Hanoi, Vietnam--Day #1

Welcome to Vietnam! Daniel and I flew from Hong Kong to Hanoi and arrived late at night. That was not the best time to have first impressions of such a country, but by morning's light we found some great Vietnamese people and culture.

People were selling things, of course, but different from the Philippines they go around to you with bikes or fruit on poles like this. I think it's a great idea!

Bicycles, baskets and these traditional hats were a common sight. I wanted to make a book of all the times I saw funny things being carried on bikes, but then I saw my idea was already published in a book called "Bikes of Burden." Truly Vietnamese! It's amazing how much they can fit on there!

My first experience of Vietnam by daylight. I was ready to soak in everything!

Notice the top of the menu lists cigarettes. I have never seen these sold on a restaurant menu before. People were sitting on low stools and drinking various beverages in the morning together while smoking. I did notice tons more smoke, since in our city in the Philippines there is a law against it in public places (my lungs struggle with that and also the exhaust fumes).

I ordered a drink like a smoothie, but they often add yogurt or random fruits. I have no idea what it was. Communication was not in English here. Daniel got coffee, but with "Swiss milk" which we were to discover was a common use here--also known as, sweetened condensed milk.

We went to a market similar to the one in the Philippines, but yet the baskets and display all looked so attractive here. What a plentiful selection!

All kinds of beans--we do not have this offering in our market (you can't help but compare to what you already know). I like the colors and textures in this pic. Hopefully you can experience some of the sights of Vietnam through my lens.

Various things for sale...rugs, placemats...

My favorite picture of me--looking like one of the market ladies.

Notice the temple, with Chinese writing, and the lady in front with a bicycle selling brooms. Common sights around Hanoi. (Also notice the many motorbikes!)

Older looking housing on top of stores. I like the character of the city of Hanoi. Many tall and narrow houses all connected. There is supposedly a French influence as well as Chinese...you can find a mix. Now there are also lots of international influences in addition, as you will commonly find now in many places in the world, especially the use of U.S. dollars in some stores and English becoming more common (though not yet easy to use!).

One of my favorite shops, the paint store, where we later stayed near. Even though many paintings were copies, they were very well done and cheap also. This lady tried to give me language lessons: "Cam on" (thank you). Vietnamese is tonal with six tones, so I never did well speaking properly, even the one word I would try.

Motorbikes are flowing around the streets like a river of people! Later Daniel and I rented one, and then we couldn't go back to walking!

Daniel walks through traffic the way locals do. Just keep walking and everyone will just miss you (hopefully!).

These are water puppets for sale. I saw this in a book and it was really there in Vietnam. Later I'll tell you about the show we went to--traditional and cultural.

Inside the "Temple of Literature" I found this statue. I later found this actually happening in real life streets (see below).

Here's the "Temple of Literature." I liked it okay, but it was more Chinese than Vietnamese and there were tons of tourists.

I like these natural views better--with the real life buildings and on the top right--the flag of Vietnam (red with a yellow star in the center).

More interesting housing. These sights were common but just catch my eye for a picture!

Here's the real men playing "Chinese chess". I wonder how to play that!

One of the "gods" in a temple on the lake. This reminds me of what I saw in China also. I have much to learn about the religion of the people there.

The Hoan Kiem lake was a beautiful landmark in the middle of where we stayed in Hanoi. Just north of it is the "Old Quarter" and south is the "French Quarter." We went around it many times on motorbike and saw this "pagoda" in the middle lit up at night too.

It was a full first day, but these are my favorite 25 pictures!