, strips of rice noodle, broth stewed with cow bone and spices of lemon grass and ginger, onion, anise, mint leaves, bean sprouts, garlic, chili sauce, and others. Delicious broth decides the quality of Pho so that each restaurant hold their owned formula of making broth or soup. 

Walking along Hanoi Old quarter you can see the standing poster "Pho Bo" everywhere. It can be eaten in the morning, at lunch or dinner time, but normally for breakfast. It intensifies you strength and wake you up when having a bow of Pho on winter morning. It is quite fair to say that Pho Bo is Heritage of food in Hanoi. Come and try Pho as one of the best street food in Hanoi

Share:

Read More

Ancient house of 87 Ma May

 The house of 87 Ma May is situated right in the heart of Old quarter Hanoi belonging to Hoan Kiem district. The house is well preserved as a must-see place if you wish to know deeper about another Hanoi in the past.

Photo Internet

87 Ma May house was built by the late XIX century, in an area of 160 sqm. The length is 28 m, the width is 5m in front and  6m on the back. By passing time the house was owned by different families. Till 1999 when it was recognized as National heritage, there were 5 families living there. 

                                                                         Photo Internet

The house consists of 2 floors and 2 block that is separated by small opened yard in middle for wind and sunlight. The house front used to be a shop, back yard are bedrooms, place receiving guests, toilet, and kitchen. On the second floor, it consists of ancestor worshiping space, living room, open yard, and bedroom. 

                                                                   Photo Internet

Main materials for construction are wood and brick. Architecture of the house is very Hanoi style in business area in the past. The house is open for visit everyday. Take a short walking tour in Old town of Hanoi and visit 87 Ma May house. 

Share:

Read More

Travel around Hanoi center by Electric car

 There are diverse means of transport in Hanoi capital city such as public bus, motorbike taxi, car taxi, cyclo or rickshaw, and electric car. In recent years people get used to hire Grab bike, car booked through apps on mobile phone. Here, how to choose the mean of transport to visit Hanoi.

We highly recommend electric car to explore Hanoi center and West lake area. This mean of travel suits small group from 2- 6 people/ 1 car. It moves slowly around bustling streets in Old quarter, French quarter with colonial buildings, Hoan Kiem lake, West lake, and old traditional villages by West lake. You feel quite comfortable and not scare at massive number of motorbike at rush hour in Hanoi.

You can buy ticket at Hoan Kiem lake or in the front of Dong Xuan market for one hour tour inside Old city through handcraft shop, narrow streets, temples, lake....or another one-hour itinerary around French quarter with Opera house and colonial buildings from early 20th century. 

If you choose the pick-up point by West lake you have another itinerary of 3-4 hour tour around the lake and it's traditional villages with some stops for visit temple and see daily life of the locals. 

Share:

Read More

Districts for tourist attraction in Hanoi center

 Hanoi contains 17 outlying districts, 1 town of Son Tay, and 12 urban districts including Ba Dinh - Dong Da - Hai Ba Trung - Tay Ho - Thanh Xuan - Long Bien - Hoang Mai - Ha Dong - Cau Giay - Bac Tu Liem - Nam Tu Liem. But major number of hotels and tourist attractions are allocated in Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Tay Ho, and Hai Ba Trung dictricts.

Hoan Kiem district is the heart of Hanoi city where there are numerous hotels, old quarter, temples and pagodas, traditional markets, and lovely Hoan Kiem lake.

Ba Dinh district includes historical Ba Dinh square, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Government offices, and foreign ambassies, Parliament House. It is country political center.

Tay Ho district where has the large lake of Hanoi name West Lake with 500 hectare large. Surrounding the lake are old villages, vast field of flowers. 

Hai Ba Trung district consists of 2 parts old one and new one from 1960s. Most of universities were built since 1955 in the district beside modern buildings in recent decades. 

Travel to Hanoi you should stay and explore tourist sites in districts mentioned above before others.  

Share:

Read More

Top 10 prestigious Golf courses in Hanoi

 In recent years Vietnam become popular destination in Asia. In addition, Vietnam is also ranked as the one of  best attractive Golf destinations in Asia and the world in 2019. 

