Emily writes · Hanoi, Vietnam · 20–29 November 2025
Bryson and I really liked Hanoi. On our first day we walked through the Old Quarter and around Hoàn Kiếm Lake. The streets were closed, families were out, and children kept coming over to practise their English with us. By evening, people were doing Zumba, playing badminton, and dancing on the pavement. It felt like everybody had decided to use the same public space at once.
That was also the day we tried Vietnamese pancakes, which immediately became Bryson’s favourite. We kept returning to the Old Quarter and the lake for walks, shops, and food.
At Train Street we were eating bún chả when a train came past close enough to make the table feel badly placed. At the Temple of Literature, students prayed for good grades. At the water puppet show, I watched the puppets dance through the water while Bryson fell asleep within minutes.
Bryson took me to a rooftop bar for my birthday. The view looked exactly like the first photo Google shows when you search for Hanoi, which felt a little ridiculous. We also spent plenty of time at Lotte West Lake and playing Skyrim. Not every day needs a temple.
We never got comfortable crossing the roads near our Airbnb or in the Old Quarter. We waited for gaps that did not seem to come, then followed other pedestrians and tried not to change direction suddenly. Our Airbnb was quieter, with a city view that somehow continued into a bathroom with no walls. I would go back. I still have no useful advice for crossing the road.
Bryson’s Haiku
Bustling streets and fun.
The breeze and time flew by us.
Hanoi was a treat.
Open the camera roll (15 photographs)
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