🇻🇳 Hello, Hanoi! First Impressions of Vietnam’s Capital ✈️
After Cambodia, I arrived in Hanoi — a noisy, chaotic, yet incredibly vibrant city. Here, history meets modern life, French architecture blends with Asian energy, and traditions coexist with the fast-paced streets.
🔥 What Surprised Me Right Away?
1. Traffic is pure chaos — but it works. Scooters, cars, bicycles, and pedestrians all move in every direction, yet somehow, no one crashes. The key rule: never stop — just keep walking forward. 😄
2 Colonial architecture. The narrow streets of the Old Quarter, French-style balconies, and yellow-walled buildings make Hanoi look completely different from the cities in southern Vietnam.
3. The coffee culture is next level. I knew Vietnam loved coffee, but egg coffee (cà phê trứng) is on another level. A creamy, sweet, and strong coffee — an absolute must-try for my first morning in Hanoi.
🏛 What Have I Seen So Far?
📍 Hoan Kiem Lake – the heart of the city, a perfect spot to sit and watch local life unfold.
📍 The Old Quarter – a maze of narrow streets where every building has its own story.
📍 Train Street – the famous spot where a train passes just inches away from tiny cafes.
🍜 And the Food? A Whole New Experience!
- Phở – the famous Vietnamese noodle soup with beef, richer and more intense here than in the south.
- Bún chả – grilled pork served with rice noodles and a flavorful broth.
- Nem (spring rolls) – crispy and packed with flavor, a Hanoi must-try.
🤔 First Impressions?
Hanoi is a city with a soul. It doesn’t try to be convenient or tourist-friendly—it simply moves at its own pace. Here, you can feel the real Vietnam, with all its traditions, aromas, flavors, and endless energy.
#Hanoi #Vietnam #Travel #DigitalNomad