In total Vietnam has over 80 golf courses across the country, in which 32 are at international level. We figure out that the number of country golfers reach 300,000 in 2025. Many golfers from EU, Korea, Japan, and South East Asia choose Vietnam for holiday and combine with golf play.

Come to Hanoi capital you can spend one day at one of top 10 golf courses in the suburb of Hanoi city as the followings:

Epga Ecopark - Long Bien Golf Course - Van Tri Golf Course - Hanoi Golf Course - Dai Lai Star Golf - Kings' Island Golf - Dam Vac Golf - Sky Lake Golf Club - Tam Dao Golf and Resort - Legend Hill Golf Course

Share:

Read More

BAC SON STREET IN HANOI

 Bac Son street stretches 288 m  from Hoang Dieu street to the front of Ba Dinh square. It is 30 m wide filled with garden of flowers. By the end connecting with Hoang Dieu street is the construction of War Memorial.

                                                 Photo Internet (Bac Son street in 1976)

The street of Bac Son is right inside former Thang Long citadel. In 1933 the street was named Paul Doumer - the name of a French Governor of Indochina. After 1945 the name was changed for Nhan Quyen (Human Right), then Nguyen Ham, Nguyen Lam, and then Bac Son till now.

                                                                          Photo Internet 

Bac Son is a region in Lang Son province where an an anti-French movement was broken out in 1940. The street was widened during 1973 - 1975 when Vietnam built Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum at Ba Dinh square. 

Share:

Read More

ROMANTIC PHAN DINH PHUNG STREET IN HANOI

 Phan Dinh Phung street extends from Mai Xuan Thuong to Hang Cot street with the length of 1.5 km. It is green tree-line street doted by many old yellow French villas. 

                                                                         Photo Internet

Historical relics on the street are Cua Bac entrance gate to former Thang Long citadel, Cua Bac church.

                                                                      Photo Internet

Phan Dinh Phung street belong to Ba Dinh District, just few minutes walking to Ba Dinh square and the political heart of Vietnam including goverment offices and Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Presidential palace...

                                                                           Photo Internet

Phan Dinh Phung street is nice place for a stop and taking photo 

                                                                       Photo Internet

The street looks quite romantic in Autumn (Mid - August - Mid - November)

Share:

Read More

VISIT HANOI CATHEDRAL

 Hanoi Cathedral is also known as St. Joseph's Cathedral situated at Nha Chung street, just few minutes walking to Hoan Kiem lake in the old center of Hanoi.

                                                                           Photo Internet

French army conquered Hanoi in 1873. After taking full control of Hanoi French governor start to expanded and modernized this city. Hanoi Cathedral was inaugurated on Christmas Day, 1887. The Cathedral was constructed on the land of former Bao Thien tower, which was popular in Thang Long citadel (former name of Hanoi) since Ly Dynasty (early 11th - early 13 century).

                                                                 Photo Internet

The Cathedral was built of clay-baked brick and stone slabs. The design is Gothic Revival. Two tower reach the height of 31 meters high. The twin bell towers are resembled Notre Dame de Paris. 

The stained glass windows were made in France. The ceiling is rib vaulted like those in medieval Europe. Hanoi Cathedral is opened daily for mass from 5:00 AM - 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at 40 Nha Chung street.

                                                                       Photo Internet

It is convenient to walk there if you stay in the old quarter of Hanoi. Surrounding the Cathedral are cafes, restaurants, treet food stalls, and souvenir shops.

Share:

Read More

HISTORICAL HOUSE OF 48 HANG NGANG STREET

The house at 48 Hang Ngang street become famous historical house in Hanoi, where president Ho Chi Minh drafted the Declaration of Independence for the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945.

                                                                          Photo Internet

By the end of August 1945, after returning from mountainous area of Tan Trao, the resistant base of Viet Minh, Ho Chi Minh chose the house as one of his meeting places. 

                                                                            Photo Internet

The living room is the place where he received representatives of domestic and foreign visitors. Next to the living room is a small room with humble furnishing of a wardrobe, a sofa, a round table, and an armchair, where the President composed the Declaration of Independence. 

                                                                            Photo Internet

The houe number 48 Hang Ngang street is situated right in the heart of Old Quarter Hanoi, and becomes one  of National Heritages

Share:

Read More