Hello from Vietnam!
We’ve just past our half-way mark for IGL, and it seems we have no finally gotten used to the day-to-day life of living here in Hanoi. I’d be lying if I was to say it’s been an easy adjustment. From the stark differences in grocery options to the motorbikes zooming quickly on the sidewalks, to the language barriers – we have all been taken aback by how incredibly different our lives in Canada differ to our Vietnam adventures. Since we’re working full-time, and generally have 11 to 12-hour days (partly because of the commute with traffic) – we try our best to reserve our weekends for adventures, either in or out of Hanoi.
Within Hanoi:
I’ve been lucky enough to have an old friend from McGill, who recently moved back to Hanoi and has been showing us a few gems here in his home-town. Trying Vietnamese blood pudding, exploring all the shops in the Old Quarter, discovering rooftop/outdoor bars, to raging hard in private karaoke booths till 3 AM – Vietnam definitely has an amazing energy.
Although I’ve definitely been more open to exploring and trying new delicacies here in Hanoi, I must admit that I am lucky enough to have a Starbucks just a block from my office. I’ve found that having that bit of comfort snacks and coffee has really helped with the adjustment to the constant exposure to new food (stomach-wise and even mentally). That being said, Vietnamese coffee from local coffee-shops and restaurants is amazing – always iced – always doused in condensed milk, definitely a must-try.
Also, we may or may not have also taken a detour on a night-out to a McDonalds (but don’t tell anyone). But these small Western gems has shown how quickly Vietnam is developing and how rapidly they have opened to foreign companies and investment, especially considering their history.
Last weekend, a few of us went out exploring. If you want to revamp your clothing – definitely head on out to the Old Quarter – or visit some of the local stores in and around some of the larger malls (Vincom, Lotte Centre, etc.). Of course, everyone recommends it as the place to grab sneakers and clothes at amazing deals, but (based on a recommendation from my friend), two of us were able to visit a suit-makers storefront, where we were able to order custom-made shirts from scratch for a fraction of the cost of what one would pay in Canada (hopefully those will help us land jobs once we’re back in Canada haha).
Outside Hanoi:
In terms of leaving the city – two weekends ago – a couple of us took a day trip to Ninh Binh. With an early morning start at 8 AM, we headed south driving past incredible views rice fields, passing through Hoa Lua and ending up at our first stop at Mua Grotto and Mua Mountain. After a brutal 486 stone-step climb up a steep mountain (in 45-degree weather), we were all drained (as tour guide laughed at us, he cheerfully sprinted up the stairs). But trust me, the views were indescribable and well worth the pain and struggle. After slipping-down and trying our best to escape the perpetual outdoor sauna, we headed off to a local restaurant where we were able to try some local Ninh Binh cuisine, which ended up being some of the best food we’ve had in Vietnam thus far. After that, we headed off to Trang An, a newly minted UNESCO world heritage site – and boy does it deserve the title. We had a rowing-guide who took us through the twists and turns of the river, through the ravines, into and through the caves and occasionally stopping at temples built along the river banks – this was definitely a must-do (we had a 3 hour tour, but I think if we were to recommend, go for a shorter tour as the sun gets HOT, and bring an umbrella (for the sun). After that full day, we headed back to our accommodations in Hanoi.
Because Vietnam is so large (in terms of geography, populations, cultures, etc), I plan on traveling through with some old friends once IGL is over. I would also recommend to anyone doing IGL in the future to plan a comprehensive trip beforehand or after – as some regions are more difficult to get to – and a weekend trip may seem a bit rushed. Hanoi is definitely just a small, small portion of Vietnam and I’ve found that the other regions have a tonne more to offer!
Oh – bonus content, when we were in Saigon, we got to see Deadmau5 play his first set in Vietnam and be a part of the growing EDM community/culture here in Vietnam!
Anyways, till next time,
Kieran.
